Some 'audiophile' (musically involved) people are getting annoyed by the sound of their hi-fi stereo sound systems!

There are actually a few opinions that I'd like to state. First, I think upgrading sometimes isn't the pursuit of something better, but something different. I love mac and cheese, but if I ate that every day, eventually I'd like something new. You see it every day, people swapping in tube gear for solid state, floor standers for monitors, etc. It's not that one is better than the other, it's just "different." Second, music is just as influenced by your state of mind and environment as it is the equipment. If I sit down on a Friday night with a cold beer, dim lights, and just relax and listen to music it's great. But what if I painted the walls hot pink and replaced all the lightbulbs with 500watt flood lights? I guarantee you'd find the experience horrible. Sometimes just altering the environment is enough to alter your perception of what you hear.

I'm sure many will agree with me when I say, it's very easy to have a goal in sight, and with just a few equipment choices, stray off the path in a direction where you end up in an entirely different place than you intended. You may have state of the art equipment, but you're unhappy. Usually, those people will go out and replace one component with limited results. Sometimes it takes a complete gut of everything and starting over from scratch to get back on track. That includes the room as well.

I, myself, am not such a critical listener that I end up in a rut. I'm perfectly happy just listening to my little Tivoli radio on Saturday nights while playing on the computer as I am listening to my main system. But of course that's just me...
 
The first link is of course from Steve Hoffman's own audio site (a music master/maestro recording/mixing engineer, artist in his own right).

The second link from AudioKarma; you also have to read it all till the end to fully grasp the essence.
{It's not more about the threads than it is about the people in them threads.}

________________

This is a great subject as it raises important questions about our lovely hobby.
And you can't generalize, but only suggest some of your own opinion.

After all, it's a very personal journey, and one that only you travel with perfect exactitude (acumen and preferred acuity).

During the trip it's all about the music we love, we discover, and its reproduction by our mechanical audio devices of choice and means.
It is our own experience, and it's fun to learn about other's own experiences, and share with them.
...The deepest it is in our heart, with all the respect deserved, the more grandiose is the ultimate reward. ...That's my vision.
 
I think I can understand where they are coming from. A couple of times in my audio hobby, I've gotten so into the details that somewhere I lost the music. When I notice that this has happened, I step back and find my way again.

My most recent example was when I bought the Magico Q series speakers. Man were they great. I could go on and on about everything they did right. But my toe didn't tap. It would some but. So I went speaker shopping. That's when I heard Raidho's and thought - these do everything right like the Magico's but my toe taps automatically each and every time I hear them. Even on music I don't like.
 
the professor said:
I think I can understand where they are coming from. A couple of times in my audio hobby, I've gotten so into the details that somewhere I lost the music. When I notice that this has happened, I step back and find my way again.

My most recent example was when I bought the Magico Q series speakers. Man were they great. I could go on and on about everything they did right. But my toe didn't tap. It would some but. So I went speaker shopping. That's when I heard Raidho's and thought - these do everything right like the Magico's but my toe taps automatically each and every time I hear them. Even on music I don't like.
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Yes, most times stepping away for a bit is the cure. I think that is at least in part because Bob is right, our mental state does have something to do with it. Granted it's not always 100%, but it is a huge influence on how we hear and what we hear. Anything that activates auto-toe-tapping is a keeper. :D As I stated though, I try to let the music dictate the gear. It doesn't always take huge amounts of money. If the music carries you away on what you use currently, then your already there. That's just the way I see it personally......uh, and I am very nearly there.
 
I think as audiophiles - we sometimes follow trends - for better or worse - instead of our hearts. As I listened to some products Jonathan Valin likes for example, I was not impressed. "Truth to source" does not equate to a musically enjoyable experience. As a musician, I can tell you that "truth to source" does not sound like real music to me. It sounds like getting one closer to bad recordings! Peeling layers off a bad apple doesn't make it a tasty apple. Now if we dip it in a little chocolate..... ;)

Lastly, as musicians, there are certain sounds we try to achieve with our instruments. If I'm using my 1968 Selmer Mark VI with a Vandoren mouthpiece and a Royal 3.5 reed - I get a much different sound from a modern Yamaha YAS62 sax and a metal mouthpiece. The point being - is that for all those "truth to source" folks - how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner.
 
