Is Audiophilia a Dying Hobby or Just in Need of a Tune-Up?

[Lee]

Futuresource Consulting has this data.

They are a UK market research firm. Where did they get their data from? Survey or empirical? What brands contributed?

Do they have longitudinal data?

If the numbers you shared from Futuresource are correct then there is no decline for high end audio (as defined by >$5k) in 2023.

 

[PYP]

That’s not a strong argument. The article mentions only two companies. How do we know their failure is indicative of sales everywhere and not really indicative of their own poor performance?

and they are not gone yet. Consolidation in all industries is the future, it seems. That does not necessarily imply weakness if an infusion of cash can re-start the creative direction. Suggest we don't underestimate the creativity of designers when some of the pressure of creating a profit is somewhat reduced, or at least delayed.

What is the trade group for (non-pro audio) audio companies?

 

[PYP]

So, as I’ve said here before Futuresource Consulting has said luxury audio (components of $5,000) grew 12% in 2023 to an estimated $2.8 billion and the overall HiFi market declined 15%.

assuming this is correct, would be interesting to drill down into that bifurcation of the overall audio market. and the implications.

 

[Rt66indierock]

They are a UK market research firm. Where did they get their data from? Survey or empirical? What brands contributed?

Do they have longitudinal data?

If the numbers you shared from Futuresource are correct then there is no decline for high end audio (as defined by >$5k) in 2023.

Lee you and others should ask them. I have my own data sources you guys will never see due to the confidentiality rules of my profession.

In any case I’m not in the mood to give up one of my ultimate advantages the ability to gather data to people I believe are harming the industry.

 

[Rt66indierock]

assuming this is correct, would be interesting to drill down into that bifurcation of the overall audio market. and the implications.

Gotta ask do you have the education, training and experience to actually analyze a market?

I’m going to assume you don’t until you show otherwise. Just as I would question your hearing until I could test it myself.

 

[PeterA]

... to people I believe are harming the industry.

Boy, would that be interesting to discuss on a forum.

 

[Rt66indierock]

Boy, would that be interesting to discuss on a forum.

It’s a lot more fun to do it face to face. I fondly remember a big meeting at the end of RMAF 2017. Where I told many members of the press and industry walk away no harm no foul. Keep doing what you are doing and there will be consequences. And those consequences started almost immediately.

 

[Lee]

and they are not gone yet. Consolidation in all industries is the future, it seems. That does not necessarily imply weakness if an infusion of cash can re-start the creative direction. Suggest we don't underestimate the creativity of designers when some of the pressure of creating a profit is somewhat reduced, or at least delayed.

What is the trade group for (non-pro audio) audio companies?

AFAIK there is no trade group for high end audio.

 

[Lee]

Boy, would that be interesting to discuss on a forum.

There’s just no telling how much damage I’ve done to the industry by having an opinion on MQA sound quality!

 

[PYP]

AFAIK there is no trade group for high end audio

Might that help in the U.S.?

The Danish Sound Cluster is an interesting model as well: https://danishsoundcluster.dk/en/about-us/

 

[tima]

Consolidation in all industries is the future, it seems. That does not necessarily imply weakness if an infusion of cash can re-start the creative direction. Suggest we don't underestimate the creativity of designers when some of the pressure of creating a profit is somewhat reduced, or at least delayed.

I suspect this depends on who is the cash infuser. Designer creativity may be for nought if it is private equity or venture capital who is either ignorant about audio or seeking to sell pieces.

"Masimo, a medical tech company, lacks the expertise to run an audio business. They’re experts at hospital equipment, but high-end speakers are a different game entirely."

I see great success and perhaps frailty from brands started by creative individuals who built a company around themselves. It is sometimes hard for those companies to survive the retirement or passage of the founder. Some do long term planning for sucession and maintain continuity (David Wilson), some sell the company in hopes of carrying the brand forward which can be touch and go (William Z Johnson) or continue on under corporate ownership (JBL); some struggle for a while and fail (Theil). Will Magnepan survive Wendell Diller, Marketing Manager who suceeded Jim Winey creative founder? Will Atma-Sphere survive Ralph Karsten? Will Shunyata continue new product release when Caelin Gabriel retires? Dan D’Agostino moved on but Krell, who carried on for a while may be struggling after its owner, Rhondi Dagastino died in an accident.

It's not just aging consumers or younger fans looking for downsized mobility -- are there new creative designers who can create companies? In today's world are their talented budding enthusiasts looking to enter the high-end with the same passion and drive of industry pioneers?

 

[andromedaaudio]

I ll give it a shot in 2025

With 2 new models and a passive sub , all in a very affordable price range .( fairly easy to place , not to heavy )

I ll offer them for review at a leading dutch Hifi magazine in 2025 and do advertizing this year and possibly do the Hifi show in Brussels 2025.

For me the main issue was finding a reliable company who can construct / work with hard composites .
Just another wooden loudspeaker construct wasn t worth it for me

 

[andromedaaudio]

A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose your job. Recessions do not usually hit all areas of the economy at the same time- it’s really bad when they do.

2025 could well be the year when it would hit .
If the fed loses control over the bond market which it seems it has , iow despite cutting rates bond yields are rising

 

[Rexp]

2025 could well be the year when it would hit .
If the fed loses control over the bond market which it seems it has , iow despite cutting rates bond yields are rising

Won't they just print more money?

 

[andromedaaudio]

Won't they just print more money?

Sure they will try and do but this time the party is over.
It will only create more debt and even higher yields ,.....spiral out of control / iow game over.
You can kick the can only so far

 

[Rexp]

Sure they will try and do but this time the party is over.
It will only create more debt and even higher yields ,......iow game over

Why will it create more debt if the Fed is buying bonds in the market that already exist?

 

[andromedaaudio]

Why will it create more debt if the Fed is buying bonds in the market that already exist?

Where do you think the money is coming from with which they buy bonds ?
They print it ,which increases the debt but this works when yields go down as a result ( incl the yield / interest on the debt.)

But now we see a divergence, bond traders see risk and want higher and higher rates

 

[Rexp]

Where do you think the money is coming from with which they buy bonds ?
They print it ,which increases the debt but this works when yields go down as a result incl the yield / interest on the debt.

But now we see a divergence, bond traders see risk and want higher and higher rates

Why does printing money increase debt, its free to print. It might increase inflation but it didn't before.

 

[tima]

getting pretty far off topic here ...

 

[andromedaaudio]

Why does printing money increase debt, its free to print. It might increase inflation but it didn't before.

yes we are far off topic although its related to spending , you can continue here :

Finances | Business | Investments | Tesla Shares

Yamana posts very strong quarterly results and sells of almost 7 % . I think people still just have absolute faith in the FED , which is mind bogling to me

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