Where have all the HiFi members gone?

[Richard Allen]

It really isn't a 'dedicated' Hi-Fi forum like Wigwam, PF, AVS, AVF, DIYAudio, Audiokarma, Audioasylum etc. It's just a small temporary place to sit and contemplate your shopping. It's a hi-fi shopping forum.

Best description I've seen yet*good* . . . However when I first came on, I recal, it seemed to have more 'how to and descriptive' content?

Very true.

The modern way of choosing hi-fi is to pick the items you feel have 'maximum bling' then look around for some 'validation'.

No wonder many decent dealers have just packed it in, the market gets what it deserves, in the UK this means Sevenoakes and Richers.

Good luck with that.......*nea*

Yep. It's sad but true Dave. A lot of people actually think that a sound bar is HiFi!!. Incredible. I'm now at the stage of pondering whether people really 'care' what they listen to their music on. And the mags don't help the cause either. If it ain't got gadgets n widgets on it then they don't want it and they go and buy glossy plastic carp from China and think it's HiFi. C'est la vie.

 

[Richard Allen]

It really isn't a 'dedicated' Hi-Fi forum like Wigwam, PF, AVS, AVF, DIYAudio, Audiokarma, Audioasylum etc. It's just a small temporary place to sit and contemplate your shopping. It's a hi-fi shopping forum.

Best description I've seen yet*good* . . . However when I first came on, I recal, it seemed to have more 'how to and descriptive' content?

Very true.

The modern way of choosing hi-fi is to pick the items you feel have 'maximum bling' then look around for some 'validation'.

No wonder many decent dealers have just packed it in, the market gets what it deserves, in the UK this means Sevenoakes and Richers.

Good luck with that.......*nea*

I do get the feeling that some members here are more "fashion" orientated than "sound" orientated. I just listen to stuff and buy what sounds right.

Chris

And that my friend puts you in a very rightful minority of about 10 of us on here. Crazy!!!

 

[davedotco]

It really isn't a 'dedicated' Hi-Fi forum like Wigwam, PF, AVS, AVF, DIYAudio, Audiokarma, Audioasylum etc. It's just a small temporary place to sit and contemplate your shopping. It's a hi-fi shopping forum.

Best description I've seen yet*good* . . . However when I first came on, I recal, it seemed to have more 'how to and descriptive' content?

Very true.

The modern way of choosing hi-fi is to pick the items you feel have 'maximum bling' then look around for some 'validation'.

No wonder many decent dealers have just packed it in, the market gets what it deserves, in the UK this means Sevenoakes and Richers.

Good luck with that.......*nea*

I do get the feeling that some members here are more "fashion" orientated than "sound" orientated. I just listen to stuff and buy what sounds right.

Chris

And that my friend puts you in a very rightful minority of about 10 of us on here. Crazy!!!

Maybe the industry will change again, maybe not.

I grew up with hi-fi as a small specialist industry, few people actually owned it, most had Dansettes and Radiograms and we are returning to that situation now.

For most people hi-fi is simply a consumer item where fashion, designer bling and latest 'technology' is just as important, if not more so, than sound quality. Thats just the way it is.

The 80s were, in many ways a golden age, decent dealers prepared to spend time with non technical music lovers, demonstrating how their systems worked and allowing the customers to find out what worked for them.

They would then actually taking the time and trouble to install it in the customers home, ensuring optimum performance and long term satisfaction. A different world.

 

[CJSF]

The last few posts are realy getting to the 'nitty-gritty' of fact . . . as far as WHF forum is concerned IMHO

 

[nopiano]

1. I agree that proper HiFi was and still is a minority interest. Just as NAD and Dual made it more accessible in my heyday of the 70s/80s, so iThings, Sonos, DACs and headphones have today.

2. Nice to see prof again too!

3. Nice to see Andy's input, and i wanted to say how pleased I am to see Ketan's sage input on several threads (which adding his job title to might make more take notice!).

4. The site 'mechanics' do seem to be steadily improving with some of the irritations going.

 

[BigH]

Isn't the real issue the pretty obvious fact that this actually isn't a hi-fi forum at all!

