TheDecameron
Unicorns fart glitter.
I went this year for an open day at HiFi Corner’s new location in Edinburgh because they had brand Dems of stuff I was interested in- Harbeth and Chord. I’ve not been for a dem beyond that for about ten years.
I asked a Tom Evans Groove dealer to let me hear one. Oh yes we’ll be getting one in, so went back and asked if I could hear it, “ ah yes I remember you, well you see , ah, um, maybe next week”. Meanwhile the dealer a mile from him had given me a comparative dem of four phono stages, brought two to my house to have for a couple of days and I chose one and bought it- at a higher price than the Groove. The first guy, I was effectively in his shop as he sat behind his big desk, waving a bundle of cash in his face and only asking if he’d get off his arse for five minutes and bring me a small box from out the back to try.Pre 2103 but less than 10 years ago. I went in and asked for demos on phono stages, gave them a shortlist, they said they would ring back when they had them in. They never rang back, I never went back. Sod 'em. Bricks and mortar shops are a thing of the past and those that can't be bothered to organise basic customer services can go faster than the rest for all I care.
Last thing I bought in a hifi shop was 10 years ago, double stacked ESL 57s in Fanny's in Hull.
Fairly similar to my experience. While I was in there there was a guy came in panting with excitement at the prospect of buying another Naim power supply, he was practically soiling himself with anticipation. Clearly that's why I didn't get a lookin.I asked a Tom Evans Groove dealer to let me hear one. Oh yes we’ll be getting one in, so went back and asked if I could hear it, “ ah yes I remember you, well you see , ah, um, maybe next week”. Meanwhile the dealer a mile from him had given me a comparative dem of four phono stages, brought two to my house to have for a couple of days and I chose one and bought it- at a higher price than the Groove. The first guy, I was effectively in his shop as he sat behind his big desk, waving a bundle of cash in his face and only asking if he’d get off his arse for five minutes and bring me a small box from out the back to try.
I wonder what percentage of pfm are DIY audio types. These days people like myself, sq, MrDog etc. Build most of our own gear, or heavily modify second hand gear.
Probably true, but what age range are doing this? I suspect on average well above 50 plus? What happens when we all 'kick the bucket'. Will HiFi as we know it just die out?My guess is this and what I do (vintage kit that I rebuild/restore) amounts for a fair bit of the site, maybe 40-50%. The amount of knowledge in the public domain is simply huge now, plus so much amazing kit from all eras available second hand make it a very sensible and enjoyable way to approach audio.
Probably true, but what age range are doing this? I suspect on average well above 50 plus? What happens when we all 'kick the bucket'. Will HiFi as we know it just die out?
Probably true, but what age range are doing this? I suspect on average well above 50 plus? What happens when we all 'kick the bucket'. Will HiFi as we know it just die out?
I disagree. I know lots of people in the 25-40 age bracket and they have settled for a "good enough" music system consisting of a phone, tablet or computer and a BT speaker. These sound remarkably good, for loose change. For under £100 you can have music as good as we were getting in the 80s with our Dual/NAD/Diamond or similar, and they have access to more music than anyone can listen to for loose change.The requirement for high quality audio in the home certainly hasn’t vanished, it is only economics and a hopefully passing fad for a bare estate agent brochure minimalist aesthetic that has changed.
Very few I suspect. I'm a very minor DIY bodger and I like what I (try to) do but it's a different activity to going shopping. If I want a piece of equipment it's generally cheaper to buy a used one than to build new. A case, heat sink and mains transformer will cost more than many complete items. That's before you get to the stuff coming out of China for just nothing. I got a Tripath amp in a metal case for under £20. That wouldn't buy the box.I wonder what percentage of pfm are DIY audio types. These days people like myself, sq, MrDog etc. Build most of our own gear, or heavily modify second hand gear.
I disagree. I know lots of people in the 25-40 age bracket and they have settled for a "good enough" music system consisting of a phone, tablet or computer and a BT speaker. These sound remarkably good, for loose change. For under £100 you can have music as good as we were getting in the 80s with our Dual/NAD/Diamond or similar, and they have access to more music than anyone can listen to for loose change.
I'm not sure it's a generational thing - there are plenty of people of my generation (late 40s) who don't have the slightest interest in listening to 'good' sound. I got into hifi when I was in my late teens and would flick through the magazines in WH Smith occasionally buying a copy of something (probably Hi-Fi News & RR), and I'm sure that still happens today; with the internet taking the place of the magazine shelf, there's perhaps more scope for younger people to get hooked. It's perhaps seen as a middle-aged pursuit because that's when most of us actually/finally have enough money to spend on hifi?I’d be curious if any members have let one of them youths of today listen to an old school system. I suspect they’d be “very nice grandpa but I’ll stick with my phone” but I may be wrong.