Music vs. Components

Oakleys - I'm not really trying to "prove" anything. It's interesting to me how few audiophiles will admit that listening to components is their primary enjoyment. I'm certainly into music from a technology/science aspect much more than I am for the pure music.

When you're into the music, everything else is gone, not because it sounds good but because you're captivated by it. This doesn't require a perfect sound system.

Have you ever watched a movie on a small or black & white TV and didn't care that you didn't have the 50 inch flatscreen? When a story truly captures you it doesn't matter what it's being played on. Some movies are only great because of the technology they use and other have great stories...some have both.

Mceljo. I understand what you're saying. But I'm actually one of those people who are more into music than gear. I grew up playing guitar and piano, and I approached 'hi-fi" as a musician and music lover. Indeed over the pas 17 yrs or so I have spent considerable time, and attention, and monies into putting together an ok system that gets me high everytime i sit down and listen to music. which i how i approach it, i don't multi task.

also i agree with your next point, to an extent. I've found that with patience and much time spent finding the right system for my interests, I am now able to reach a higher level of involvement with the music i enjoy listening too than with any other system I have ever listened to or owned.

ever read a book? any argument can be made about anything. so why bother? learn to make and/or enjoy music and you'll enjoy life more. or don't.

I get your point. but when a person finds some equipment they really dig, chances are good that they might be able to enjoy listening to their music collection on an elevated level compared to what you are familiar with, or perhaps even looking for.

for me, my atma-sphere otl ma1 mono blocks and mp1 phono stage is the end of the "not so merry go round"

good luck!

I can't help but listen to the components maybe because I love my gear. Not so with the headset, that is all about the music. With the gear, one track sounds great, another, not so great so my mind is constantly wondering what improvements could or should be made. With the headset it is total immersion in the music, with the gear my head is always above water. Can't help myself.

Mceljo wrote: When you're into the music, everything else is gone, not because it sounds good but because you're captivated by it. This doesn't require a perfect sound system.

Tholt wrote: 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.

Tholt's comment might be what is key for me--the system can't be irritating to listen to. And Mceljo's observation also corresponds with my experience. The first stereo system I had that was truly satisfying, that let me just enjoy the performance of the musicians and the message of the music, was far from perfect. In 1985, I bought an LP12 with Basik Plus arm, which included the Basik phono cartridge, an AT95 variant with conical stylus. This went to the original Naim Nait integrated amplifier and then to a pair of extremely cheap Jensen bookshelf speakers loaned to me by my brother. Far from a perfect sound system, but immensely enjoyable to listen to. This eventually became an all-Linn system that gave about 20 years of service before components began to fail.

After living for the past couple years with a rather different style of system (Well Tempered, Grado wood-body cartridge and phono stage, Audio by Van Alstine amplification, Vandersteen speakers), I've been enjoying something of a return to that ealier sound: LP12/Ittok, Audio Technica CN5625AL cartridge, the same Audio by Van Alstine solid state amplification, and Bose 301 speakers. The sound is clear and dynamic with great pace and momentum. Nothing about the sound or operation is irritating, and album after album is connecting with me musically in a way I haven't experienced for a while. I'm sure there are limitations in imaging specificity, soundstage width/depth, frequency extension, detail retrieval, and so on, but none of that matters--the music is simply more fun, more captivating, to listen to.

is the glass half full or half empty ? its half full and half empty at the same time.

as applied to this thread it is not music vs components it is music and components. it is the components that let you hear your recordings. when you listen to music you are ;istening to your components.

the question is are you listening critically or purely for enjoyment ?

can you ignore the deficiencies in the componsnts, as none are perfect, or is there something about the sound which interferes with enjoying the music.

thus the thread should be changed to :

analytic vs non-analytic listening

pne cannot avoid the components on the path to listening to music.