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Grover’s Travels: A Swiftian Hi-Fi Experience

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Grover Neville: Early 20’s, graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Professional Musician and Recording Engineer, and, most importantly, an aspiring audiophile.

David Blumenstein, Dagogo’s International Correspondent, requested that I author a piece detailing, exploring and examining my experiences in the audio industry. I admit to being simultaneously excited and just a wee bit trepidatious. I stand out and apart at Hi-Fi shows given my age and background. On top of everything I dabble in psychoacoustics and acoustical physics. Most folks over the age of 40 will mistakenly refer to me as a Millennial, a rather nondescript blanket term for “those young people,” to which I can equally unfairly refer to them as “those old people.”

My professors at the Conservatory were millennials, so I am not entirely sure where that leaves me. Generation Z comes off sounding like something from a recent zombie movie, but until they come up with something better that’s what I and my contemporaries must endure. Somebody, anybody, come up with a more pleasing blanket term for us.

The genesis of this piece, much like the Phoenix, arose from ongoing conversations with David on the topic of the youth perspective on Hi-Fi as both a hobby and an industry. Seeing as how the hobby can be a largely solitary pursuit, listening in one’s room, one’s inner sanctum and the Hi-Fi shows. Attendees might travel to the show in groups, but once they arrive, it can be pretty much every man for himself. I purposely specified male, as the gender gap is less of a gap and more of a void.

While new to attending Hi-Fi shows, I’ve actually been in the audio industry for some time and have attended my fair share of both hobby and professional shows. In stark contrast, the two could not be any more different. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the supposedly/tragically hip headphone scene.

Having recently attended the CanJam SoCal 2019 headphone show, I attended the promising-sounding seminar entitled The Convergence of Personal Audio, which should/could have been so much better than it was. I consider myself both a two-channel and headphone listener, and while the panelists were up to the task, the moderator resorted to the all too familiar grandstanding upon issues with which they possess but passing familiarity, and all too frequent interruptions of the panelists, with misleading questions and not so thinly veiled demeaning commentaries, the hallmark of two-channel audiophiles in such a situation. Again, the panel provided some valuable insights but they were few and far between for the reasons mentioned above.

Highlighting both the age and perspective chasm, I recall a demo given by Andrew Jones of ELAC at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) last year. He was queuing up a track and quipped that if he left Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” on continuous repeat the old fogies might not even notice. I chuckled at this, perhaps a bit too loud for my own good, as this utterance did not escape Andrew, who declared we have a young whipper snapper! While he appeared entertained, the rest of the old fogies not so much.

I’ve run rooms where more modern musical selections have chased out older audiophiles­—not my intention at all—and been in rooms where my musical requests, even bog-standard by classical standards, were met with dismissal and haughty derision. By no means a unique situation/experience in my show-going limited experience, but I did and do find it somewhat ironic.

I grew up in a serious audiophile household listening to gear from Vandersteen, McCormack and Creek. I cut my teeth in the headphone world at age thirteen. I went to school and studied music performance, recording technology, and physics. Without self-aggrandizing, it’s not a stretch to say that I probably have a larger musical and technical knowledge-base and more rigorously-trained ears than the average audiophile.

The pro audio shows I attend are different, they are FUN! Old, young, global, and local, we can talk about gear and music interchangeably and have a blast doing so at the same time. There’s even a sort of cautious respect accorded to those music and audio professionals willing to admit their audiophile streak. In essence, a recognition of true dedication to everything sound related.

So where’s the love? Show me the love in the audiophile world. Why all the grumpiness in places where attendees’ livelihoods are even less at stake? Let’s break it down into something somewhat more digestible.

I’m going to go out on a limb here: most Hi-Fi show attendees are older than my dad. Heh, David [Blumenstein] is ancient in comparison, and while he doesn’t give a damn about my hot pink hair and fashion statement wardrobe choices, no doubt his contemporaries and the dinosaurs making him feel young are just not that open-minded. There are three cultural issues at play here:

Traditional audiophiles for the most part simply don’t get (grok) headphones, and with each passing day, each passing show it becomes clearer that this is generational. It is not so much that the old-timers don’t understand or like headphones, but more to the point, video games are a big gateway for younger folks into the world of audio. In further contrast to two-channel’s home-theatre niche, video gaming is a forever growing, changing field in terms of industry standards and, more importantly, audio and sonic production quality, and with that the need for specialized equipment is minimal.

Most video-game audio can be created entirely within the gaming world: spatial out of the box, requiring no specific processing and/or equipment on the part of the end-user apart from a decent pair of headphones. Recently some of the best audio I’ve heard has been in the form of sound-design from within video games. In light of the current VR (virtual-reality) trend, headphones have become crucial for gaming, though some gamers are incorporating desktop audio and, in some instances, high-end audio and home-theatre rigs have infiltrated their worlds. Gaming as the gateway to more traditional audio, who would have thought?

