Paul McGowan Blog Post "Music or Kit" -- With Video

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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Paul posted this today on his popular blog. I repeat it here in its entirety with Paul's link to a wonderful video:

Music or kit?

Do Audiophiles live for music or gear? It’s a classic question, one asked at every juncture of our wonderful endeavor.

I think the answer is both but certainly, some lean one direction, while others in the opposite.

Arnie Nudell sent me a link a great BBC archive film on this very subject and it is a hoot. Produced in 1959, you absolutely have to watch this.

http://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/852128571120381954
 

FrantzM

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Apr 20, 2010
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Paul posted this today on his popular blog. I repeat it here in its entirety with Paul's link to a wonderful video:

Music or kit?

Do Audiophiles live for music or gear? It’s a classic question, one asked at every juncture of our wonderful endeavor.

I think the answer is both but certainly, some lean one direction, while others in the opposite.

Arnie Nudell sent me a link a great BBC archive film on this very subject and it is a hoot. Produced in 1959, you absolutely have to watch this.

http://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/852128571120381954

Thanks Ron. A must see for all audiophiles.... INteresting that "audiophilia" was perceived as a "condition"... almost a pathology.
 

ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
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Paul posted this today on his popular blog. I repeat it here in its entirety with Paul's link to a wonderful video:

Music or kit?

Do Audiophiles live for music or gear? It’s a classic question, one asked at every juncture of our wonderful endeavor.

I think the answer is both but certainly, some lean one direction, while others in the opposite.

Arnie Nudell sent me a link a great BBC archive film on this very subject and it is a hoot. Produced in 1959, you absolutely have to watch this.

http://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/852128571120381954

Loved it, thanks Ron! Like they say, the more things change the more they remain the same.
david
 

BruceD

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Dec 13, 2013
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Ha!--Indeed funny Video and so correct of the times-- 1959 I was in London at Art School--the scenes --the "Duffle Coat" as worn by some of the gentleman perusing the windows-- the windows could be

Laskys or Comet in the Tottenham Court Road--the golden Mile of Hifi stores in WC London-the Leak Variscope amps/etc, Tannoy Corner Horns--the scene with the group listening to the Stereo--can relate to that --ha!

Foggy winter days, Desert Island Discs/ the Archers-London was about to go swinging into the pop revolution

great days and memories! :D

Thanks indeed for the link Ron

BruceD
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Ron, abs fantastic
Frantz, so you DON'T think audiophilia is a pathology? LOL
What was great about that video, was not so much that we recognise the "pioneers" in audiophilia, but that at least then it wasn't as selfish a habit as it is today
Audio shops and record stores burgeoned and were chock full of people communicating and buying, people getting together to listen to music and gear and, God forbid, actually talking to each other LOL
The age of the listener on his own in a darkened room being angry on forum boards hadn't dawned yet
 

GaryProtein

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Thanks Ron. A must see for all audiophiles.... INteresting that "audiophilia" was perceived as a "condition"... almost a pathology.

Who are we kidding?

It is! ;)
 

FrantzM

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spiritofmusic

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I'd rather have this pathology than the one that leads you to following yr team thru thick and thin, all weathers, hours on the road, dodgy hotels and food, for the 10% (if that) where you go home truly happy
No doubt had I followed N London's (previously) most successful football team on Gold Season ticket, all over the UK, all over Europe, I'd have spent more than I have in this crazy hobby, and had just a sliver of the happiness that a deep connection to music they superior audio brings
Roll on the therapy
 

RogerD

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May 23, 2010
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Thanks Ron. A must see for all audiophiles.... INteresting that "audiophilia" was perceived as a "condition"... almost a pathology.

