The original title for this week’s Sunday Thoughts piece was going to be “Stop Being An Arsehole” (asshole, for our US readers) but I didn’t think the SEO lords would like that very much. Anyway, read on…

Last week I published an article titled “Where Are All the Young Audiophiles?” and the article quite clearly struck a chord with folk.

One thing I read into the feedback was the idea that there was a fair bit of snobbery in HiFi. It’s a difficult subject, but one that deserves a bit of discussion, I reckon. If we’re serious about welcoming a younger audience (and older folk ) into the audiophile world, we have to talk about how the culture of HiFi presents itself, especially online.

Let’s be clear: passion and expertise are not the same as elitism or being an arsehole. There’s nothing wrong with having strong opinions about equipment, formats, or sound quality. What becomes problematic is when passion transcends into blocking, when enjoying music through a Bluetooth speaker becomes “wrong,” or when streaming (or whatever) is dismissed outright as unworthy. 

We’ve all seen it, the scoffing at earbuds, the disdain for MP3s, the subtle (and not so subtle) messaging that if you’re not spinning vinyl through a gazilion quids worth of kit, then you’re doing it wrong. That kind of mindset alienates younger listeners and actively drives them away. The number of times I’ve seen pictures of those suitcase-style turntables (I’ll not say the name) posted up on socials only to be met with derision is, if not countless, high. 

I think some of us need to take a hard look in the mirror.

Here’s a truth that should be obvious, but often gets lost: everyone starts somewhere. For many of us, it was a hand-me-down system or a cheap set of desktop speakers hooked up to a laptop. For others, it was a pair of budget headphones and a Spotify account or YouTube Music. These experiences aren’t lesser – they’re foundational. I started with a little FM radio and one of the skin coloured earphones (just the one) and later got a tape recorder to play cassettes…then it was a Dansette kind of turntable. And then an Amstrad system, which I loved and blasted out the likes of The Jam and Blondie – I genuinely thought this system was the dog’s danglies. 

We need to remind ourselves that the act of listening is far more important than the hardware used, and I say that as someone who LOVES the gear. If someone is moved by music playing through a phone speaker, that spark of joy is just as real as anything produced by high-end electronics. That’s likely to be an unpopular opinion, but I believe it to be a truth!

And here’s the thing: if music becomes a passion, the gear will follow…or it might. 

People who fall in love with music often want to hear more. They want better clarity, deeper bass, and more emotion/connection. That’s when curiosity kicks in: What if I got a better DAC? What if I tried those vinyls (sic) that everyone keeps talking about? That’s the path into audiophilia – not through shaming, but through inspiration. Genuinely, I see some posts on social media from people both inside and outside the industry that make me shudder!

So, how do we encourage that journey in audiophilia?

First, by embracing diversity… in tastes, in technologies, and in the people who make up this hobby. Whether someone is listening to Dutch Gabber on a smart speaker or Coltrane on an all-singing, all-dancing mega system, what matters is that they’re listening. Celebrate that. It’s a great starting point! 

Second, by changing the conversation. Instead of telling people what they shouldn’t be doing, let’s ask them what they love about music. What moves them? What was the last track that gave them goosebumps or moved them to dance around the kitchen? These are the doorways into conversations about sound quality, system building, and musical nuance… audiophilia.

Finally, we need to foster more inclusive spaces – online and offline. Too often, HiFi forums and social media groups devolve into battlegrounds of technical one-upmanship – we’ve all seen it and it pisses me right off. We forget that not everyone knows what jitter is, or why Class A amplification matters. We also forget that not everyone has unlimited financial means. And that’s okay.

We shouldn’t dumb things down, but we should make sure that the way we talk about gear is welcoming to newcomers, not a test they must pass before being allowed to join the club. And I have to say, had I had access to some of the vitriol spouted on social media by some parties when I was a fledgling music lover, I’d have run a mile. 

Another thing that gets me is the discussion around formats, specifically streaming. Some folk lament the decline of physical media, particularly vinyl and CD, while others point to the convenience and accessibility of streaming services. There’s “format wars” on the socials constantly, and not just in audiophile circles, it extends to the DJ groups I’m in, too. And, yes, I railed against streaming for yonks – I’ll take myself outside for a good talking to.

Here’s the thing: it’s not either/or. Both can (and should) coexist.

Streaming has opened up the world of music in unprecedented ways, despite my moaning about it for years. It’s made the discovery of new tunes effortless and lowered the barrier (financially) to entry for young listeners. You can hear everything from Bach to Björk, Mahler to Motorhead in a matter of seconds, often in CD quality or better. That’s not a downgrade; that’s a freaking minor miracle. I don’t think it’s perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s pretty incredible technology.

Yes, there’s a valid conversation to be had about Hi-res audio, mastering, and audio fidelity in general – let’s not mention the Loudness Wars. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that the goal is always the music. The medium (and the kit) is just the conduit.

Some of the most passionate music lovers I’ve met in recent years came to the hobby through Spotify playlists and YouTube rabbit holes. That doesn’t make them less serious. It makes them reachable, and potentially future audiophiles if they find the community and encouragement they need.

At HiFi PiG, we believe in showcasing the full spectrum of the HiFi world, from luxury systems to real-world gear that delivers great sound without breaking the bank.

If we’re not embracing this, we’re not just missing a marketing opportunity, we’re missing the chance to grow our culture and hobby.

Let’s return to something simple: music is magic. It can comfort, provoke, energise, and (old hippy alert) heal. It doesn’t care what kind of cables you use or what bit rate you’re streaming at. And whilst it’s true that better equipment deepens that magic and connects us in a better way, it’s also true that the journey toward better sound begins with (old hippy alert) love, not judgement and derision!

So let’s celebrate people who love music. Let’s make room for Gen Z playlists and cassette collectors alike. Let’s drop the snobbery (arseholery) and pick up the spirit of sharing – and let’s point it out when we recognise it online. Because the future of audiophilia doesn’t lie in perfection or lecturing – it lies in passion and inclusivity! Basically, there’s room for everyone.

And if we nurture that passion with open arms and open minds, then maybe we’ll find that the next generation of audiophiles was with us all along. They just needed to feel welcome.

Remember, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

Stuart Smith

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