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The Definition of An Audiophile

My definition of an Audiophile is a person who seeks the recreation/reproduction of music in their home based on a live event.

The purpose of this thread is to gain an understanding of why the majority of people on this forum only compare components to each other. I don’t understand the terms of one amplifier sounding more musical than another. How about the “cold and sterile” attribute often attributed to Halcro amplifiers. The description “tube sounding” description sometimes applied to a solid-state amp is another example.

Whatever happened to a comparison of an actual live event? I consider myself an Audiophile; as well as, I presume, everybody else who frequents this website. How many of you so called Audiophiles have ever been to a decent live event. I’m not talking about your local Civic Center jam packed with 30,000 screaming punks smoking pot, no offense; I used to be one some time ago. How about a concert in a acoustically correct hall with minimal amplification?

The ultimate goal is unadulterated recorded music from the artist to your ears in the privacy of your home. As we all know every electronic component from the front-end source to the speaker adds some form of signature to the recording. The phrase “the best amplifier is the one that adds the least amount of unwanted distortion or noise to a signal” is a very good description. So when I read a thread on a comparison of a particular amplifier that sounds tube like or more musical then another this only mean one thing; the amplifiers are adding unwanted noise!!

Comparisons of “cold and sterile” are based on someone’s reference, most likely, to a tube amplifier or one that sounds tube like with it’s rounded off music transients to avoid the presumed solid state harshness. Have any of you Audiophiles ever thought that the “cold and sterile” attribute just might be the amplifier with the least amount of added distortion or noise to the original source?

How about the next time someone thinks about asking for advice on the qualities of a particular brand compared to another go to a live event before asking the question. That also goes for all you experts, with all the experience of multiple brand ownership and auditioning ready to give the advice. When you’re at this live event ask yourself this question; does the music sound tube like, cold and sterile, or does it sound like the real thing?
audia
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Saki, we're much closer than you think. I also seek equipment that makes the music satisfying for me and I would just as happily repeat Tvad's quote of your beautiful words, because I do very much the same. For me it is about music, not equipment. Equipment is nothing but a means to an end. The idea that I would continually fiddle with my rig would be an absolute nightmare to me. That is not what my definition of audiophila is about. It's about music and the love for it. Live music is a benchmark nothing else. I try to come as close as I can within my possibilities, but I don't obsess about it. That would be nuts, because, as you rightly say, it is not possible anyway. I do however need some sort of approximation to an absolute to compare and evaluate equipment or rigs to and that happens to be what I call the gestalt of live music as I remember it and am accustomed to. Since I'm curious I do compare sometimes, but 99% of my time devoted to this hobby is just plain listening and generally happy enjoyment just as you've put it so well. I love music, not machines, but since I love music and would have it the way I like it best, I will sometimes twiddle with machines, compare machines, discard and save for machines, but only as a means, not as an end. Hope I'm clear now.
Cheers and happy untwiddly listening,
azmoon
126 posts
 
I heard/saw Cassandra Wilson in concert at Boston's Symphony Hall a few years ago. The sound was quite sublime. I have seen well over 100 concerts (all genres) in many different places - this one sounded the best. Interestingly enough, it was not as loud as most shows I have been to. But the clarity and depth was astounding. I am sure that the Hall, known for its world class acoustics, was the reason for this. Of course the musicians were also world class but it was the Hall that made the difference. It would not be possible to duplicate this in a home. However, I have also had several listening experiences in my home that have left me just as satisfied as that concert did. It certainly should not make anyone "sad" because a live music experience is "better" than a home experience. Just enjoy them all and hope that more come your way.
audia OP
6 posts
 
Rodman99999
Thanks for the excellent links
rodman99999
6,037 posts
 
Audia- My pleasure. Enjoy your music!
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,973 posts
 
If I want live music I can have my family perform, record play this back through speakers you will see how even the best systems fall flat when trying to recreat the dynamic range and impact of real unamplified music in a real space. The only systems that are even close to reproducing this dynamic range so it sounds real are giant horn systems. All conventional loudspeakers I have design or tested so, compress the dynamics. To me dynamic range frequincy responce and ease at hi-spl are all needed if one realy wants to try to reproduce a bit of live sound out of a audiosystem. If not your pissin in the wind so to speak...
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