Don't forget neurosis....;)
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Paranoia, neurosis, OCD, Spectrum behaviour etc etc
Pick yr poison
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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I, like a lot of Brits in their 50s and older, are massive Python fans
They really tapped into the truly class-based eccentricities that were laid bare in the 60s as society liberalised
No doubt footage like this is ripe for ironic **** taking
 

Joe Whip

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I'd rather have this pathology than the one that leads you to following yr team thru thick and thin, all weathers, hours on the road, dodgy hotels and food, for the 10% (if that) where you go home truly happy
No doubt had I followed N London's (previously) most successful football team on Gold Season ticket, all over the UK, all over Europe, I'd have spent more than I have in this crazy hobby, and had just a sliver of the happiness that a deep connection to music they superior audio brings
Roll on the therapy

I guess the success of that "other" team in North London must really be depressing! :cool:
 

marty

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Apr 20, 2010
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Love that 1959 BBC video. Are we obsessed with our gear? I would have said "no" except the Garrard table shown at the end of that clip now goes for about $40,000 in a fancy Artisan Fidelity base! Hmmm.....
 

spiritofmusic

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Joe, you read my mind!
Woolwich Arsenal have always been the priciest soccer team to follow, prob in the whole world
My audio spend prob equates to following them scrape into Top Four and flatter to deceive in Europe
Put it this way, I'd rather have spent this sum in 100% enjoyment of music than to torture myself losing big time to Bayern this year
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Marty, how can you say we're not obsessed w our gear?
The time we spend choosing it, cash buying it, worry we generate thinking about the next best thing, is the very definition of obsession
My take on the film was that obv such obsession existed 60 years ago as well, but it was a shared obsession w friends, invited over to homes to share in the music, and in visiting record shops in a more rounded social behaviour pattern
Now, we tend to listen on the whole alone and secluded, and in the age of steaming, don't even have to go out and meet other human beings as yet another piece of music is chosen on streaming w'out even leaving the room
I'm actually really sore about the death of shops, including bricks and mortar audio stores, but esp bookstores and record shops, and this film reiterated this point
 

Joe Whip

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Joe, you read my mind!
Woolwich Arsenal have always been the priciest soccer team to follow, prob in the whole world
My audio spend prob equates to following them scrape into Top Four and flatter to deceive in Europe
Put it this way, I'd rather have spent this sum in 100% enjoyment of music than to torture myself losing big time to Bayern this year

I have been to matches at the Emirates. Very expensive. I went up to White Hart Lane two weeks ago to see it one last time. Will really miss that ground although it looks like the new place will be pretty swell, avoiding the issues with the Emirates.
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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I'm as conflicted on the weird obsession of this hobby as any others, but the pure joy we get from a deeper enjoyment of music that entails from our spends and attention to detail puts the kind of sadomasochistic torture an Arsenal fan goes thru for the same crazy financial outlay to shame
This video cheered me up no end, but has also left me w a truly bittersweet feeling
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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I'm as conflicted on the weird obsession of this hobby as any others, but the pure joy we get from a deeper enjoyment of music that entails from our spends and attention to detail puts the kind of sadomasochistic torture an Arsenal fan goes thru for the same crazy financial outlay to shame
This video cheered me up no end, but has also left me w a truly bittersweet feeling

The hobby has its own character different from politics, sports, or cars. When two groups generally debate over politics, things can get heated, and they can often end disliking each other. In sports, debates usually lead to bonding. People defend their players and debate on stats and become buddies (except for England football fans). In audio, it's a mix. Some debating ends up like politics. Some like sports.

With cars, when people buy, they usually know what they are buying for. Some buy for status, some for mileage, some because they need to fit in a large family on a regular basis. But in audio, some might buy for status and say they bought for mileage.
 

marty

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Apr 20, 2010
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Marty, how can you say we're not obsessed w our gear?
The time we spend choosing it, cash buying it, worry we generate thinking about the next best thing, is the very definition of obsession
My take on the film was that obv such obsession existed 60 years ago as well, but it was a shared obsession w friends, invited over to homes to share in the music, and in visiting record shops in a more rounded social behaviour pattern
Now, we tend to listen on the whole alone and secluded, and in the age of steaming, don't even have to go out and meet other human beings as yet another piece of music is chosen on streaming w'out even leaving the room
I'm actually really sore about the death of shops, including bricks and mortar audio stores, but esp bookstores and record shops, and this film reiterated this point

Yeah, I guess you got me!
 

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