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Do You Love Music or Do You Love Hi-Fi?

I know a lot of hi-fi enthusiasts who seem to have poor taste in music but can talk all day about their audio gear. I got into the high end audio hobby because of my love for music first and foremost, and this has done a pretty good job in guiding my decisions around what equipment to buy. Don't get me wrong, I Jones really hard on gear, but at the end of the day it's not about the gear but how great the music I love sounds on the gear I buy. I study music and learn all I can to discover new music to enjoy, regardless of the genre, but I am certain that I will not be investing in the latest Jennifer Warnes vinyl re-issues. I also wonder why Mo-Fi issued the first three Foreigner albums on vinyl. Are there really that many hard core audiophiles asking for this? There are so many great recordings that are begging for the high end vinyl treatment, it makes me wonder who these people are making decisions about what to release on these labels? I'm sure the entire Don Henley catalog is coming soon from one of these labels.
OK, I'm done ranting, but I really do want to hear what others think about this. Or is it just me? Is it about the gear or is it about the music for you?
snackeyp

Showing 1 response by tobes

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tobes
436 posts
 
I think I love hifi because it gets me closer to the music/musicians. That feeling, on some level, of realism - the presence of the musicians etc. I find this connection even more special when listening to musicians who are no longer with us.
Of course it would be nothing without the music itself, but the little cues to realism/presence are what make hifi listening fundamentally different to hearing a tune on the radio.

Getting closer to this palpable presence can become a bit addictive...but if its driven by the enjoyment of music, I can't see anything wrong with that.
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