@cdc yeah I decided to go straight to the end and not do too much merry go round tinkering.
Glad I did that cos I now go to audio shows to just enjoy new gear without any itch to get any.
Mid level listening
I think that when listening to music it’s best to intently listen for the music rather than to the beauties of the sound production. In my opinion that is the most enduring pleasure you can get from your system. Unfortunately, for whatever reason it doesn’t always happen. When you can’t seem to get fully into the music there’s something I’m calling mid level listening where you listen for the enjoyment of both SQ and the music itself. I know ideally that should always happen to a great degree but it doesn’t always, which leads us to be dissatisfied with our rig.
What do you think?
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I'd like to think we all got into this for the love of music. Give me a cheap pair of earbuds & I can still get down. But I am not wealthy enough to buy the finest of audio equipment & still pay for my more important responsibilities. The more expensive the component the more critical I am. I'm fortunate enough to be able to listen to live music more often than most. I have a family of musicians so I understand "real" sound. The best sounding systems that can replicate that the closest I've only heard at shows & are out of my reach..so I don't strive for that impossible realism in my home. But I value my money & when I buy a new component I will be extremely critical for the next 60 days if I bought new. The music is important because that's how I'm testing the component..but I'm critically listening to the component & the perceptions it's giving me. So for me the focus on either the music or the components shifts from time to time. But ultimately it's all about the music. Though over the years when I've had a very good system I could listen to any type of music & it would be enjoyable & appreciated because of the system. Those same oddball tracks I can't get more than 30 seconds in with a pair of earbuds. My favorite tracks I can boogie to on any system that isn't broken or fatiguing. I can get down & sway to some jazz on the system but on my headphones or in the car I'm not feeling it as much..or at all sometimes. Another aspect of being an "audiophile" could be that one is just an addict. This hobby can be nothing more than an addiction hidden behind the justification for great sound. I've been there. Hitting the used markets everyday even though I didn't really need a new piece. Impulse purchases. Spending an unhealthy amount of time tinkering or thinking about components. Spending outside of your budget. Audio forums, YouTube videos, etc. If you are in this mindset or living this way of course you are subconsciously or consciously unhappy with the stereo system at times. Looking or critically listening for any reason or fault in what you currently have to justify that next purchase. The music becomes nothing more than a way to gauge or compare components. Enjoying what you have is hard for some folks. They probably don't even realize this about themselves. Instead of just enjoying the music there can be a lot of personal psychology going on. There is an addiction or psychological side of being an "audiophile" that a lot of people won't understand or get. But for those that suffer from it, it is very real. Sometimes the music can get lost or be a side note to the unhealthy side of this hobby. It took me many years to learn that there is a time to be critical & evaluate & then the time to come to terms & be happy with what I have. This mindset did not just pertain to audio equipment.
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@rvpiano thank you. Just sharing some personal thoughts & experiences. |
- 27 posts total