Is the mass market and fashoin killing the speaker industry

[prerich]

I ask this question, not based on sales nor do I ask it based emerging technologies. I do however ask it in light of reading D&M's response to the closing of Snell Acoustics. In one phrase the owner stated that large speakers like Snells do not fit today's households (to that effect). I have personally owned large speakers most of my life - to reproduce sound you must move air. However I believe that people are now skewed to the point that visuals mean everything or that they are the top priority in a speaker. I stated this in another thread that the great Paul Klipsch stated (in paraphrase of course) that these new small speakers are an extreme compromise of sonic quality. I going the cute route at one time in my life and my wife told me to leave it and never return to it - keep large speakers in the house! I've been true to my word - even my bookshelves are large.

We now see great speaker companies closing, not only due to the economy but I believe to a cultural change. This change is evident on the house buying programs on HGTV. I could almost bust a gut when someone goes into a house and they don't like it because of someone's elses furniture or decor. I've gone into places and I imagine how I would decorate it - I don't need them to take their furniture out. What's even more ridculous is when they bring the people back after the redecorating - they love the home - even though its the same home - you're not getting the furniture - it's just staged - it had the same potential as before.

The cultural change I'm observing in audio now is "as long as it's cute, it can fool me that it sounds just as good as those big ugly speakers". The culture of music is changing - I listen to live music every week - not all of its professional but I do listen to music every week. Nowaday - you can't get some people to listen - but everyone is a critic! Even Apple is capitalizing on this culture - getting everyone to buy into the apps thing (Apple has very good products and very nice design but hey - I thing Steve is going too far now).

I applaud every home brew speaker maker and every High-end designer that won't budge because they are going against curb. In the industry it generally about sales - but for the DIY'r and the HE company its about the preformance of the performance. Just my little rant. I wonder if Thiel will be next? Chime in whether you feel the same way I do or if you feel the opposite. All opinions are welcome.