Thread: Don’t real audiophiles own their own media?

Here is a suggested solution to the OP’s question: there is no such a thing as a ‘real’ audiophile, instead there is an ‘old’ audiophile:
‘Old’ Audiophile = Does not stream

Originally Posted by nicoff

Here is a suggested solution to the OP’s question: there is no such a thing as a ‘real’ audiophile, instead there is an ‘old’ audiophile:
‘Old’ Audiophile = Does not stream

The question was not if audiophiles stream or not. So your solution doesn't work. I mean no ill will in this statement.

The question was whether or not an audiophile will own media. The answer is "yes" they will because they enjoy doing comparisons of various sorts of playback which requires physical media, etc.

TMK, no one ever said audiophiles didn't stream at all. Some do stream too. But audiophiles search for the best playback possible. This search requires physical media. But that doesn't mean they don't enjoy all forms of playback, but merely that they enjoy some more than others. Just because an audiophile enjoys a vinyl version of a song the most, doesn't mean he wouldn't stream it at times ... (he may be doing some comparisons, he may be ill and doesn't feel like flipping vinyl that day, etc.).

I wonder if MEP has an opinion on what an Audiophile is. So often when he participates he is tell other why he doesn't like what they said. Not really talking to the issue to shape the topic.

Originally Posted by Kingrex

I wonder if MEP has an opinion on what an Audiophile is. So often when he participates he is tell other why he doesn't like what they said. Not really talking to the issue to shape the topic.

I don't see MEP's posts. He on my "ignore" list for some of the same reasons you mentioned.

I enjoy interacting with people who at least attempt to deal with a topic tastefully. I may not always agree with them or they with me, but we at least can have civil conversations and learn from one another (iron sharpening iron). In my limited experience on this forum, most here are such type people. I learn a lot here.

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

Perhaps headphones are not an audiophile tool either?

Of course not.
If they hear only headphones, they are not true audiophiles.
An audiophile must have a system.
And whoever listens in nearfield is halfway there!

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

We still cannot gauge or measure which is closer to what happened in the studio 50 years ago or even last month... The recording engineer may know.

Yes you can. This is THE SEARCH.
Your will know when you hear it.
Your system will tell you.

Originally Posted by mep

…are you going to hand out official audiophile cards to the "real audiophiles" with your signature?

Good idea.
Mike could provide these “visit cards” for the members of this forum (*).
But for which?
(*) with special perks and discounts etc.

Originally Posted by Spock

Good idea.
Mike could provide these “visit cards” for the members of this forum (*).
But for which?
(*) with special perks and discounts etc.

I thought it was a cool idea too. Under your status of Junior, Senior etc. a big "Audiophile", in bold, for true believers. What do you know, MEP accidentally had something positive to contribute. 🌞

Originally Posted by Kingrex

...a big "Audiophile", in bold, for true believers.
🌞

Mandatory!

Originally Posted by Spock

If they hear only headphones, they are not true audiophiles.

Last I checked headphones use some type source. So, the argument still holds true; Audiophiles enjoy doing comparisons of various sorts of playback which requires physical media, etc.

TMK, no one ever said audiophiles didn't stream at all. Some do stream too. But audiophiles search for the best playback possible. This search requires physical media. But that doesn't mean they don't enjoy all forms of playback, but merely that they enjoy some more than others. Just because an audiophile enjoys a vinyl version of a song the most, doesn't mean he wouldn't stream it at times ... (he may be doing some comparisons, he may be ill and doesn't feel like flipping vinyl that day, etc.).

Originally Posted by Spock

Audiophile cards - Good idea

Better begin with a “library card” because numerous individuals didn’t read and reply to the OP. Instead they are making up things as they go along and replying to that.

Unfortunately many here claim to be an audiophile and yet can’t give a clear true complete definition of what that is fearing that they will find out they aren’t one. Pretty sad when someone is willing to sidestep the truth for a title they can’t even define.

Oh no! No one told the studio engineers about headphones not being an audiophile grade tool! OMG, those musicians and recording engineers, everyone is using them, how can the music ever sound right??? Oh that's right, recording engineers are not even real audiophiles, they don't always use fancy audio cables for the hundreds of feet of mixing console wires and patch cords. They often use those very budget studio monitors instead of "REAL SPEAKERS". Those guys only make the music the audiophiles like to listen to, they don't really have a clue about anything...

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

Don't know what is what, but I enjoy the heck out of my Abyss headphones!

Perhaps it is being able to listen to music that is free from speaker to room interaction coloration...

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

… Oh that's right, recording engineers are not even real audiophiles, they don't always use fancy audio cables for the hundreds of feet of mixing console wires and patch cords. They often use those very budget studio monitors instead of "REAL SPEAKERS". Those guys only make the music the audiophiles like to listen to, they don't really have a clue about anything...