A not too subtle factor is purely physical. Young folks are plainly more active, where sitting indoors listening to speakers is unabashedly sedentary, whereas with headphones and desktop rigs, there exists an implied perception of mobility. The days of LAN parties (carrying your computer and speakers to someone’s house) are over with, distant memories in the rear-view mirror. The prospect of doing the same with a traditional two-channel system is sheer lunacy. Also, with physical fitness and health concerns having increasing cultural value, the appeal of sitting back—not leaning forward—and listening to music is the province of the anachronistic couch potato. It is not so much that today’s youth have an aversion to sonic quality, it’s just that they want to get out and enjoy their lives.

Apart from the points above, I don’t think there’s much about the hobby that is generational. Computer audiophiles, as they’ve been labeled, remain firmly invested in sound quality and, like myself, eager enthusiasts when it comes to both headphone and loudspeaker listening.

The cost of gear is not so much of a factor, given that there will always be plenty of sensibly priced high performing products in addition to those in the tens of thousands of dollars—if you know what you want and know where to look. Some of these young folks should be interested in attending audio shows to see not only what’s out there, but to interact with the industry, and possibly even affect change in function, features, design and price. At the age of 24, I’ve been in the industry for a year or two, and with that I’m still the youngest person in the room by 10-15 years at Head-Fi shows and easily 25+ years at Hi-Fi shows. So, maybe this is more generational than I thought.

I just went to Nashville to attend NAMM, which is essentially the pro-audio/music equivalent of Hi-Fi’s AXPONA held just outside of Chicago. The cultural differences between the two are clearly evident. Even at Head-Fi shows where the crowd is older, they are more interested in solitary listening experiences (with their music tastes being limited as well). The nagging diversity complaints in the audiophile realm simply don’t hold water in the Pro-Audio sector. The professionals are people from every walk of life, making music with high quality equipment though, ironically, not listening to it with the same quality gear.

The older two-channel bastion gate-keep High-End audio with all the trappings from the 70’s, what is purported to be Hi-Fi’s golden age. And for the most part these folks’ values have shifted upwards to relatively more expensive and elaborate systems. Sadly, this comes at a price—closed-mindedness with respect to gear selection, set-up, room design and, perhaps most damning, speaker placement. Meanwhile, the headphone crowd is more likely to be Generation X (Gen-X), than the more well-heeled baby-boomers, and subsequently less likely to afford the dizzying Hi-Fi heights. Such gate-keeping does not move the hobby forward.

Millennials (Gen-Y) are quite possibly more of a factor in the computer audiophile segment, with less presence than the serious audio communities, and these folks in their mid 30’s, twenties and younger simply are without an established community. They are for the most part outsiders, strangers in a strange land (h/t Robert Heinlein), with the possible exception of those on the bleeding edge, the hardware hackers looking to change the world one Raspberry Pi, one Sparky, one Arduino at a time. No gatekeepers need apply.

Price/cost is a double-edged sword. Headphones are more portable and less expensive. Even at the extreme high end, rigs struggle to top $5,000-$6,000, and surpassing $10,000 requires going over the top with the extremely exotic, bling-worthy gear. In comparison, two-channel systems running into the hundreds of thousands more often over-promise and under-deliver, especially at shows where most systems don’t live up to their billing. That being said, there are reasonably priced systems and gear out there, and some speakers for the money can deliver exceptional bang for the buck. 🙂 Think of this as that other edge.

It’s not just about the gear, there’s music not only heard but to be listened to, enjoyed, and appreciated. Hence the great debate: What music is to be played in the exhibitor’s room at the show? I’ve noticed there are two basic rooms: those where people complain about the music being selected and the other where the same narrow canon of artists and genres are played ad-nauseum. Sadly, it is in the latter rooms where you’re more likely to encounter the dour-faced manufacturer/company representative, while in the former you’ll find those mistakenly believing that they are hip, somehow magically in tune with today’s generation, in other words cool beyond their …

Seriously though, with the passing of time, playing Led Zeppelin is going to win out over Bach every day of the week and twice on Sunday. From personal experience running rooms at shows, attendees vote with their feet (don’t forget the Awards Ballot. -pub). Rock music as a genre is a safer bet than most as it includes so many popular sub-genres of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, the sweet-spots for most established traditional two-channel audiophiles. So, what music does play to attract today’s generation? Their interests are more diverse than ever. Assumptions of old are no longer applicable.

There are plenty of music school grads who don’t mind hearing Bach or Beethoven at all, and they probably know classical music far better than the average audiophile. Likewise, the obvious genres like indie rock, Neo-Soul, Rap and pop all have recordings, much like any genre, which are both musically and sonically superb. Instead of Katy Perry try Carly Rae Jepsen, instead of Jay-Z try D’Angelo, instead of Mumford and Sons try The Punch Brothers. There are a myriad of possibilities, and of course things like the New Album Release Project (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenarp) is a great way to discover new music that is being recorded, mixed and mastered well.

