[my.self]

so yes, im curious about what percent u guys think this audio/headphone community is to other people who listen to music through their ipods/stock ear buds and etc.

 

[logwed]

I helped my friend buy some cheap full-size koss cans and he STILL listens through zune-buds

 

[Tridacnid]

I said 1 percent or less because I've never met another audiophile in person. Could be the age group I'm in, though (<25).

 

[Barock]

I've never met anyone's who's even heard of head-fi, which must be over 100 people. Or at least they won't admit it...

 

[logwed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tridacnid /img/forum/go_quote.gif I said 1 percent or less because I've never met another audiophile in person. Could be the age group I'm in, though (<25).

Do you remember the age poll a while ago?
I think that <25 was the largest group.

 

[lutwey]

i say 1% or less. in school ive a listen 2-3 hifi headphones on the thousands that listen to their ipod. all of those cans are sub 100 ones too so no serious listening happening there.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Probably less than a hundredth of a percent. Pretty much everyone in a first world country has an iPod or other DAP. They're moving into the rest of the world, too. Audiophiles are an exceedingly small portion of all listeners.

The only reason we get any attention is because of the massive margins we generate. Don't kid yourselves. A $500 headphone costs maybe $25 or $30 in materials and overhead. Sure, there's R&D and other expenses, but manufacturers make a killing on us. The bigger the margins, the more players there are. That's why you see a plethora of cable manufacturers and far fewer amp builders.

 

[logwed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif The only reason we get any attention is because of the massive margins we generate. Don't kid yourselves. A $500 headphone costs maybe $25 or $30 in materials and overhead. Sure, there's R&D and other expenses, but manufacturers make a killing on us. The bigger the margins, the more players there are. That's why you see a plethora of cable manufacturers and far fewer amp builders.

My grandfather used to work for Koss, and the most high-end headphones they made at the time ('70s and '80s) cost $3.50 to make.

 

[Suntory_Times]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Probably less than a hundredth of a percent. Pretty much everyone in a first world country has an iPod or other DAP. They're moving into the rest of the world, too. Audiophiles are an exceedingly small portion of all listeners.

I don't have a dap, I had an imod, but didn't enjoy listening to music on the go so sold it and don't intend on buying any dap in the forseable future.

I think the raw materials something costs to make is nearly always negligible, its all the other cost as marketing, research and developement, paying for employees (invoved from building the product to answering the phones when you call the company if you have a problem). A saying i've heard is between a 500% to 1000% of markeup is neaded on the raw materials if you want to turn a profit (obviously is only for mid to large businesses).

I put 5% or less, as there are many audiophiles out there, there just not as big as you or me and they do upgrade there headphones (sometime blindly, but none the less they still do it in search for better performance). That bieng said most will never go to the lengths that many on this forum have gone to to get the sound they want.

 

[tintin47]

Way less than one percent. Everyone knows or sees several hundred people who listen to music every day, but how often do you see another audiophile?

 

[slypher]

We are a small rare group of people.

 

[thechungster]

Way below 1% in my school at least. I may be the only person with some good IEMs. Then it's probably my music teacher with his SCL2s.
But for the entire world, maybe 5% or less?

 

[saintalfonzo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechungster /img/forum/go_quote.gif Way below 1% in my school at least. I may be the only person with some good IEMs. Then it's probably my music teacher with his SCL2s. But for the entire world, maybe 5% or less?

I agree with Erik's projected WAY less than 1%

 

[thechungster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saintalfonzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I agree with Erik's projected WAY less than 1%

Hmm just looked at it, guess it's a pretty valid point.

 

[Suntory_Times]

I put this question foward. If someone is an audiophile and doesn't use portable gear, how can you tell without asking them whether they are?