Thedoctor said it better than I've ever heard.
People here won't believe this but I spent a day in NYC listening to some of the finest stereo in existance and the best IMHO was a Monitor Audio Bronze 1 on a Marantz receiver.
Why?
Good tonality that matched my taste.
If a stereo is over etched, searingly bright, boomy bass that feels like a pounding headache, or whatever that grates on my taste I could care less how much it costs or how good the sound is in other ways.
If a stereo can't just play tunes, what good is it? |
LAck of awareness of audio, confusion, expense, snake oil, easier to stay out alltogether than get caught up in it all. |
Also convenience. Very few people are willing to put speakers out into the room. Most people don't want tuner / transport / dac / preamp / amp / speaker with all the wires and interconnects as well.
I see posts regularly for people wanting speakers that can be put against the wall. Or for an audiophile grade receiver only to be told it can't be done this way if you want hi-end sound. and it's true - too bad.
So maybe some active Tannoy, Mackie, or ATC monitors and a source with volume control would go a long way in solving the convenience issue while still having good sound. |
Gonglee3, Sony bought out Aiwa. Maybe this will help Sony's poor sound quality. Aiwa has had good sound quality for the dollar but poor quality. Naw, Sony just bought Aiwa to eliminate their products because their stuff sounded better.
Interesting fact about Japanese philosphy is they make their product names to be recognizable when read frontwards or in reverse. Aiwa = Awia / Toyota = Atoyot / Nissan = Nassin for example. |
Larryb "The most popular types of music - pop, rock and rap is reproduced better on non-audiophile systems."
Huh?
Maybe it's that people who like this type of music aren't the type who are willing to spend a lot of money on a stereo. People making stereo stuff know this and tailor the sound to classical (Sonus Faber for example, Musical Fidelity for another).
I like rock, pop, and some rap and IMHO is is VERY difficult to find a stereo which can do justice to this type of music. ATC active 100's and Naim being the exceptions to the rule. |
Hi Rex, I'm happy you have found the system of your dreams. Nope the problem is not coloration. As I said before, I really think the problem is that systems are voiced for people who have a lot of money to spend and most of those people aren't listening to rock. The sytems that "are", have bumped up, underdamped, bloated bass and sometimes a bright tweeter.
Why don't more people love audio? One reason may be because high end audio is not voiced for popular music ("Popular" meaning what most people listen to). |
Rex, maybe so, but try and find me a review of a component which is made for rock music. Here are some of Sam Tellig's comments:
Harbeth - not for rock.
Electocompaniet / Musical Fidelity / LFD Mistral - "harmonics, lit from within, etc etc."
B&W - classical recording minitor, not for rock
Omega "Chamber music"
Either most components are not for rock or the people reading the reviews aren't into rock so reviewer's don't gear their review for such genres.
If it wasn't for the "toe tapper" crowd in England I think everything we listen on stereo to would sound like Mozart or Yanni. Well, maybe not quit that bad :-). |
""Audiophile" recording techniques work best on acoustic music, so it's unlikely that many "audiophile" recordings of hard rock, hip hop, R&B, or rap will be produced. These are the kinds of music that appeal to the largest segment of the public today"
wanderingbob Jul-19-02 Audioreview.com
This was posted back when Audioreview was the best audio site on the internet IMO.
It all starts at the source and if no audiophile recordings exist, why spend big $$$ on an audiophile system. EG if you listen to crap recordings, why get a high resolution system which will only uncover more of the recording crap?
Bad recordings sound worse on a hi-res system than a low res system. |
|
Because to a large extent, hi-end audio does not give the customer what they want. Hi-end audio expects people to conform to THEM, not the other way around. You will never get much business with that attitude. |
How about "audio galleries" where companies loan their equipment? People pay $10-20 and can listen to the "B&W" room or the YG Acoustics room.
There would be no pressure to buy, the entrance fees covers operating expenses, and no overhead like a dealer who has to buy the stuff as it would be on loan. |
Because:
1) Doesn't increase their enjoyment of music.
or
2) Not a status symbol. |
It's not worth the effort. Make it simpler, with good sound, and they will come.
