High End Audio-Gaining Higher Ground?

For me, whether the High End is gaining ground or dying is irrelevant. It would only matter if my livelihood was based on this industry. Otherwise.....I got my gear, I got my music, it's absolutely essential to me and my life but as to whether or not anyone else 'gets it' couldn't matter less to me. When I was a kid I absolutely skeeved shellfish. My father was fanatical about lobster and crab but I was too squeamish and couldn't handle it. He'd just shake his head and tell me that I didn't know what I was missing. When I got older I came to love lobster! I feel the same way about quality sound reproduction, if people can't find their way to appreciate it, that's THEIR problem! The industry will never completely disappear, at least not in my lifetime so I'm good!

There is and always will be a level of snobbery in the high end for any industry or product. But, I believe that real appreciation outweighs the snobbery. My original post discussed Toyota vs Mercedes. That was not to snub Toyota or to uplift Mercedes, but to draw attention to the fact that there is a difference in quality and attention in products. A timex vs a Breitling. Pretty much every product has a low end, mid, and high end. You can see it everywhere. There are snobs out there. My definition of a snob isn't someone that knows and appreciates quality, equipment and "high-end" items, but to me someone that knows what they like and doesn't like isn't a snob. The snob is a person that tells you what you like. Early in my life, I didn't like wine at all. But, later in life I found out why. It was because I never really had a good glass of wine. Parties, weddings, etc. they served to me, pretty bad stuff, (to me). So naturally, I thought all wine was bad. But, with education in wine, wine tastings, and participating in the industry, I found that there is some really good wine out there. Snob? not at all. I now know what I like and don't like. Life is too short to drink bad wine. Same with music and music equipment. Life is to short to have my ears hurt. But do I force my opinion on others? absolutely not. I let the music speak for itself. My equipment isn't the absolute best. Far from it. But for me, my history in music and appreciation in music and quality electronics, I can say that I'm there. On Audiogon, I don't tell others what they like, I do however, suggest that they try some equipment and most importantly take that equipment home for an in-home demo in their system to hear for themselves. I believe personally that "high-end" audio is actually gaining ground. I hear more about vinyl and vinyl playback now than a few years ago. I do believe that audio stores and dealers/salespeople can be a little more inviting and open and less critical and closed in their response to potential buyers. I see advertising for walmart, Costco, Sears, etc. but no advertisements for higher end audio. So how would younger, less educated potential buyers find out? Best Buy's idea of having Magnolia Audio in their stores was a very good idea. People drift into the Magnolia Audio portion of the store and just look and listen. I guarantee that many walked away with a better idea and impression. Look at Beats audio. Got the attention of most young people. It's "cool", so young people flock to it. Why is Grado, and other's not doing the same thing with young popular musicians, actors, etc to help draw attention to their products? That is the mistake High-end audio makes. They discount the younger crowd. Listen to Beats headphones vs a mid level set of Grado (just an example). No contest. An they cost pretty much the same.

do enjoy

High End audio is NOT the music business which is actually doing fine...big "gate keeper" labels are having to adjust or die, but independent musicians are figuring it out...online concerts, live shows to sell your swag and CDs...all good. Ever know somebody with a record contract? Ask 'em if they made any money. As for the argument that new music isn't as good as Fleetwood Mac (!), I can say from my experience over recent decades as a live sound mixer and concert producer that anyone who thinks today's musicians aren't every bit as brilliant as the over hyped stuff from the past simply isn't getting out much. Still plenty of lame stuff to go around of course, but I've been astonished at the extremely high level of musicianship and beautiful writing created by scores of young artists that most so called "music fans" can't be bothered to search out (local "coffee house" concerts or house concerts is where you should start, just don't ask the sales dude at the audio "salon"). The jazz scene is also kicking ass, and you should be sad if your ass isn't one of them getting kicked.

At the Bestbuy near me the Magnolia room is located in the rear corner of the store and if you didn't know it was there you could easily miss it, and don't see many people in there anyhow, particularly younger people.
There was a line around the building though to try out the new Mario Bros Smashfest game that hadn't been released yet. There may be some renewed interest in turntables because they're "kind of cool" but like how others have stated many will invest in decent headphones to use with their smartphones not with an audio rig.
I realize you don't have to spend a fortune to get decent sound but most aren't willing to invest the time or resources pursuing it and are more than content with their Iphones.
There are just far too many competing choices for peoples time these days and the price of entry remains a barrier for many

Brands like Krell, Sunfire, Mark Levinson, Pass and even some large tube brands like VTL, VAC may be soon sold via BestBuy stores(Martin Logan, NAD, Paradigm are already there).
Above assumed manufacturers will come up with either price reduction or specific models they'd like to sell via BestBuy to the larger general public.
As a retailer I personally admire BestBuy customer service and business strategy and see the future in this giant to be able to promote our dying hobby.