Modern music’s quality is not the issue. In fact, there isn’t any trouble with any recorded music; there’s good stuff to listen to from every corner of the world and from every era, something I think the generations can learn from each other. I’ve taken joy in hearing and sharing recordings old and new regardless of generation, and I learn just as much from experienced listeners who have old, well-worn gems as from young, upcoming music tastemakers.

Having both run and attended rooms at audio shows, I can tell you with absolute certainty that musical selection is king, and while you can’t make everyone happy, you can piss them off pretty easily. Music that draws in young people—Janelle Monae, for example—will drive off older folks, but the reverse isn’t necessarily the case, mostly because young people aren’t as set in their ways yet, especially if the audio hobby is still new. Sure, they have tastes and likes, but most of the younger crowd I’ve talked to in the audio industry is much more open to new and different music than the established audiophiles.

Hence, it’s not a simple matter of pandering to tastes, but rather variety. Again, this really isn’t a generational difference. At a surface level, musical familiarity will draw new listeners in, but you’re more likely to keep them there by playing things they like. The point is that modern music isn’t a barrier to getting younger crowds to listen—it is the people selecting the music. #gatekeepers

Let me take a moment to affirm the following: I am not here to attack the status quo in the audio industry, as I enjoy attending Hi-Fi shows and interacting with folks in the industry. However, when asked by the gatekeepers what’s going to get the young ones into audio as a hobby, I had to pause, take a breath, and determine do I answer with the truth or The Truth.

 

Truth #1

As someone in the industry who cannot begin to assimilate with today’s generation, do not even make the attempt, as it will come off as being disingenuous, and with that it is game over, there is no turning back.

 

Truth #2

Hi-Fi for the enthusiast is a hobby, a niche hobby, and as such neither headphones nor cheap gear is going to draw them in. It will take more than material acquisitions to get them interested enough to ensure their participation and commitment. Today’s generation is about community, events, recordable moments, etc.

 

I’d ask those asking the question, what drew them initially as Hi-Fi hobbyists and now audiophiles? The factors making this possible in the 70’s were outside the control of the industry, so it’s foolish for today’s industry to believe it can and will have any impact.

Sounds kinda bleak, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We need to be open to new experiences and be far less rigid, less dogmatic in our collective/respective beliefs about how the hobby should be experienced. Again, remember what it was like for each one of us when we first got into Hi-Fi and, most importantly, what made it fun!!!!

There are audiophiles and audio-nerds. The latter are passionate and truly understand the idea of audio in all its forms. Often those in the latter group originate from non-traditional places. Beyond possessing phenomenal ears, they are recording engineers, musicians, Head-Fi listeners and Hi-Fi enthusiasts. Examples of such are EveAnna Manley (Manley Audio), and Mike Moffat (Schiit), who march to the tunes of different drummers, swimming simultaneously in multiple ponds, setting themselves apart. They are a cast of characters doing it their way, subverting the norm. I see myself in this camp, first and foremost as a musician and a recording engineer, for whom being an audiophile is integral to my identity as Grover.

If that’s so where does that leave self-proclaimed audiophiles? It is important for them to grasp that, in today’s world, being identified as an audiophile is akin to ticking the other box on a pre-printed form. To sit back and listen to music in the comfort of one’s listening room is no longer the norm. Exclusivity in the hobby must make way for inclusivity. The singular experience need be shared and communicated with others. Withdrawing the gates, taking down the walls, is not nearly enough. It is time for sacred cows to be put out to that greater pasture.

This future excites as much as I’m sure it terrifies ‘proper’ audiophiles. The reality is that music and audiophile ways of listening to it will continue, and I don’t think they’ll die out anytime soon, but they will continue to shrink, and there is not a cultural change or marketing shift we can make to change that. What I do think will be interesting is to watch how the current generation of young musicians and producers, who have grown up as recording technology has become more accessible, will interact with the audiophile world. Much like today, I suspect you’ll find the majority of them in studios, streaming on twitch and YouTube from home, and yes, going to audio shows—just not the ones we host. If you want to see where these audiophiles of the future are, you should be looking at shows channeling the Zeitgeist: video game soundtrack and sound design conventions, professional music and audio shows, technology and sound conferences. This is where you’ll find the next crop of audiophiles, and the simple fact that they’re making a career out of these things will mean they have better ears and education in all things in sound than most audiophiles ever will, and that doesn’t sound so bleak to me.

(Edited by David Blumenstein)

 

Copy editor: Dan Rubin

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4 Responses to Grover’s Travels: A Swiftian Hi-Fi Experience


  1. Glassmonkey says:

    Awesome post. I agree with almost everything here, but have to say I’ve found the British scene a touch less pretentious on the 2-channel side and not as precocious on the HeadFi side.

  2. Ostap says:

    At last year’s Toronto Audio show I was pleasantly surprised when Audio By Mark Jones agreed to play a track from Oneohtrix Point Never in XRCD format. I also feel it is less of a “generational” thing and more about attitude and open mindedness.

  3. Joe Balke says:

    Old guy here

    This was one of the most self aggrandizing articles I have wasted my time on.

    Keep working on the pink hair. I will avoid future posts by you.

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