The Future of HiFi Audio & Review of the Florida International Audio Expo
Those of you who have read my articles in the past know I appreciate the subtleties of the audio industry just as much, if not more, than the latest and best new craze that’s available in the HIFI and high-end audio world. But many have asked me what I think the future of HIFI Audio looks like. Attending audio shows is the perfect avenue for perceiving and understanding the industry as a whole, the motivations behind the manufacturers, and the drive that exists to improve sound quality through their unique innovation and design. Additionally, it’s an excellent opportunity to simply meet with people who share the same passion and joy for music that we all have and gauge what the future will look like for high-end audio. Not the technology, per se, but the environment it will exist in.
My favorite show of the year is hands down the Florida International Audio Expo (FIAE). It’s large enough that you can experience a wide variety of different and well-known brands and new products as well as enjoy what this market has to offer in terms of technology and design. It’s also not so large that you get lost in the mix trying to see everything in so short a timeframe as a single weekend. Bart Andeer, the Director of Show Operations for the FIAE, demonstrates this philosophy by offering a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere geared toward reaching new attendees as well as younger generations through emotional connection. His goal is to share the HIFI world with these newcomers who can grow to appreciate the music and equipment as much as himself and others.
I sat down with Bart this weekend to discuss the success of the latest show, which grew in attendance by 15% from last year’s expo, and dig into what makes the FIAE one of my must-attend events of the year for both consumers and vendors alike and why it’s a great indication of how future shows will perform. I am always surprised by the friendliness among so-called competitors and their willingness to share information openly, honestly, and without pressure to purchase.
Before attending the show this year though, we had a viewer from our YouTube channel comment that they felt like the Audio Industry was in steep decline and the death of HIFI was soon on the horizon. After attending the FIAE, I couldn’t think this is further from the truth and that statements such as the above have been making the rounds for years, if not decades. I believe opinions like this are misguided because of their misunderstanding of the industry itself rather than their disinterest in quality music or mistrust of high-end audio equipment. While this industry goes through ups and downs like any other, it’s been readily apparent, to me at least, that the need and want for high-quality sound performance is something widespread and much deeper than most people may understand.
Music is in our DNA. It’s been a part of our culture, of every culture, since human beings first began walking upright, and probably even before that. I don’t know the specific pre-history of music but I do know that some of the earliest human artifacts are flutes made of bones and wooden pipes that are over 40,000 years old. Just imagine the very first “audio expo”, with a family of early and pre-modern humans sitting around a campfire vocalizing in harmony, playing a bone flute and drumming on the log they’re seated on. The purpose of the gathering wouldn’t necessarily be to discuss the flute but imagine if one of the people in that group had never heard a flute before and how impactful it would be…We carry that tradition on to this very day through people like Bart Andeer and his team. It’s quite an impressive legacy when you sit back and think about it!
Another aspect that is clear to me is the passion most of the attendees, exhibitors, and event organizers have for sharing their knowledge and love for music. We each express our joy for music differently, we prefer different equipment and tones, or have different budgets open to us. Ultimately, the music itself is something that we all can relate to and something that ties each of us to one another regardless of what system or equipment you’re using to listen. The music is what’s important and sharing the understanding with someone new is an important factor. And every once in a while, you just might be blown away by that new device that does something you didn’t think was possible.
But despite all of the innovation that has come along in the last 50-60 years there is still a deep-seated love for vinyl, or CDs, or even reel-to-reel. Despite how much more convenient things are with the internet and wi-fi and streaming consumers still want to purchase vinyl record, turntables, phono stages, and tube amps. The audio world has changed and it hasn’t changed, which means there is something for everyone no matter your preference or price-range.
I’m lucky to see the reason why this is the case. I’ve witnessed first-hand the relationships that exist because of this industry and how it feels to be welcomed into a group of people regardless of your age, sex, race, creed, or wallet-size simply because of a shared joy that comes from listening to music. And for those out there that question whether or not you have to be a millionaire to participate, I say, there’s a price-point for everyone. You won’t be left out of the club simply because you can’t afford the most expensive speakers on the market.
During this year’s expo I met with a new designer by the name of Sebastian Hasbun, the engineer and designer behind the incredibly unique Temporal Acoustics Subwoofer on display with the Popori Acoustics Vitorla. His introduction to the high-end audio world was a demo set up by Unique Home Audio where they set up a listening session for him to hear the Magico Loudspeaker despite knowing he was never going to purchase. What they really did was open their arms to him in welcome and help him to solidify an idea based on the experience and knowledge he already leading to an innovative and high-quality design, different from anything you’ve seen before.
It's experiences like these that Bart feels are critical for expanding the audience (pun definitely intended) to younger generations who may not be familiar with quality-sound. Experiences that shape and mold young people to pursue their creativity and passion in the future. And experiences that make high-end audio a safe and welcoming space for everyone. We discussed this aspect of the Florida Show in detail in our interview available on our YouTube channel @SoundApproach1972 and we highly recommend you take the time to enjoy it.
On that note, I’d like to leave you with one anecdote from Bart (and his colleague Ken) that I think applies to all of us when looking at the future of HIFI audio…We don’t have the responsibility to fix what’s wrong with the whole world. If you’re walking down the beach and you see a bunch of starfish stranded on the sand and pick up one to throw back in the ocean, you haven’t saved just one starfish, rather you’ve saved all the generations that come after it. In this context, if you bring one person into the HIFI audio world, you haven’t just brought in that person but all the people that come after them. This is how music has carried down to us through the millennia and why it will continue long after we’ve turned into dust. The future of HIFI and high-end audio is very bright indeed, especially with people like Bart Andeer at the helm who understand that creating a safe and welcoming space is one of the most important factors to introduce younger generations to our world.
