2. music
  3. 156866-2693

I Think I Am Becoming An Audiophile



I listened to and mostly enjoyed Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” yesterday. This is a 1st for me. I’ve had the disk for 10-15 yrs. But I’ve never been able to stay awake through it. Then I listened to Harry “Sweets” Edison & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis “In Copenhagen” (MFSL) last night. And I enjoyed this too. Both these were experiments with the Triode Mode on amp engaged. My system has been improved lately and really sounds good. But I still didn’t expect to finally like jazz . It still doesn’t touch my soul like classic rock. But it’s a start. Though I’ve never cared for jazz (or female vocals. Yuk) I’ve not belittled it because musical taste is highly subjective. Quite honestly, I’ve noticed that as the system sounds better, more genres become enjoyable for me. I suspect this speaks to the situation where you see a band live, and like them, though you have never cared for their recordings

On a side note, even though my system is at its best I STILL want another amp!! This has gone on too long. I can see that I will not be satisfied until I get another amp!! My wife, OTOH..... Well she was an accountant.....................nuff said.

128x128artemus_5
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Artemus_5 I believe that Frank (oregonpapa) is right, music lover more so than audiophile. I’m an unrepentant jazz aficianodo and cut from the same cloth as Frank😀. As my audio system improved over the years I did find myself enjoying other music genres more especially certain types of classical music (this term covers a vast range of eras/styles underneath a hugh umbrella. Same is true for jazz, many variations).

Most music listeners will have a favorite type of music preference but still can enjoy and appreciate other genres as well. I will say that in my experience jazz ’really' seems to respond to improved audio system sound quality (probably due to the dominant use of acoustical instruments). Most likely improving reproduction (realism) of tone/timbre/harmonic overtones and such. 
Charles
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 
I also think of myself as a music lover rather than an audiophile, even though I have a nice system and probably never will get finished upgrading it.

I recommend a streaming service for broadening your musical tastes. For $15 - $20 a month you get access to a practically unlimited amount of music, at least more than you can ever listen to, in all genres. You can explore until you find what you like and dispose of what you don’t with a couple of taps. You can buy albums that you really want to own only after you’re sure you want to own them.

Not having to buy a physical copy makes it easier to enjoy music outside your comfort zone. You haven’t paid 10 or 15 dollars for it, so there’s no questioning whether you should have spent that money on it or whether you want it sitting on your shelf. You can listen to anything at very low cost and either you enjoy it or you don’t. No long term commitment involved.

There’s so much good music around that there’s no reason to listen to anything that doesn’t move you. You can listen your whole life and not come close to hearing it all.
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,970 posts
 
@edcyn
 
 
Wait'll you get to opera,
I have 100-200 from a college library. I rescued about 8-900 albums  about 15 yrs ago of which they were a part.  I'm sure there are some really good stuff in them. Most of them are imports. All NM. I play some of the classical. Wish I knew more about it.

@charles1dad 

I will say that in my experience jazz ’really' seems to respond to improved audio system sound quality (probably due to the dominant use of acoustical instruments).
I  tend to agree with you. One of the 1st things I noticed when my system began to get good was that music I hadn't much cared for became much more desirable. Billy Joel stands out as one I'd heard on radio for decades but never had any of his albums nor thought about getting any. Now I have quite a few. Wow! Fantastic song writer. Many other artists are the same. I call it NOS music. I've heard it but never REALLY heard it. Fortunately I got back into vinyl in the late 90's early 2000's. I bought many NM  albums for $1...or less
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Great posts.
I have been playing a lot of jazz and fusion the last few months, stuff that a few short years back I thought just sounded awful.
But in reality I think it was my system not up to snuff.
Now Stanley Clarke and Al Jarreau etc get a lot of playtime on vinyl.
And of course the power of Qobuz lets me explore a lot of stuff I would never even of heard of never mind played.
Audiophile though?
For myself I will just say music lover.
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Speaking of Billy Joel, although he did write catchy songs, none really grabbed me... until 52nd Street album, but just one song. (Charles will get this) Now the album has "THREE" pictures of Billy holding a trumpet. Inside had pics of a few of the associated artists, but only a simple listed credit: Flugelhorn, Freddie Hubbard, my favorite trumpet player! (I guess I'm still a bit steamed at that one)! HA. Anyway, ZANZIBAR where he let's the Real Men take control!! (twice). 
More to discover