and the wheel turns........lmao.........
I was never a 'critical' listener like so many are. In audio, there are three camps for the most part:
1. audiophile who's into the gear first and foremost.
2. Those who are into the music and want it to sound as good as it can in their room. If it's not the MOST revealing, it's fine as long as they get the emotion out of it. The music counts more than the products producing it.
3. Audiophile/music guy who loves both.
I realize that nearly 100% of the folks who will post on boards will say they are in the third camp, but we all aren't. I meet so many folks at shops and in the hobby as many of you do. I think that the majority of guys are gear heads. Into the gear more than the music. Yes, we all love the music, but so many folks don't care about music as much as the gear producing it. I've had this conversation with so many folks within the industry and it dates back to when I got involved in the early early 70's (69 actually).
I fully admit to being into the gear more than the music. I love auditioning gear and talking gear with folks. Since day one I was always the go to guy IRT audio. I started helping friends, family and eventually strangers. It's always been a fun hobby for me to get to know people and help them with systems. I am a former drummer (MS completely took that part away 11 years ago) and love my rock. I also, because of audio, love all music now. I loved jazz too, even as a kid, but once I started buying the 180 gram pressings or any type of music, I loved it, but I get just as excited bout a new speaker or amp or DAC or cord or something that brings me closer to what I perceive as 'being in the hall, but not on stage with the performer".
This thread is the perfect place to bring this out as it celebrates everyone's tastes and reasons for it. It's all personal. Some actually love a piece due to it's physical size and or looks. Some like a speaker and system because it moves a ton of air in their room and that's how they listen. In the end, some care about a soundstage and others don't. Some want timber over anything else. I personally can't listen to a system that hot on top. Some of you don't care about hot on top as long as it sounds like you have gobs of bass or the most neutral vocal or ..............
There are some really great speakers mentioned in this thread along and it was a Vandersteen thread to start with. We all have our likes and dislikes and in the end all that really does matter is that we love what we have and love the pursuit of what we want to have. Happy listening.