Expensive system for non audiophile listeners - is it worth it?

[bonzo75]

But one should also listen to what they like…and expand their taste

Fixt

 

[Kingrex]

Fixt

Expand Taste. Like adding some Taylor Swift and Dolcie into the mix. POP it up!!!!

 

[Kingrex]

Ok - I am in awe.

It was the 80s. High school. They were in San Francisco for a show. The band was friends.with a.kid I knew older brother. The older brother brought them by the kid I knew house for bong hits and some jam time. It was pretty cool to see.

FWIW the kid whos house I was at ended up with a fairly successful band and a couple hits. I hear he is a producer with a big house and fat wallet. Not really sure. Never saw him again after high school.

 

[Tangram]

... I am a huge music fan - but I mainly come from a subcultural background. I like Ska, Punk, Rockabilly and Psychobilly, some Country/Folk and so on... I do not listen to Classical or Jazz and certainly don`t buy music because it`s "audiophile". Still I enjoy my system (suppose it`s entry level for most here but still above average for most) and I do like what it does with most albums. On the other hand I sometimes wonder if it actually makes sense considering my musical preferences or if it`s basically just wasted potential... any thoughts on this? Anyone else care for the hobby but mainly listen to non audiophile music/recordings?

I’ll flip it around and ask if having an “audiophile” system limits some owners to only “good” sounding recordings. Some systems are so revealing that owners feel compelled to feed them only “audiophile” recordings. I actually know the answer: yes. And that’s a real shame. I can be guilty of preferring my “better sounding” records at times. But I also listen, like you, to a ton of music that’s probably never even been touched by a decent stylus. As I see it your existential crisis is far more palatable that the reverse.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

The issue is that before non audiophiles turn audiophiles, they have poor sounding recordings (even many audiophiles do) . This is not necessarily a genre issue, though can be. After they make the jump to higher resolution systems, they get disillusioned because the music they liked on non audiophile systems no longer sounds good. At this point, they either expand their knowledge to get better recordings of the same music, and can expand music knowledge.

i think how it goes is that there is a gestation period where new audiophiles who have become self aware that they appreciate better sounding music reproduction, explore better ways to hear music they know. this is not a linear process. it's a natural curiosity spurred on by the wonder of better sound. it can be really enjoyable if you happen to have that hifi passion.

we all have music we have emotional connections to that get us going. then as we look around and have better sound, our boundaries naturally expand (some resist this for quite awhile) to include more music that now sounds better. from here it is a crap shoot. all musical roads might open up depending on outside influences, maybe things we happen to be exposed to. as far as the best quality performances and media that is rarified air stuff. not everyone goes down that road.

for me in the early to mid 90's it was the hifi print magazines and their music reviews or music references in the gear reviews. this was before hifi forums, or really any social media. i tried jazz, then a little classical, and got kick started. was i hungrier for new music horizon's than most? maybe. today there are many more ways this might happen especially with streaming. does not cost much to explore.

and this music journey then pushes on them to pursue even better sound.....according to what influences they might be subject to.

 

[djsina2]

The issue is that before non audiophiles turn audiophiles, they have poor sounding recordings (even many audiophiles do) . This is not necessarily a genre issue, though can be. After they make the jump to higher resolution systems, they get disillusioned because the music they liked on non audiophile systems no longer sounds good. At this point, they either expand their knowledge to get better recordings of the same music, and can expand music knowledge.

In the beginnings I bought almost all current pressings of everything. Then I had a friend convince me I need to put more effort into buying OG used stuff. I sold one by one and then replaced about 75% of my collection in one year. You’ll be amazed how good non audiophile music can sound if you get the right pressings.

 

[marty]

....me I'm all over hours a day background while I work at my desk . Xmradio dare I say .

And why not? The 2 main sources of music I listen to regularly during the day are Radio Swiss Classical (mostly mornings) and Radio Swiss Jazz (afternoon). These are extraordinarily well curated playlists that offer the additional benefit of playing a lot of superb European artists and music that don't get much exposure in the US. Yes, audiophile caliber music often takes center stage for the late night sessions when I'm in the catbird seat for serious listening. But for exposure to new music, as Mike said

today there are many more ways this might happen especially with streaming. does not cost much to explore.

That said, I have no idea what the hell "Psychobilly music" is (from the OP) and have no intention of finding out.

 

[Elliot G.]

I love music. Some of it sounds better on my system than others. Its music and I love it and it depends on my mood. I am serious listening, full attention, lights out, no distractions? Am i not in the room and the music is still playing while I am working, am I in my car driving? is it on a Bluetooth speaker on the golf course?
All of these are different and some of what i like is better suited to non serious listening however I enjoy it all.
One doesn't have to be Jewish to like Levi's LOL

 

[Tangram]

In the beginnings I bought almost all current pressings of everything. Then I had a friend convince me I need to put more effort into buying OG used stuff. I sold one by one and then replaced about 75% of my collection in one year. You’ll be amazed how good non audiophile music can sound if you get the right pressings.

I’ve done the same thing, but with an asterisk. I jumped on the Tone Poet bandwagon during the pandemic and bought a lot of 50’s and 60’s jazz. OG pressings in pristine condition - even if you can get them - are priced mainly for collectors who don’t actually even listen to the records. Have a look on Discogs at a couple. Introducing Kenny Burrell OG sells for $500 for a listenable copy. The TP was $35 and sounds fantastic.

