I noticed this trend years ago when I worked in a retail audio store. From my experience, most of the customers who entered my store found quality of reproduction irrelevant. Most associated sound pressure with sound quality.

However, audio enthusiasts could still seek audio equipment that suited their tastes knowing that available software could sound good if the right equipment was reproducing it.

However, that may no longer be true.

See article from Rolling Stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto...fidelity/print