It is a bit confusing … the speaker in my post is the original design (at least that was shown publicly) and was designed in house, I would say about three years ago. Paul decided he needed a different approach, hired Chris Brunhaver, and the new design named FR-30 replaced the original AN3. The FR-30 met mixed aesthetic reviews, not sure if it was publicly shown/played, but I don’t recall any comments on the sound so I think not. For reasons I’m not clear on Paul (or Chris?) was not satisfied with the FR-30 and has resulted in a new design, not publicly shown yet, that looks different (again) and has been renamed (again) the AN3. This whole exercise was intended as a tribute to Paul’s mentor, Arnie Nudel, founder of Infinity (think IRS V) and Genesis loudspeakers. I think the drifting from this path may be partially responsible for the musical chairs. I’m still interested in the end result, but it’s more academic in that I’m not sure if I will replace my Vandersteen 5’s. Their age, about 20 years old, is the main issue for me.
Not everything, only your mindset:
I’m only playing Devil’s Advocate as the golf in Florida grinds to a close, although I genuinely believe that high end audio is largely a brand-dependent luxury product whose predominant market is largely white ageing men.
I do wonder about PS Audio, or any similar company spend annually on market research or how they would go about developing a product that could be marketed specifically to women or people under age 30.
Exactly…! Reams of nothingness and you’ve nailed it with 5 small words.
The 20-somethings are not likely to invest in pricier audio that can take up a significant amount of floor space, while they are living in their mom’s basement. 
You guys are discussing what young people like/want/expect of their hi-fi as if it’s some great mystery requiring mass pontification. It’s not. Look at all the young hi-fi reviewers on youtube (Zeos is #1 in this segment and his reviews are a bit shill-ish but that’s not the point) and check out the headphone forums. Surprise! The headphone forums discuss a lot of 2ch stuff. These are young people with limited income. In the headphone world they can have end game performance for the same price that you/we spend on a single 2ch component. When they’ve worked for a decade or two (like most here have) and are financially stable and better off, they’ll start buying the hi end home stuff. So relax, the hobby is not going to die. And honestly if anyone wants to thank somebody for it, send Zeos a nice message because he single handedly saved hi-fi for the future. He’s still a shill though lol.
Kids at home want their own world and earbuds is all they need for that. They decide what they listen too, their music or our conversation, and carry their Spotify or Apple Music anywhere they go.
Speakers are for old farts like their dad.
It will change, once they live on their own.
We shouldn’t forget one thing. The 20 somethings hardly have the chance to press their nose against a meanwhile non-existing Hi-Fi shop in the city and get hooked on some shiny gear, so less risk they demand something they didn’t know about yet or don’t have the money for 
This is why I mentioned the headphone forums. There certainly is enthusiasm there.
Time will tel whether this translates to high-end two-channel, but it well may.
My point exactly (but with more words and explanation).
Honestly, if it weren’t for going to a variety of hi-fi shops in my low 20’s, experiencing different sounds and hi-fi approaches, it’s highly unlikely I would be into hi-fi today. Home theater, yes, hi-fi? Not likely.
Don’t know about that, I had a stereo, they have a smart phone, with all handed down gear I had that stereo cost less than that smart phone.
The smart phone does not only take its toll in the camera market this audio market is also effected.
Argyles rock.
Can only agree.
It’s not entirely about money and space, but rather different approach to music experience. I’m afraid most young people will never want old school 2ch hifi system, even if they have the money and space for it. It’s not cool enough. If a young person saves some money, he buys a new shiny smartphone or tablet (and yes, top range is not cheap), because it has value to him and his community in today’s social media-oriented world. So mostly portable devices from lifestyle companies. The problem is, that’s enough for them. One of the reasons could be the fact that many young people simply did not have the opportunity to hear high quality speaker system. If they don’t have an audiophile in their family (mostly father), they have no idea what it might sound like. I remember how my 18-year-old niece was totally shocked when I played (her favorite) music on my two-channel setup. She said: “I’ve never heard anything sounding this good in my life”. Anyway, this is for a very long discussion and probably in another thread…
My son went to my hifi store. He listened to a pair of top level Audeze headphones. He thought they were fantastic. He had no desire to own them. Has some good AKG at less than 10% the cost of the Audeze. I don’t think he noticed any of the static audio.
I bought a Phantom Reactor. My younger son loved it and took it. Then my wife took it from him. She now has it in her clinic. I bought the son a Naim MuSo Qb2 and he loves that. We bought another Phantom Reactor for the kitchen. They are all static devices, although portable, but not what people here call proper hifi. Great devices all the same and sell like hot cakes.
The wish for something we cannot afford yet is our drive to move on.
The danger is always in the fact that we shouldn’t wish too much. That can make us feel bad or make us do things we shouldn’t do like taking stuff that is not ours.
As of late, I noticed that lots of retailers promote their goods with financing options provided by lenders. Some people respond to those adverts and overstretch their liabilities to get what they want too quickly 
The two dangers:
- taking credits (we could probably not pay back)
- or saving (till it’s too late)
are worth a completely different discussion. I have lived in the US and Europe basically each representing the different mentalities.
I know that in both cases you need discipline and should never overestimate yourself.
I know lots of people who can handle credits very well. Luckily bad examples are everywhere just exceptions.
Taking on excessive credit may become less of a risk in the US, seems the trend is to protect people from themselves by providing debt forgiveness.
It gets talked about, primarily in terms of student loans, but outside of the bankruptcy courts it hasn’t happened that I’m aware of.