For example, are there any good one-box systems that can compete with separates, AND at reasonable cost? No. Instead your stuck with a cajillion wires, power cords, boxes. Is it worth the bother? For most people, the answer will be no. |
Throwing money at high end audio (or most things for that matter) does not gaurantee anything. I've heard plenty of uber-expensive stereos that sound horrible. The rich, being that they are rich, aren't not buying because of a lack of money. How many are willing to spend double that amount for 36" of cable? Especially when the differences are virtually inaudible as no one can tell in double blind listening tests. Again, "most people" are not going to be willing to spend hours listening for differences between cables. Using measurements would simplify things, but "measurements can't be trusted". People will spend money on something like an I-pod because it is tailored to their lifestyle. Going by stereo systems I see photographed on Audiogon, even many audiophiles are NOT going to put speakers out into the room even when it givers markedly better sound. And these are people who care about sound. |
Too complicated.
Over-complicate things in order to justify a higher price. |
Except there are millions of people who enjoy music. Does someone have to understand tubes or driver technology to be qualified to listen to a hi end system? Why would someone have to wear the badge of Audiophile before they are allowed to hear a high end stereo? This isn't about catering to the audiophile. Enough of that already.
As many people have said here, they got into the hobby because they got the chance to listen to true high quality sound. My Canadian friend says American settle. But how can you be interested in something good if you've never been one of the Choosen Few who have been allowed behind those hallowed doors?
Self limiting snobbery sure will explain why more people don't love *hi end* audio, or won't get into it. |
Thanks for sharing your contrary opinion. I have no interest in changing your mind, but please allow me the opportunity to present something contrary to what you think. Thanks.
How is allowing the everyday man exposure to hi end audio a "pompous fantasy"? You, sir are so full of your own words that you cannot read what was written. Nothing was said about forcing people to be blown away by a stereo. Nothing was said about forcing someone to buy something because *I* like it. And "zealots who simply cannot imagine that anyone could experience the holy ghost or holy grail or holy sound as you experience it and remain unmoved."---- where was this ever written, or implied?
The original point was simply to allow people *who have never heard a hi-end stereo* the opportunity to do so. It is an attempt, however, small and ill conceived, allow more people to love audio. Instead of the negative attitude which seems to almost want people to stay out of the hobby.
Actually with hi-end audio getting smaller and smaller, IMHO, there IS a need to proselytize.
I agree with what you said:
"Only a small percentage got the bug and began the crusade. Many were called but few were chosen. All were exposed."
Except the part about "all were exposed". IMO, the vast majority of people have not. You cannot tell if you like something or not unless you try it.
If you open your mind and eyes to what people has written over and over again on this site, you will read that many here have gotten into the hobby because they had the chance to listen to the hi end stereo. They have said if they did not have this opportunity, they would still be living with their boombox. |
Macrojack, interesting POV's. I agree that, given your situation, why should you believe in God? A thought occurred to me recently though that you HAVE to being following SOMETHING. So if you aren't following God, then you are following something else. I wonder what it is? "For those few who can't help themselves it may be possible to scrape together some of our leavings into a (MY suggestion for a) semblance of high end, but most won't even try." Too bad hi-end can't be made simpler. It's easy to download MP3 crap online but high resolution files are hard to come by and even if you find them you have to worry about jitter, high frequency rubbish...... it gets real complicated real quick. Pity. |
Some people are afraid of feeling emotions because then they are not in control of themselves. Other people do not have an emotional response to music so it does nothing for them.
There is definitely a different type of emotional component from listening to music that does not happen with other activities, like bungee jumping for example. |
"I know
You never thought about it but
Ask yourself later
When you turn on your stereo
Does it return the favor?"
Van Halen - The Trouble With Never |
"I know you never thought about it but ask yourself later. When you turn on your stereo, does it return the favor?"
..........Van Halen "A Different Kind of Truth" |
What does good sound look like? People can see the difference between a supercar and a regular car. High end audio can be difficult to define as it is largely opinion based (IMHO) so how does someone know what to buy? It is not an easy task. As people have said here, just throwing money at the problem is no guarantee of success. It is not a project suited for today's microwave mentality.
As for not living without music, I enjoy reproduced sound like every one here. But has there ever been a time in history other than now when reproduced sound existed? What did people do before the last century to satisfy their craving for music? |
Maybe because most people don't want / use the classic stereo setup for music anymore?
|
