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Do You Love Music or Do You Love Hi-Fi?

I know a lot of hi-fi enthusiasts who seem to have poor taste in music but can talk all day about their audio gear. I got into the high end audio hobby because of my love for music first and foremost, and this has done a pretty good job in guiding my decisions around what equipment to buy. Don't get me wrong, I Jones really hard on gear, but at the end of the day it's not about the gear but how great the music I love sounds on the gear I buy. I study music and learn all I can to discover new music to enjoy, regardless of the genre, but I am certain that I will not be investing in the latest Jennifer Warnes vinyl re-issues. I also wonder why Mo-Fi issued the first three Foreigner albums on vinyl. Are there really that many hard core audiophiles asking for this? There are so many great recordings that are begging for the high end vinyl treatment, it makes me wonder who these people are making decisions about what to release on these labels? I'm sure the entire Don Henley catalog is coming soon from one of these labels.
OK, I'm done ranting, but I really do want to hear what others think about this. Or is it just me? Is it about the gear or is it about the music for you?
128x128snackeyp
normansizemore
601 posts
 
I need good hi-fi to enjoy music.
ranwal67
3 posts
 
I love music in Hi-Fi.
bizango1
276 posts
 
Just because some audiophiles and music lovers have bad taste in music doesn't mean they don't love it as much as the music you love. I might think the stuff you love is really dumb but I still feel a kinship with you because you love some kind of music. It's a matter of taste. I can't stand eggplant but you might love it.

I also agree with Markpao-it is fun to enjoy two hobbies simultaneously. I can't play table tennis and ride a motorcycle at the same time but I can enjoy music and my hifi at the same time.
rockitman's avatar
rockitman
417 posts
 
Music first...HiFi is the delivery tool to maximize the musical listening experience.
mlsstl
1,438 posts
 
One has to be careful in accusing others of "bad taste". Even famous classical composers often had detractors. Rossini said that Berlioz was "a regular freak without a vestige of talent." Tchaikovsky on Richard Strauss: "Such an astounding lack of talent was never before united to such pretentiousness." Bach almost got fired from his first job as a church organist due to his style of playing.

I certainly have some writers and performers I like better than others, and know others feel the opposite. However, the only thing that really dismays me are those who have no sense of musical exploration, those who never venture past the small group of artists they grew up with 20, 30 or more years ago. It probably makes them happy, but I find it a bit sad.

As for the equipment versus music question, people approach hobbies from a variety of perspectives. I just hope they find what they do interesting, fulfilling and challenging.

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