What Streaming is Doing for Music: A Cultural Revolution

How We’re Searching for a New Generation of Audiophiles That’s Already Among Us  

The next generation of audiophiles is not coming; they are already here, and we have not been listening. Streaming has birthed a whole new audiophile, ensuring streaming is here to stay. That much is obvious—not just from how widely it’s used but also from how deeply it’s embedded across industries, not just your audio gear. That alone practically guarantees its long-term role in high-end audio.

As we’ve seen before, the usage of a specific component in audio often stems from availability in other sectors. Take the CD player: there’s still demand for quality CD drives in the audio industry, but they’re harder to find because cars, computers, DVD players, and Blu-ray players have mostly phased them out. For the relatively small audio community, sourcing these components is tough.

Streaming, on the other hand, is a universal language. This is evidenced by the incredible growth rates in streaming worldwide in just a few short years. While it’s not always easy to implement at an audiophile level, the tech itself is widely available—phones, tablets, TVs, refrigerators, watches… your dog, probably. All ready to stream. I once had a friend in the TV industry who said he kicked himself for not investing in Netflix the first time he saw a Netflix button on a remote. A classic forest-for-the-trees moment that stuck with me—and one I see parallels to in our industry. We all share a world where everyone can be a part of the music.

It hasn’t been a smooth ride. Without diving into the long and winding MP3-to-Hi-Res debate, let’s focus on what streaming has done for music. Yes, the industry changed. Artists were affected. Revenue models collapsed. But move past that—you can find countless articles and videos if you want to go there. HiFi itself did not die; it just found a new language, and streaming is the interpreter. Let’s talk about the good streaming is doing for music and HiFi.

They’re Already Here

I often wonder how the next generation of audiophiles might go unreached. I’m not alone in that—it crosses the minds of anyone who truly loves hi-fi. I love sharing this hobby, and I’m always amazed by how many people have no idea that it exists. Whenever I tell people about it, the reactions are usually very similar to people finding out about escargot for the first time. 

But here’s the thing: they are here. The generation we’re searching for is already deep in the music. We gave them the tool they wanted, and they’re using it.

A few years ago, I was teaching a great young musician, Elle, how to play guitar. Smart kid. Great taste in music. I tried teaching her a song I liked—it went okay. But she naturally wanted to learn something she enjoyed. Of course she did. Why would a 13-year-old in 2023 be pumped to play “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind? (Though, fun fact—she did learn it, ended up loving it, and played it at a talent show.)

She was happiest learning the music she wanted to hear. I am, too, and most people would agree they like to learn with what they know and enjoy. It gives you a reference point—familiar ground from which to take off. 

I see it all the time when I’m showing off gear. Friends and family don’t want me to play Philip Glass or whatever I’m dissecting at the time—they want to hear what they love. And once they do, they can listen to what I’m trying to show them and have a frame of reference. We get so excited to have someone experience what we do; it happens. 

How would this dynamic play out at an audio trade show?

At AXPONA 2025, rooms were overflowing with music and gear. Some of the music was great. Some was just well-recorded. I am not judging by taste, but the rooms with a vibe that people were really into were the rooms where someone from the crowd picked the song. People would light up when they played their track on a system they’d only seen in a 1”x1” photo in Stereophile. Those writers do a fantastic job of pulling you into the room with words, but nothing compares to being there, hearing your favorite music in full glory. The room would light up—people jamming, grinning, almost launching into a full-blown concert before pulling it back just in time.

After playing Nine Inch Nails on one system, I didn’t play it in any other rooms that weekend. Not because it didn’t sound good, but because I couldn't afford to have someone trash a hotel room like a rock star.

If you’re listening, you’ll hear the effect streaming has already had. Streaming did not water down Hi-Fi. It gave audio a new edge and, with it, a whole new audience.

A Slow Burn Awakening

There’s another takeaway, and it’s a sleeper. It might take a while to register fully, but it’s big—it takes a generation, somewhere around 20 to 30 years to start showing its cultural impact. 

So what about the CD player? It was undoubtedly one of my many music teachers. Learning as a kid, I had a mentor, friends who played, and… a CD player I could hit repeat or loop on. I’d sit there for hours, looping songs, dissecting every note like I was prepping for the SATs. One Christmas, I got the Led Zeppelin four-CD box set. I didn’t put down my guitar for a year. With CDs, I could repeatedly go back to a song or part of a song, listening and picking it apart, learning every little technique I could.

CDs were and are a tool many musicians use to learn and share music. Undoubtedly, beyond the cultural impacts we always discuss with the advent of the CD, like communication, data, and music, we should remember the effects on those who used it as a tool.

What CDs did for my generation, streaming and platforms like Qobuz and Roon have learned from, built on, and made intuitive and universally accessible. CDs were a tool for immersion, and streaming, merely as a tool, fills this role incredibly well. 

Napster launched in 1999. It was clunky, took forever, and had viruses. But it also had everything: every song, B-side, demo, sketch, the complete catalog from every artist in every country that ever hit record. In addition to being a portent of things to come, it was the first shot in a war that is still going on regarding fair pay for music and artists in the industry. This ongoing battle is about fair pay for artists in the age of streaming. I'm not going to downplay the importance of these factors, but rather move past them. Unfortunately, we missed the benefit due to the noise caused by the music industry's downfall. But there are plenty that did not. 

