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Other than music, why are you an audiophile?

I would hope that the first reason why anyone is an audiophile is that they love music. I’m going to assume we all have that in common. So the question is: Other than music, why are you an audiophile?

I’ve had an interest in audio and hifi for twenty years, but it took me a long time, and a fair amount of introspection, to come up with a good answer. My answer is personal. It may not be true of anyone else. Here it is:

Other than music, I’m interested in audio because I’m fascinated by EMERGENCE. The concept of ‘emergence’ has been around for at least a century. It has been used by philosophers and scientists to mean a whole that is “greater than the sum of its parts.” More technically, emergence is a relation between system-level characteristics and component-level characteristics. A system’s characteristics EMERGE from the characteristics of its components when…

(1) The system’s characteristics are DIFFERENT IN KIND from the characteristics of its components.

(2) The system’s characteristics are CAUSED BY the characteristics of its components.

(3) The system’s characteristics are DIFFICULT TO PREDICT from the characteristics of its components.

What does this have to do with audio? Everything. In an audio system…

(1a) The musical characteristics of an audio system are DIFFERENT IN KIND from the electrical/mechanical/acoustical characteristics of its components.

(2a) The musical characteristics of an audio system are CAUSED BY the electrical/mechanical/acoustical characteristics of its components.

(3a) The musical characteristics of an audio system are DIFFICULT TO PREDICT from the electrical/mechanical/acoustical characteristics of its components.

Hence, the musical characteristics of an audio system EMERGE from the electrical/mechanical/acoustical characteristics of its components. In other words, an audio system, taken as a whole, seems “greater than the sum of its parts.”

To me, the phenomenon of emergence differentiates audio, as a hobby, from many (but not all) other hobbies, where emergence does not happen. To me, the phenomenon of emergence is what makes hifi seem like magic, in that something beautiful and emotional emerges out of something mechanical and electrical. And that is why, other than a love a music, I am an audiophile.

Anyone else?
bryoncunningham
jndean
132 posts
 
Thanks for the idea of emergence. That is very appropriate. For me it is for the music and the challange of assembling a system paying attention to the law of diminishing returns. I have also always liked the glow and the smell of electronics. Also I have heard harsh shrill bright bad sound and good sound sounds better.
In the olden days to hear music one had to attend a musical event. Now we can simply insert a CD or play a record. I would agree that it, when done right, is the closest thing to time travel.
Thanks for the philosophy.
John
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Drives my wife crazy.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
Besides providing a good listening experience, there is much to know and learn, especially if you re-enter the vinyl world after a long absence, and didn't know much when you left it. If you've gotten used to a quality listening experience with digital, jumping back into vinyl is a shock, as it doesn't come by just plugging stuff in and turning it on. It's taken me years to get analog to sound like I thought it should, but I love it now.

The variety of paths one can take in audio is nearly unlimited, and results can be surprisingly good whether you spend mega-bucks, or go with what your budget can alliow. Then there is the DIY aspect, one I'm particularly enjoying now, so it's just a great hobby, but you meet the main goal of getting to listen to well-reproduced music at the same time. What could be better?

Sorry to interrupt the jocular mood in this thread, but 'ya gotta do what 'ya gotta do.

Regards,
Dan
rja's avatar
rja
2,374 posts
 
Some people like to fondle knobs! 8^)
danielk141
489 posts
 
Because if you're not independently wealthy, almost everything in life is a compromise.
Audio is your chance to audition, ask for advice from like minded individuals, and find that system that just clicks for you in all aspects of the music.
You get to create an environment in your listening room that makes you happy.
Non-Believers don't understand this, that's OK.
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