"The point being - is that for all those "truth to source" folks - how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner."

That statement above hits the nail on the head Mike!

I have always stated that we have no way to reproduce the exact way a CD or LP was engineered to sound in our homes. They use different gear. The best we can hope for is a system that sounds good to the owner of that system. I always get put off by people who cut down other peoples gear. By the way Mike, your system sucks!:bonkers:


Mike, I am envious of your system and of most of the guys here.
 
Mike said:
I think as audiophiles - we sometimes follow trends - for better or worse - instead of our hearts. As I listened to some products Jonathan Valin likes for example, I was not impressed. "Truth to source" does not equate to a musically enjoyable experience. As a musician, I can tell you that "truth to source" does not sound like real music to me. It sounds like getting one closer to bad recordings! Peeling layers off a bad apple doesn't make it a tasty apple. Now if we dip it in a little chocolate..... ;)

Lastly, as musicians, there are certain sounds we try to achieve with our instruments. If I'm using my 1968 Selmer Mark VI with a Vandoren mouthpiece and a Royal 3.5 reed - I get a much different sound from a modern Yamaha YAS62 sax and a metal mouthpiece. The point being - is that for all those "truth to source" folks - how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner.
Click to expand...

I didn't know you played a musical instrument (sax) Mike. :cool:
 
Mike said:
how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner.
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From your lips to God's ears... What sounds good to the engineer is as different to me as what art someone likes compared to me.
 
Yeah, we love when we play, the music from the artists we love, and mixed/recorded by the engineers we love, and from their studios to our rooms.
We can relate to the total synergy of love; right from the very beginning (vocal/mic input) to the ultimate end (emotional and sound satisfying output; the message of course, the imagination).
Anything else is just cheap whiskey.

Everything is subliminal that is subliminal. Nothing is imperfect that is not perfect.
 
Mechnutt said:
"The point being - is that for all those "truth to source" folks - how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner."

That statement above hits the nail on the head Mike!

I have always stated that we have no way to reproduce the exact way a CD or LP was engineered to sound in our homes. They use different gear. The best we can hope for is a system that sounds good to the owner of that system. I always get put off by people who cut down other peoples gear. By the way Mike, your system sucks!:bonkers:


Mike, I am envious of your system and of most of the guys here.
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Yeah - it really sucks! :). But, I'll keep it. :woot:
 
NorthStar said:
I didn't know you played a musical instrument (sax) Mike. :cool:
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Yes sir. 30+ years. I've competed at the local, regional, provincial and national levels as well (and won every level). I don't play as much as I would like any more. I loved being in various Big Bands over the years. Nothing like the sound of 30 decent musicians playing the old big band classics!
 
Mike said:
I think as audiophiles - we sometimes follow trends - for better or worse - instead of our hearts. As I listened to some products Jonathan Valin likes for example, I was not impressed. "Truth to source" does not equate to a musically enjoyable experience. As a musician, I can tell you that "truth to source" does not sound like real music to me. It sounds like getting one closer to bad recordings! Peeling layers off a bad apple doesn't make it a tasty apple. Now if we dip it in a little chocolate..... ;)

Lastly, as musicians, there are certain sounds we try to achieve with our instruments. If I'm using my 1968 Selmer Mark VI with a Vandoren mouthpiece and a Royal 3.5 reed - I get a much different sound from a modern Yamaha YAS62 sax and a metal mouthpiece. The point being - is that for all those "truth to source" folks - how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner.
Click to expand...

I think you have hit the essence with this. It fits in nicely with my philosophy stated earlier. Yes, listening to a bad recording or poorly engineered CD or any medium on very revealing gear or any gear is not a pleasant experience. It's the old saying that you can't polish a turd. My system is quite revealing, but not to the point of fatigue. It has that ability of reproducing music in a pleasing and delectable manner. I'm also a musician (percussion mostly), and even still, I don't think I would want a system that would be ultra revealing. As I always say though, with any system - garbage in / garbage out. For example: Rush's (original) Vapor Trails doesn't sound good on any system.
It's interesting in that I have never been a trend follower. Even when I was little, while the other kids were watching cartoons, I was watching cooking shows....which of course only backs up the saying "there's something wrong with that boy".:D
 
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