Chris

So what is it then Chris??? Lol. ( I have my own suspicions on that score. Summat to do with "Gadgets n Widgets". )

Well to be honest I'm not quite sure what it is! It's quite good fun a lot of the time though.

To me hifi (the clue is in the name!) is about the accurate reproduction of recorded sound. Simple really!

Chris

but how many are interested in accurate, judging by demands and certain products I don't think many are.

 

[davedotco]

1. I agree that proper HiFi was and still is a minority interest. Just as NAD and Dual made it more accessible in my heyday of the 70s/80s, so iThings, Sonos, DACs and headphones have today.

2. Nice to see prof again too!

3. Nice to see Andy's input, and i wanted to say how pleased I am to see Ketan's sage input on several threads (which adding his job title to might make more take notice!).

4. The site 'mechanics' do seem to be steadily improving with some of the irritations going.

I think Ketan is in someones 'bad books'.

Having to read and reply on this forum is the WHF equivilent of the 'naughty step'......!

 

[Vladimir]

I would also like to share the warm welcome for the WHF Technical Editor joining us.

I am also glad to volunteer for non-sage advices as needed.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

I think Ketan is in someones 'bad books'.

Having to read and reply on this forum is the WHF equivilent of the 'naughty step'......!

Good to see that having to communicate with readers/forum users is seen as a punishment; you'd think the WHSV staff, all obviously being enthusiasts, would relish the chance to chat with their readers, wouldn't you?

 

[Richard Allen]

I think Ketan is in someones 'bad books'.

Having to read and reply on this forum is the WHF equivilent of the 'naughty step'......!

Good to see that having to communicate with readers/forum users is seen as a punishment; you'd think the WHSV staff, all obviously being enthusiasts, would relish the chance to chat with their readers, wouldn't you?

The post count says it all really. I don't post that often with a post count of 607 but I think you'll find that Ketans' count is less than half that. At 135, you're catching up with the technical Editor. Strange.

To be fair though, I know Ketan is a really busy man.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

To be fair though, I know Ketan is a really busy man.

And obviously a very well-behaved one, given how infrequently that post-count suggests he needs to be punished by having to engage with the readers. ;-)

 

[davedotco]

To be fair though, I know Ketan is a really busy man.

And obviously a very well-behaved one, given how infrequently that post-count suggests he needs to be punished by having to engage with the readers. ;-)

My original post was somewhat 'tongue in cheek' but if you think that WHF staff are falling over themselves for the opportunity to talk online to 'civilians' then you have a very odd view on how such organisations work.

 

[tinkywinkydipsylalapo]

My original post was somewhat 'tongue in cheek' but if you think that WHF staff are falling over themselves for the opportunity to talk online to 'civilians' then you have a very odd view on how such organisations work.

'Civilians'? What nonsense is this?

I just thought they might be sufficiently interested in their subject and the opinions of their readers and members of the community they host to get involved.

But no, you're right: such contempt for one's customers, from magazines to retailers, is what has made hi-fi the healthy, thriving industry it is today.

 

[matthewpiano]

I think the indiscriminate negativity about the chains is a little unfair, particularly when it tars every shop with the same brush. Audio T are a chain, but their Manchester store is, quite frankly, superb. Having moved nearly 200 miles away in recent weeks I'll struggle to find a store with such helpful and knowledgable staff or such a decent range of carefully chosen products.

 

[The_Lhc]

My original post was somewhat 'tongue in cheek' but if you think that WHF staff are falling over themselves for the opportunity to talk online to 'civilians' then you have a very odd view on how such organisations work.

'Civilians'? What nonsense is this?

I just thought they might be sufficiently interested in their subject and the opinions of their readers and members of the community they host to get involved.

But no, you're right: such contempt for one's customers, from magazines to retailers, is what has made hi-fi the healthy, thriving industry it is today.

You do know they have a magazine to run right? You seem to think they have hours each day to sit around talking on forums, that's pretty idiotic.

 

[The_Lhc]

I think the indiscriminate negativity about the chains is a little unfair, particularly when it tars every shop with the same brush. Audio T are a chain, but their Manchester store is, quite frankly, superb.

Absolutely, I've had better service from Sevenoaks (several branches) than I have from any "traditional" dealers.

