Who has the Sickness, the Phile or the Non-phile?


So often I find myself resenting the fact that there are only so many hours to listen to HiFi and I think of those that don't hold this resentment.

I used to think anyone who wasn't obsessive simply lacked exposure, but even though I have introduced many, I have discovered no takers.

At audiophile club meeting it seems to me that the attendees are mostly gear-heads and posers; they say "Ooo & Ahhhh" to anything presented and you can see 1 or 2, maybe 3 in the seats nonchalantly looking over in the direction of the ooo-ers and Ahhh-ers; those few get it. And before anyone is defensive because they know, lashes out that I'm this or that....I don't care. These are obviously my opinions and I'm looking for the opinions of others On The  Question  At  Hand  and not whether or not I am a deluded self important snob.

So, if it is not a lack of exposure, is it a lack of ability?

Surely we are all different, short, tall, smart, obtuse, near sighted, far sighted. Are the ears and or the brains of an audiophile just wired differently than others? Can non audiophiles just not hear what we hear?

Was it childhood exposure that caused this difference in wiring? My father had Altec Voice of the Theater horns and the accompanying gear. Was that it, being exposed to HIFi during brain development? My daughter gets it and boy was she pissed when I sold my VPI TT. I never got along with my father, but was he responsible for my affliction by introducing me to superior sound as an infant?

And, who are the sick ones, the philes or the non-philes?

 

TD

128x128tonydennison

Showing 21 responses by tonydennison

An Audiophile is a lover of Audio. The music they use is to facilitate the search for perfect sound. A lover of music is a Melomaniac.

 

So, if you love music but audio purity is neither your passion nor goal, then you are not an Audiophile, you are a Melomaniac.

 

And I am talking here about Audiophiles.

No offense to anyone who misunderstood my question.

 

T

@kota1 

"Investing heavily in a two channel system is a waste when compared to investing in a high end home theater and a smart home. "


I assume you mean as an wholesaler, otherwise, ... what a strange thing to say.

@cleeds 

" Either way, your claim assumes a preference for home theater, and that’s quite an assumption. Some of us really don’t care much about movies. We’re music people."

 

very true. I havent watched a tv or gone to a theatre in years and years

@waytoomuchstuff 

"So, no need feel "weird" about an obsession with music.  And, audio.  I do know professional musicans whose life and livelihood depend on their command of their instrument (an $80k cello with $30 bow comes to mind) who are completely oblivious to the quality of reproducing of quality music at home.  The "music bug" hit them in a big way.  The "audio bug', not a all.  Those of us who enjoy both have been given a gift.  One we an enjoy for a lifetime"


well said

@bal-de-vis 

 

Nice response. I came very close to going the head-fi route myself for identicle reasons.

 

T

Interesting statement from the CEO of Hunnia Records

 

"

In our recording studio – named Supersize Recording – we have a Neve 88R analog console and a Merging Technologies Hapi Analog to Digital Converter that are used at Stereo DSD 128 and DSD 256 resolutions. Allowing Hunnia to provide NativeDSD listeners with Live, Direct to Pure DSD Stereo releases.

The most important thing to me is the feeling of joy that is brought about by the quality of recorded sound. Sometimes, the music that is being played becomes secondary. This could be some kind of an ancient phenomena, because there is so many types of music the value of which is not given by beauty or intellectual content, and they have only an acoustical effect.

This music works on a sensational level and gives an experience like good food, fine wine or the feeling of sunshine on my skin. It can be noticed on our albums that they are very musically diverse touching a number of genres.

I am not a planner. What touches me – for which I feel love – is an audio recording. This is beautiful in music that it exists in the moment. That has been performed and cannot be heard in the same way again. This is why it is important to record music and theater productions.  These are volatile treasures, not like books or movies and must be preserved in all of their glory for you the listener to enjoy for many years to come!"

Robert Zoltán Hunka

@femoore12 

 

"Curious. Do most people only watch certain movie genres like they only listen to a handful of musicians? "

 

I dont watch movies

@uncledemp 

 

Yup, and ignore us and disrepect us and look down on us. We all get it regardless of anything.

I think there is a difference between audio quality and equipment, A

 

Audiophile and Gearhead.

Im not obsessing, just posing questions for thought. And I agree with the rest of your statement.