Music is the most important.

[Gregadd]

I remeber having a letter published in the tas (the absolute sound) years ago. This was right after tas had practically gone under. Harry Pearson had posed the question ,What bothers audiophiles most? One of my pet peeves was audiophile records. For most of us we are as bad at selecting music as we are good at selecting equipment. There is an inverse proportionality. I said that I was never going to purchase another audiophile record. It was almost true.

When the record industry decided to force digital down our throats my office was over a record store. Sometimes I would just buy the whole record bin. It was about the size of a milk carton. It was a fire sale. The ratio of goodto bad records was about 1/10. The better the music the worst the recording. It is kind of amusing how we complain about CDs. There is so much awful vinyl out there. I'm talking recording quality and musical content.

One thing digital has done is to give us the option of previewing music before we buy. Many artist give you a sample on thier website.

Now days when you guys declare your favorite record I simply open another browser window and google the artist or album. If I'm lucky I can find a video of the artist on Utube and see them live. By the time the discussion is done I have already listened to the artist My computer, a Dell Studio XPS' was actually built for entertainment more than work. Don't tell the IRS.

If you have good music you can listen to a table radio. My friend is in the process of uploading his CD collection to his IPOD. He told me he knows it not the quality of my stereo. I replied i don't care. As long as you are enjoying music. I do care. I'll get him on audio later.

My point is music is the only important thing. If you want to listen to Casino Royale in perpetuity fine with me. My true test for equipment is does it make me want to listen to music. So get out there boys and find that music. You are going to enjoy your system 10 time better. When the weekend comes twenty dollars might buy you 2 CDs. That beats replacing your power receptacles.
When you locate something really special share it with us.

 

[JackD201]

These days I download a lot of stuff from the iTunes store. When I REALLY like something then I look for the LP. If that doesn't exist, I'll look for the SACD or CD. This keeps me sort of current.

I hooked up an airport express to the digital input of my Accuphase DP-78 and run airtunes into my main system that way. If anything, this front end commits sins of omission. In the few really bad recordings, I commit audiophile heresy and pop up the EQ window and do minor corrections.

I spent 4 hours just listening a few nights ago with my iPhone as the remote. I had a lot of fun. I must have covered at least 6 genres as I hopped around my iTunes library.

I guess my point is that I wholeheartedly agree. Even with compressed files, if you really like the music, you can turn the critical listening switch off.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I'd say one thing digital has done is allow the consumer to save their money. Instead of paying $12-15 for a CD containing one or two songs worth listening to, the consumer can spend a couple of dollars and download a song or song. I wonder whether the amount of download sales dollars is greater or less than what the record label would make selling the whole CD?

 

[Gregadd]

I generally try to listen to the whole CD. I find many artist release a CD and and then go on a concert tour. Their live performance mimics the CD. Unfortunately there are a bunch of one hit wonders out there.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I generally try to listen to the whole CD. I find many artist release a CD and and then go on a concert tour. Their live performance mimics the CD. Unfortunately there are a bunch of one hit wonders out there.

Ain't that the truth! And a bunch of studio musicians who couldn't hit a note live if their life depending on it, Taylor Swift being one that comes to mind. She was so awful at the Grammys that Stevie Nicks at one point stared at her in disbelief.

 

[apanton1952]

If I could but find a vinyl shop in Africa...

Here's a story. 2008/9 I was on a project in the Highlands of Kenya - huge tea estates. The town - Kericho - of more relevance to the USA as your prez comes from there. It's pronounced with the ch sounding like in China, not Jericho of collapsing walls fame. Over a month, over the cell phone network which has a pretty good and reliable broadband service I "obtained" about 250Gb of music, all ripped of course. Anyhow, the phone bill was covered by special offers (less than $20) so it was truly an economical exercise for me - but it's the best I can do here. Even the original CD's aren't distributed here. I feel no guilt.

The nearest city, Kisumo, had some music shops but the vinyl was seriously bad, the CD's too - it is a major media piracy centre feeding large swathes of central Africa.

But fortunately local bands and live music, mostly kwaito genre, is prevalent in Africa and is usually a great event to attend - huge enthusiasm from the locals. Unfortunately, recordings of these shows are usually poor bootleggy sounding affairs.
Also, on Sundays, every 3rd hilltop (and there are many) seems to sprout a gospel choir, and these people can sing - it's awesome especially in the evenings floating out across the valleys.

Hope this is not boring

 

[microstrip]

I was very impressed when I read a very good article on this subject 20 years ago in Stereophile. It was writen by Keith Yates, and is still available online (see http://www.keithyates.com/audiophmusiclvrs.htm ).
"Are Audiophiles Music Lovers?" opened my views about something that it is an hobby, an industry, an addiction , even a life for many people, with a complexity and connections much greater than can expressed in a post.
I was particularly affected by a sentence "-the only winners were the attorneys and liquidators". I felt happy many years after when I found in the net that Keith Yates Design Group is now a success firm - the man deserves it!

 

[apanton1952]

Oh yes, I like his writing and comments too; especially I like this excerpt because it demonstrates the subjects have an understanding of their market and are very focused on it:

"...even disgraced televangelists show more integrity: They may have trash cans full of empty booze bottles, and bimbos scattered around town, but at least they show up to church every Sunday."

I think it will make an excellent signature statement for any occasion.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I was very impressed when I read a very good article on this subject 20 years ago in Stereophile. It was writen by Keith Yates, and is still available online (see http://www.keithyates.com/audiophmusiclvrs.htm ).
"Are Audiophiles Music Lovers?" opened my views about something that it is an hobby, an industry, an addiction , even a life for many people, with a complexity and connections much greater than can expressed in a post.
I was particularly affected by a sentence "-the only winners were the attorneys and liquidators". I felt happy many years after when I found in the net that Keith Yates Design Group is now a success firm - the man deserves it!

Interesting thing is that this subject has been discussed since the dawn of high-end audio. Edward Villchur commented on the exact same thing in his book in the late '50s. He bemoaned the fact that so few of the audiophile community experienced the joy of live music. I count myself lucky to be in NYC surrounded by music. All I need to do is take the subway and or walk along the streets in the city and hear all the street musicians playing for change

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't go to a lot of concerts anymore (prohibitive pricing), but I always check out the local summer Jazz/Blues fests (which are about the start again). In keeping with the basic point of the thread topic, whether it's live or in my apartment...it's always about the music and not what it's played on or through.

 

[Gregadd]

I just went to free concert Sunday. Adults and babies dancing. A chance too hear what real music sounds like. There was an article in Fi magazine. The writer had invited a friend from Jamaica. When told to sit in th sweet spot the Jamaican declined. He just kept dancing around. The writer responded please sit in the sweet spot or you'll never how good the system sounds. The Jamaican smiled and said if the music don't make you want to laugh,cry, dance or make love to you woman, what's the point?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Or get high mon

 

[The Smokester]

If I could but find a vinyl shop in Africa...

Here's a story. 2008/9 I was on a project in the Highlands of Kenya...

There ought to be a forum for "The Best Story". I would love to hear more of your experiences there.


On the original topic of music vs audiophilia...I couldn't agree more. I think Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington's song "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" says it all. Just can't help tappin' and smilin' whenever I hear that song.