Music vs. Components

After reading through these various posts, it seems that truthfully, audiophiles really listen foremost to their components/gear hoping to hear them sound musical. Since this is very subjective, as long as the listener likes the sound of the gear, then they say they're not listening to it, BUT as soon as the music appears less "pleasing," the listener is again off on the search to find either gear or upgrades that will again "sound" more musical... claiming that the gear has once again disappeared, and they are no longer listening to it. I believe that my description kind of encompasses each point of view, including Mrtennis, who listens for the "affect" on his health. Surely if you don't like the sound (bad sound), it can't have a positive affect. I would presume you need, at least, reliable components to produce health providing music. It's all part of the hobby, and all good as far as I'm concerned... so long as one doesn't get too twisted about either gear, music, others' opinions of what sounds good, magazine reviews, money, etc.

I always listen to the music my components make.

The line exists within our insecurities.

There is no other significance to our home stereo than the fact that it play's music for us to enjoy. Neurotic behavior is independant.

As far as upgrades go, I find a funny similarity between the typical "audiophile" and the typical cult follower of scientology. Within the cult, you pay your money in the promise of improvements over what you are familiar with. And when the improvements eventually don't live up to your expectations, you are told to pay even more money for the next level up, because only then will you reach and realize the results you are looking for. Of course, soon enough you're not satisfied and of course, the only action is to pay an even higher amount of monies for the next levels which will give you what you are looking for. And on and on until you get wise or grow broke and disillusioned.

And don't even get me started on the cult of scientology. Have you heard of OT III and XENU and the space opera and whatever else that drugaddled crazyfuk l.r.hubbard made up?!

enjoy!

I love my stereo and my wife loves music. She is starting to hate me talking about anything electronic and it bugs me when she sings along to the music because I can't hear it as well. She enjoys the quality of my system, but her enjoyment in music probably hasn't improved over listening to the stock car stereo.

Which one of us loves components and which one loves music?

After tweaking my stereo and room all day today and last night, I've come to discover that 'listening to just the music" is achieved only after all components and listening room are complementing each other in such a synergistic way that they don't draw any attention to themselves. Up until tonight, I realized I was listening to the components instead of the music most of the time because, among other minor things, there was an edgy glare at certain mid and high frequencies, which always drew attention to itself and thus immediately destroyed the illusion of a natural, realistic performance in front of me.

Over the last 24 hours (rest included) i significantly ameliorated the glare issues by rearranging the acoustic treatments in the room and, pretty surprisingly, re-arranging the third party feet I have under everything. The latter made much more of a difference than I would have guessed. Once the glare was cut and things were dialed in, the music just flowed on in. It was revelatory.

It is all about the music. One should never listen/hear his components! Components should disappear into the background.