"audiophiles listen to their equipment"


That quote is misattributed to Alan Parsons, as I understand. Anyway saying there's a problem with wanting good sound is like saying an instrument designer, aiming for beautiful sound, could not possibly be a music lover and is only interested in the sound of the instruments. I.e. the sound is inseparable from the music. For me the beauty of the sound, good microdynamics, and so on, are the "doors" to the meaning of the music.

magon

Showing 2 responses by onhwy61

Music is something that happens in your mind.  The stimulus need not be a sound.  A written score does not need to be played to be understood as music.  A sound designer/editor can look at a waveform and see the music.  A profoundly deaf person can feel music.

The majority of people on this planet do not need audiophile quality sound to enjoy reproduced music.  Even when exposed to audiophile quality sound reproduction the majority of people are not converted.  Musicians famously do not require audiophile sound.  Only audiophiles need audiophile quality sound, hence they are listening to their systems.  And there's nothing wrong with that.

@magon yes, live music is different than reproduced music.  Good luck with your further explorations in the meaning of music.