good thread and discussion on this. i guess i would rank on the nerd side of things, i have a load of old school PG gear in the trunk.upgraded everything on the charge side etc. etc. it's loud but sounds just right to me in a SQ sense, more sql than anything. took me a long time to get the EQ just right, LOL... it's a PG 215ix with 15 bands each side. i'm 38 and have been into car audio since my older bro rolled up with the very first sony cd player in his 85 monte carlo SS. 24 years and i still enjoy it. i can relate to the people who get the sounds good thing. alot of people check out my ride at cruise night and just stare at the trunk and then move on. looks good, but not for them. i can accept that i have the bug they don't. car audio will always have it's place it's just it's a crowded place moreso than ever before.

Hey guys, this topic really interests me.
1 reason I think car audio has declined in the 2000's is because alot of the people who grew up with car audio in the 80's and 90's, when it became popular, have now become alot older and couldnt be bothered with it anymore.. Their enthusiasm for the hobby is gone.
I dont consider myself as a car audio enthusiast, but I do appreciate quality sound !
Im not old school, nor new school, but I do prefer the older audio components compared to the newer stuff, as most of the older stuff was never made in China or Mexico. So most of the car audio equipment built in the 80's and 90's is arguably far superior in quality compared to some of todays junk.
The "made in China" and "made in Mexico" stuff I think has also brought down the industry.
Also, the cars of today have much much better stereos from the factory as opposed to the 80's,90's cars.

In a lot of ways the enthusiasm and energy is still there in the younger crowd to put in audio, but it's more into SPL, huge amps, megawoofers and crapola installs vs. the time and patience more people put in back in the day. Everybody wanted loud still, but just to look and sound better. Now they can get really loud cheaper than ever. And of course video steals alot of funds out of the audio bank too. I know when I was in high school I wanted to bump and be noticed and that was over 15 years ago. Thing is, when I opened up my trunk I wanted it to look good and when people sat in my vehicle, I wanted it to sound good.

I wouldn't doubt that if the dealers and sales people out there made a concerted effort back to the quality of sound, it could be done. The power to make it loud is all there now for less than ever, so they should hype up WHY good sound is worth it.