Written by 6:13 pm Headphone + Accessory Reviews

Headphones – The Gateway to Hardcore Audiophila

Since almost everyone has an iPod, almost everyone has a pair of headphones that they listen to music with. Using this assumption, it is events like CAN JAMs, discussed here, that can made these headphone users into audiophiles.


AR-head1.jpegThis morning I received an email from the Head-fi organization that the 2011 RMAF will host the 2011 CAN JAM. And why is this exciting news? Because headphones are the gateway drug to the high end for anyone under 30.

Sure, Music Matters events are good. But they will only lead to growth if high-end specialty shops can figure out how to market to under-30 consumers. How many retailers have viable Facebook presence or tweet to their customers about events and sales? Any shop that plans to still be in business in five years needs to hire an 18 yr. old to organize their social networking…

The exciting thing about having CAN JAM at the RMAF is that it almost guarantees that there will at least be some younger audiophiles present. And some of these younger audiophiles just might wander out of the confines of the CAN JAM ballroom into the upper floors of the Ramada. But, just in case they don’t, some of you forward-thinking high-end retailers and manufacturers might want to see if there’s still some room left to display at CAN JAM. It may be the best bet you can make for your future…

I know that this year I’m planning to devote several hours to CAN JAM. I’m bringing my pair of Ultimate Ears In-ear Reference Monitors which I will try to plug into every interesting desktop amplifier I see. And if you’re at RMAF you need to spend some time visiting what very well may be the future of high-end audio. Bring a pair of cans and crank ’em up…

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