Rok2id...you mention ''I just don't understand the isolated attraction of stereo gear, without a corresponding interest in the function or purpose of the gear.''
You are only partly correct. And what is really for many the purpose of gear? It is not to hear music as a whole, but as superficial elements:
Soundstage
''Air'' around instruments
Top end
Low end
Midrange
Roll off
Balance
''driver'' integration
Sweet spot
upfront voices
Transparency
PRAT
tubelike
edgy
This is the language of the audiophile, and the above are just some of the many elements to distract from the artist performing in front of us through our system. And that's just sound.
There are even more elements concerning the gear...
Faceplates
Built-like-a-tank
tubes and tube rolling
the endless variations concerning cable
ok, enough of this.
No wonder the musical message takes a back seat. I don't want to make enemies here, but still, I would seriously doubt most of the postings claiming it is all about music. If it was, most Audiogoners would have just a few transactions to get their system rolling then stop it right there and just enjoy the music instead of enjoying the transactions and resulting ownership experience of gear.
Nothing wrong with that of course, but let's call a cat a cat!