What were the future musicians, producers, and engineers doing in the meantime? Streaming gave them a learning platform. While some of us were reading manuals or arguing on forums about the sound quality of MP3s at 4 a.m., others were in their rooms, poring over music catalogs—learning, mimicking, and building skill. One artist recommends another; you dig into their catalog. A new chapter begins—a practically free musical college.

And now, all those quiet years are bearing fruit. The music being written and recorded today is created by artists not limited to the music they have physical access to. They are not limited to what their parents listened to or what they can afford to buy at the mall, local record store, or even online. Transcending these economic and social boundaries was impossible, even a generation ago. Streaming has made your journey 100% your journey.

These artists and engineers had a borderless influence. Their understanding of genre is fluid. You can hear it in the production choices, the blending of styles, and the confidence of artists who grew up with every possible sound just a search bar away.

It wasn’t about greed. It was about access. Streaming opened the gates like the internet did with academia and publishing. Good, bad, or indifferent—the knowledge was there. And musicians devoured it. 

I’d wager there are far more musicians today because of this. Streaming did not end the era of Hi-Fi; it blew through the wall and brought the experience to anyone and everyone.

You Can’t Put the Genie Back

Whether you see these as pros or cons, this is where the dust is settling—beyond a music industry that probably needed a course correction.

We’re no longer limited by what music we own. We have a lifetime of music at our fingertips. We have several lifetimes’ worth. And I’m still awestruck. Being able to study music through listening truly is not a small thing. It’s the audio equivalent of the printing press. That’s what CDs were on the verge of becoming. Streaming has picked up that torch.

Yes, some services are better than others—more accessible, fair to artists, better sounding. Qobuz is a favorite among audiophiles. But the point is this: the game has changed. And you can’t put that genie back in the bottle.

So… What Are We Missing?

If we’re still wondering why the next generation of audiophiles hasn’t shown up, maybe the real issue is that we haven’t noticed that they already did. We gave them what they wanted, then alienated them by clinging to our music and complaining about their listening methods.

Streaming has become audiophile-worthy. Over the years, audiophile streaming reproduction has become attainable to the masses. Companies like Cambridge, NAD, and Qobuz are making high-end sound and high-res streaming not just possible but affordable and intuitive.

So what’s a great audiophile test track? The one you want to listen to. The one you know by heart. The one you’ll happily play on repeat.

No one likes being told their favorite music is wrong. But we do it anyway, telling new listeners their taste doesn’t measure up. Meanwhile, the industry seems dead set on perfectly reproducing Rumours, Come Away With Me, and the full Diana Krall discography—all great albums. But maybe we should save those for when we’re feeling nostalgic.

There are some incredible systems, gear, and companies in the audiophile world trying to connect with a new generation. The passion is the same on both sides, but while the younger audiophiles are busy carving their path, the audiophile community is struggling to make that connection.

Meeting Audiophiles Where They Are: Bridging Generations Through Streaming

The audiophile community is struggling to include a generation that’s already here. Everything you want to know about them is online, I assure you. They put it there. But so is everything you would want to know about the audiophile community. One of us has been doing homework.

It's time to meet this generation of music lovers where they are.

One thing I used to catch myself doing—and something I still see often in forums and conversations around this hobby—was trying to steer the musical experience. For example, when teaching an instrument, I want to show people music I've been impressed by, whether it's the recording or the music itself.

But here is the problem: we tend to “take the remote” in conversations. We unintentionally hijack the moment, steering others toward what we think they should hear and how they should enjoy it. In the process, we often downplay entire genres, dismissing them as non-audiophile or unworthy of serious listening. Or even worse, as they seek information to learn, they are hit with a wall of opinion 60 years long. 

I've seen it happen countless times, especially with genres like EDM, Metal, Hip-Hop, etc. Someone will bring up a specific genre or artist they like. Instead of exploring that with them and helping them learn the hobby through their lens, we pivot to audiophile alternatives only after a specific learning curve has been achieved.

God bless Nora Jones, I love the music and loved her in Ted. But if someone tells you they love EDM, the answer isn't to use “Come Away With Me” as a test track; tell me what you hear. The answer should be: Tell me what you love, let me listen, and we can go from there.

The future of Hi-Fi isn’t just about specs—it’s about connection. And streaming is the bridge. Meet the new audiophiles where they already are, or risk watching a generation pass by. Get connected, stay connected, and share your connection to music freely, like the future of Hi-Fi depends on it. 

Ready to Stream Smarter?

Whether you’re just beginning your journey or fine-tuning your digital setup, getting the right gear can make all the difference. At The Music Room, we carry a curated selection of streamers, DACs, and integrated amplifiers that bring out the best in your music, whether it’s Spotify, Qobuz, or that dusty old FLAC collection you're looking to get working for you. Trade your existing gear for top-dollar credit and step into your next-level listening experience. Shop new and certified pre-owned with confidence—every piece is tested, verified, and backed by our Happiness Guarantee.