Joking, you got it right.
That is why some recordings are so poor.
Sound technicians have also evolved, and proof of this are many of today's excellent recordings. As for the use of certain materials in the professional audio that supposedly has more than enough quality, I do not support this myth. I already had around these cheap cables used in the professional environment and that's when I realized why live AMPLIFIED sound is almost always a big mess with everything mixed up. We see the pianist playing but only hear the electric guitars...

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

Perhaps it is being able to listen to music that is free from speaker to room interaction coloration...

Joking you are right again
See the video below. With phones you can "smell" the air moving but only in the room you can "feel" the real sensation of the air moving.
Phones can give you an idea of the real thing, but they can´t be the ultimate goal en audio.

Spock thank you for quoting the Multi-Armed one otherwise I would have never seen that he disproved his own point.

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

… Oh that's right, recording engineers are not even real audiophiles, they don't always use fancy audio cables for the hundreds of feet of mixing console wires and patch cords. They often use those very budget studio monitors instead of "REAL SPEAKERS". Those guys only make the music the audiophiles like to listen to, they don't really have a clue about anything...

Recording engineers have to be very knowledgeable across a wide variety of music equipment, both analogue and digital. They can't do their job properly without the knowledge and experience of physical media.

Recording engineering also requires a good deal of technical knowledge. A recording engineer must be proficient with different types of recording media, such as analog tape, digital multitrack recorders, and workstations.

So, Audiophiles do use media which is what the OP is about.

Now that we have had a moment of truth we return to the regularly scheduled Multi-Armed one's & Cos. audio meltdowns: mocking, rantings and ravings, etc. - from those that fear the truth.

A Basic Overview of the Field of Recording Engineering

Expert Mastering Engineers Sound Off on Using Headphones for Audio Mastering

Originally Posted by Spock

Joking, you got it right.
That is why some recordings are so poor.
Sound technicians have also evolved, and proof of this are many of today's excellent recordings. As for the use of certain materials in the professional audio that supposedly has more than enough quality, I do not support this myth. I already had around these cheap cables used in the professional environment and that's when I realized why live AMPLIFIED sound is almost always a big mess with everything mixed up. We see the pianist playing but only hear the electric guitars...



Joking you are right again
See the video below. With phones you can "smell" the air moving but only in the room you can "feel" the real sensation of the air moving.
Phones can give you an idea of the real thing, but they can´t be the ultimate goal en audio.

Spock, a theater is a different experience all together. Tying visual, audible and even physical impact from a theater (SPL levels and visceral bass that is felt in the body) is an exciting but a very different "listening" experience. In fact one pays less attention to music with other sense being involved. I used to love watching Bluray concerts in my theater as well. It was an all Wilson speaker/D'Agostino amplification with a total custom ASC treatment 18x30 room. JL Audio Fathom F212 dual 12" subs with 3600 watts of power puts a new definition on bass impact and what Iron Man, Thor, or B.B.King performing LIVE is. Awesome but headphones are for an intimate, musical experience....

As to the poor recordings, the studios were more concerned with selling the music to the masses, not audiophiles. For the masses, the dynamic range compressed, loudness mastered music sounds better on the very limited form of playback systems found in car stereos and other small appliances that can play music and are typical of the non-audiophile environment.

Originally Posted by TheOctopus

... headphones are for an intimate, musical experience....

I never said that listening to headphones was bad.
I use them often. Usually late at night, when I'm writing here on the forum.
But as you said, the headphones give an intimate experience and yet an audiophile who pursues scale and the presence of the musicians in the room, does not achieve this with headphones.

A great quality set of headphones can and does exceed fidelity compared to high end rig setup in a room that is acoustically lacking. That is a fact. There is a reason most sound engineers will use them at one point of mastering or another. It is about hearing the finer detail.

Presentation is different, yes. However, after 30 years of listening, the soundstage is indeed in my head just like it would be in a 2 channel rig as long as the recording is not panned so hard left or right that it becomes distracting. The brain learns to compensate. I've never liked the cross-feed circuitry. Certainly the headphones are able to achieve a more linear response and a deeper and tighter bass that many speaker/room combinations are capable of. Still, feeling the bass with your body is different than just the eardrum. However, my listening room is 30x30, it would take quite an effort to match the ZMF Auteur bass with the same level of resolution, articulation and overall coherence between sub-bass, bass and midrange. Just not going to happen without a very large set of woofers and or multiple subs. In headphones, I am not lacking anything.

Here is a good article on how and why the headphones are used by the Expert Mastering Engineers to create the music we listen to on our end. Expert Mastering Engineers Sound Off on Using Headphones for Audio Mastering