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- #1
Returning to the Roots of Musical Enjoyment
My journey with music has been a lifelong affair, spanning decades and evolving through various formats - from LPs and cassettes to CDs, bypassing the era of SACDs and DVD Audio amidst the demands of family and work. However, the resurgence of my interest in music, rekindled by the advent of streaming services, marked a paradigm shift in my auditory experience. Streaming revolutionized my listening habits, but this digital convenience also led me down a path influenced by professional audio critics. Their claims of discernible sonic nuances fueled my quest for the "perfect sound."
In pursuit of audio nirvana, I embarked on a relentless quest to upgrade my equipment, convinced that each new tweak or addition would bring me closer to the ultimate listening experience. Yet, despite my efforts and investments, the realization dawned on me: the essence of live music, its raw and unfiltered beauty, remained elusive, unattainable through any speaker or headphone.
This revelation echoed the sentiments of J. Gordon Holt, a pioneer who lamented the decline of audio as a genuine hobby. Holt criticized the high-end audio community's resistance to objective scrutiny, such as double-blind testing, which undermined its credibility since the 1980s. This stance, Holt argued, turned high-end audio into a subject of ridicule among skeptics and a source of personal embarrassment for him, given his inadvertent role in promoting a misguided pursuit.
After years of chasing the illusory ideal of perfect sound, I have stepped away from the high-end audio dogma. The complex setups and the pursuit of sonic perfection gave way to the simplicity and accessibility of streaming (Spotify in my case). The once indispensable components of my audio system - the imposing amplifiers, the sophisticated preamps, and the high-end music servers - have been relegated to the background. Now, my music exploration is guided by the convenience of an app, unencumbered by the concerns of software updates or the pursuit of high-definition tracks.
In this return to simplicity, I've rediscovered the joy of music. Freed from the confines of audiophile conventions, I now delve into an ever-expanding universe of artists and genres, finding delight in new discoveries and rekindling my love for music in its most accessible form. It's a journey back to the beginning, a rediscovery of the pure joy of music, and I am reveling in every moment of it.
My journey with music has been a lifelong affair, spanning decades and evolving through various formats - from LPs and cassettes to CDs, bypassing the era of SACDs and DVD Audio amidst the demands of family and work. However, the resurgence of my interest in music, rekindled by the advent of streaming services, marked a paradigm shift in my auditory experience. Streaming revolutionized my listening habits, but this digital convenience also led me down a path influenced by professional audio critics. Their claims of discernible sonic nuances fueled my quest for the "perfect sound."
In pursuit of audio nirvana, I embarked on a relentless quest to upgrade my equipment, convinced that each new tweak or addition would bring me closer to the ultimate listening experience. Yet, despite my efforts and investments, the realization dawned on me: the essence of live music, its raw and unfiltered beauty, remained elusive, unattainable through any speaker or headphone.
This revelation echoed the sentiments of J. Gordon Holt, a pioneer who lamented the decline of audio as a genuine hobby. Holt criticized the high-end audio community's resistance to objective scrutiny, such as double-blind testing, which undermined its credibility since the 1980s. This stance, Holt argued, turned high-end audio into a subject of ridicule among skeptics and a source of personal embarrassment for him, given his inadvertent role in promoting a misguided pursuit.
After years of chasing the illusory ideal of perfect sound, I have stepped away from the high-end audio dogma. The complex setups and the pursuit of sonic perfection gave way to the simplicity and accessibility of streaming (Spotify in my case). The once indispensable components of my audio system - the imposing amplifiers, the sophisticated preamps, and the high-end music servers - have been relegated to the background. Now, my music exploration is guided by the convenience of an app, unencumbered by the concerns of software updates or the pursuit of high-definition tracks.
In this return to simplicity, I've rediscovered the joy of music. Freed from the confines of audiophile conventions, I now delve into an ever-expanding universe of artists and genres, finding delight in new discoveries and rekindling my love for music in its most accessible form. It's a journey back to the beginning, a rediscovery of the pure joy of music, and I am reveling in every moment of it.