 

[matthewpiano]

As for WHFS&V, everyone needs to remember it is a commercial enterprise and it sits within an organisation that will set all sorts of targets and expectations for it. The audience at which it is aimed must find it very useful otherwise its circulation wouldn't be as high as it is. It doesn't pretend to be aimed at the long-term hi-fi fanatic, so the fact that it doesn't satisfy that audience is really irrelevant. In order to meet Haymarket's expectations it has to appeal to a broad readership, and a mixture of general tech products and AV with reviews of widely available hi-fi is going to do this far better than an in-depth specialist hi-fi publication with scientifically supported reviews.

 

[plastic penguin]

Getting back to the original topic: The reason why I spent time away is mainly three-fold: First, since 2008 I feel drained of ideas, allied with my limited knowledge of tjhe newest models, feel like a stuck record.

Secondly, there's too many "spec monkeys" over recent times. That's no bad thing in itself, but can be dangerous when you're recommending stuff based on a sheet of paper. I maybe in a minority, but this forum used to be fun as well as informative. The fun is no more. The newer members are only interested in what valves to upgrade, or what colour belt to buy. That's fine, we've all asked advice and given it... The forum, IMHO, now lacks, if not for a better word, spontaneity or originality.

Thirdly, too many of the old guard have gone or only make the occasional appearence: The Record Spot; Gerrardasnails; Messiah; Prof; PJ Pro; Voodoodoctor... so on and so forth...

EDIT - There's a fourth reason: Spending more quality time with the family, rather than tapping away on this bloody keyboard. I'm sure my fingertips are quarter inch shorter.

 

[BenLaw]

My original post was somewhat 'tongue in cheek' but if you think that WHF staff are falling over themselves for the opportunity to talk online to 'civilians' then you have a very odd view on how such organisations work.

'Civilians'? What nonsense is this?

I just thought they might be sufficiently interested in their subject and the opinions of their readers and members of the community they host to get involved.

But no, you're right: such contempt for one's customers, from magazines to retailers, is what has made hi-fi the healthy, thriving industry it is today.

You do know they have a magazine to run right? You seem to think they have hours each day to sit around talking on forums, that's pretty idiotic.

Andrew Everard always managed to find the time.

 

[Freddy58]

To me hifi (the clue is in the name!) is about the accurate reproduction of recorded sound. Simple really!

Chris

Probably a stupid question, but who decides what's accurate?

 

[Vladimir]

To me hifi (the clue is in the name!) is about the accurate reproduction of recorded sound. Simple really!

Chris

Probably a stupid question, but who decides what's accurate?

Microphones, osciloscopes, computers and engineers.

 

[Freddy58]

To me hifi (the clue is in the name!) is about the accurate reproduction of recorded sound. Simple really!

Chris

Probably a stupid question, but who decides what's accurate?

Microphones, osciloscopes, computers and engineers.

So the conclusions are? Do we have the ultimate system?

 

[davedotco]

I think the indiscriminate negativity about the chains is a little unfair, particularly when it tars every shop with the same brush. Audio T are a chain, but their Manchester store is, quite frankly, superb. Having moved nearly 200 miles away in recent weeks I'll struggle to find a store with such helpful and knowledgable staff or such a decent range of carefully chosen products.

There remains some good people in this industry at all levels but good service is no longer the norm. Specialist dealers have, in the main, moved away from the budget and mid-fi markets and I can understand why. Custom install and more upmarket product is their solution which leaves tha mass market to the 'chains'.

I do not have an Audio T close to me but my local 'chain' is hopeless but the prices are good so people get a good 'deal' on unsuitable product as if that is enough. Even now, 12 years on from stepping out of the industry I get asked to sort out peoples systems, usually total crap bought at a good price, that is effectively unusable for their needs.

I used to point this out but that is pointless, telling them that they have, more or less, thrown their money away makes me the villain, I soon got bored with that.

 

[Vladimir]

So the conclusions are? Do we have the ultimate system?

Everything but the speakers.

 

[Freddy58]

So the conclusions are? Do we have the ultimate system?

Everything but the speakers.

Hiya Vlad

So, which amp should we all be buying?

From my viewpoint, most of us don't actually want accurate, in the total sense. If we did, we'd all be buying the same kit, wouldn't we? (budgets allowing, of course).