Audiophilism is a hobby
This post grew out of another discussion on music vs. sound. According to a poll taken in that discussion, it is clear most A’goners claim they listen to their rigs primarily for the music. Although I don’t doubt the truth of that, I maintain that much of the listening is as a hobby, with music being a very important component. I’m not saying we can’t be profoundly moved by the music but rather that a lot of our enjoyment comes from the sheer sound emitted from our speakers. Great music is of course a vital part of the experience, but with all the manipulations we do with our systems, we are fascinated by the idea of sound in itself as a hobby.
@mashif : Buddy Miller! Buddy has been my favorite music producer, band leader (for Emmylou Harris), singer, and guitar-stylist for a number of years now. His productions also bristle with the kinetic energy of live music (many are recorded live, with the entire band and singer captured at the same time), recorded in various rooms in his Nashville 2-story Craftsman house.
Thanks for the heads up on Sarah, who I have somehow missed. I’ll get the Undercurrents album and work my way back.
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Thanks @mashif, I look it up. I recently saw Buddy’s pal Jim Lauderdale live, just he and his guitar in a medium-sized bar in Portland. Last time I saw him was at Pappy & Harriets in Pioneer Town, close to Joshua Tree (I was living in Palm Desert, about an hour away). The first time was when he replaced Gurf Morlix as Lucinda’s bandleader, singing harmony and playing acoustic rhythm guitar on the Car Wheels tour.That was a quarter-century ago! Playing lead guitar on that tour was Kenny Vaughan, now in Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives, imo the best band in the world. Buddy and Julie never make it up to the Northwest (neither does Marty Stuart), and I’m dying to see them on stage. Marty too!
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I'm guessing that most of us have some favorite cuts that we use to measure the performance of our system (s). When we hear new things in the music or have it presented in a different way that seems more pleasing or realistic then we get a satisfying measure of pleasure. Because we enjoy this feeling so much we continue on the path until that experience can be achieved again (and again). Call it a kind of obsession or perhaps call it a journey. Either way I personally have no regrets and still enjoy the quest now some 50 years. |