 

[wil]

In the beginnings I bought almost all current pressings of everything. Then I had a friend convince me I need to put more effort into buying OG used stuff. I sold one by one and then replaced about 75% of my collection in one year. You’ll be amazed how good non audiophile music can sound if you get the right pressings.

The term “Audiophile Music” is cringe-worthy to say the least. And the music that fits that category, and is typically played by cowardly audio show exhibitors, is to me usually soul-crushing.
I don’t have any problem at all finding interesting music that also sounds good.

 

[PeterA]

Be careful with a lot of the advice you get in this forum, it is dominated by people primarily listening to very limited types of music. Classical for a lot of the horn and SET tube amp lovers. A lot of flow and tone and little emphasis on rhythmic abilities.

I think a good system, regardless of type, should be able to play all genres of music, have good flow, good tone, and good rhythmic abilities. Likely important to skinnyfla is the ability to present lots of raw energy and power, but also nuance. This can all be had with the right choices, and it does not have to be an "expensive system for non-audiophile listeners" as stated in the title. Great results can be had for not a lot of money. And there are examples of that here on WBF. The forum is about what is best, not what is most expensive. And that includes all sorts of tastes in music.

 

[Tangram]

I think a good system, regardless of type, should be able to play all genres of music, have good flow, good tone, and good rhythmic abilities. Likely important to skinnyfla is the ability to present lots of raw energy and power, but also nuance. This can all be had with the right choices, and it does not have to be an "expensive system for non-audiophile listeners" as stated in the title. Great results can be had for not a lot of money. And there are examples of that here on WBF. The forum is about what is best, not what is most expensive. And that includes all sorts of tastes in music.

That’s not really the issue. If you like music genres that more often than not are defined by crappy sounding records, is there any point owning a good hifi?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

That’s not really the issue. If you like music genres that more often than not are defined by crappy sounding records, is there any point owning a good hifi?

i think so.

it would be hard to find an actual serious music genre where in reality a better system makes the music sound worse. it might be an interesting thing to say, but i doubt it actually works that way. my experience is that low expectations for music mostly = silver lining gems when i listen.

i'm speaking about a genre of music, not a physically corrupted/damaged pressing/disc or file or bad amateur crude recordings.

put another way, you would have to cite a particular example. these days with streaming it's not hard for us to listen to most anything we can list.

 

[Al M.]

I’ll flip it around and ask if having an “audiophile” system limits some owners to only “good” sounding recordings. Some systems are so revealing that owners feel compelled to feed them only “audiophile” recordings.

There is something wrong with those "revealing" systems.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

There is something wrong with those "revealing" systems.

too revealing is not revealing at all, it's out of balance and distorted. no different than a system overly bunted and too tooby.

 

[Tangram]

i think so.

it would be hard to find an actual serious music genre where in reality a better system makes the music sound worse. it might be an interesting thing to say, but i doubt it actually works that way. my experience is that low expectations for music mostly = silver lining gems when i listen.

i'm speaking about a genre of music, not a physically corrupted/damaged pressing or file.

put another way, you would have to cite a particular example. these days with streaming it's not hard for us to listen to most anything we can list.

I have two turntables, one that’s “audiophile” and one that’s not. I run them through the same electronics. In my record collection I have a number of rock and funk albums from the 70’s and 80’s that I enjoy more on the non-audiophile turntable, primarily because, in comparison to the Kuzma setup, the Technics de-emphasizes features of the recording that aren’t pleasant. An example would be my plain vanilla 70’s Led Zeppelin pressings, which I prefer on the Technics.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I have two turntables, one that’s “audiophile” and one that’s not. I run them through the same electronics. In my record collection I have a number of rock and funk albums from the 70’s and 80’s that I enjoy more on the non-audiophile turntable, primarily because, in comparison to the Kuzma setup, the Technics de-emphasizes features of the recording that aren’t pleasant. An example would be my plain vanilla 70’s Led Zeppelin pressings, which I prefer on the Technics.

i respect where you are coming from, but you are only 'fixing' bad damaged or compromised media with coloration. that is not the fault of the genre. but agree it does meet your needs to access that music. and cannot argue with that.

proper pressings exist for that music (that genre) that is worthy of your best sounding turntable. my Classic Records LZ 45rpm box set sounds fabulous on my best tt set-up.

 

[bonzo75]

I have two turntables, one that’s “audiophile” and one that’s not. I run them through the same electronics. In my record collection I have a number of rock and funk albums from the 70’s and 80’s that I enjoy more on the non-audiophile turntable, primarily because, in comparison to the Kuzma setup, the Technics de-emphasizes features of the recording that aren’t pleasant. An example would be my plain vanilla 70’s Led Zeppelin pressings, which I prefer on the Technics.

What’s your cart on the technics?

 

[Rexp]

i think so.

it would be hard to find an actual serious music genre where in reality a better system makes the music sound worse. it might be an interesting thing to say, but i doubt it actually works that way. my experience is that low expectations for music mostly = silver lining gems when i listen.

i'm speaking about a genre of music, not a physically corrupted/damaged pressing/disc or file or bad amateur crude recordings.

put another way, you would have to cite a particular example. these days with streaming it's not hard for us to listen to most anything we can list.

Streaming? What percentage of pop music do you think sounds better on your system than on a system in a night club?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Streaming? What percentage of pop music do you think sounds better on your system than on a system in a night club?

100%

there might be a physicality to a wall of sound that some might like if they are sufficiently medicated or dancing.....so there is that. but that is a different thing than musically as good.