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Why do some think "music" (not gear, trading, etc.) is the ultimate end?

A recent thread spurred a debate about the word "audiophile." Again. It went round and round in the usual ways.

What I don't understand is why so many take for granted that loving music is superior to loving gear. Or that gear is always -- and must be -- a mere *means* to music, which is the (supposedly) true end.

But if you stop and think about it, why do we love music? It gives us enjoyment.
Isn't that why people love gear? The enjoyment?
Or even, to push the question, buying, selling, changing gear? That's for enjoyment, no?

So, it raises the difficult question: Why do some think that "music" as an "enjoyment" is better than "gear" or "shopping, buying, selling, trading"?

Not everyone believes this, but it is the most prevalent assumption in these discussions -- that "love of music" is the end-which-cannot-be-questioned. 

So, while music is the largest end I'm personally striving for, I do realize that it's because it brings me enjoyment. But the other facets of the hobby do, too. And I'm starting to realize that ranking them is an exercise but not a revelation of the "one" way everything should sort out. It's all pretty subjective and surely doesn't seem like a basis on which I could criticize someone else's enjoyment, right? 

What do you think? On what grounds do you see it argued that "music" is a *superior* or *ultimate* end? Whether you agree or not, what reasons do you think support that conclusion?
128x128hilde45
hshifi
572 posts
 
Hello,
I am a gear and music audiophile. I would love to hear all of your systems. Just to experience the differences between the sounds.  I have driven some nice cars. The experience was different in each. A Porsche does not drive like a Ferrari. A corvette does not drive like a Mustang. I’m still driving, but it’s a different experience. Tube or solid state? Vinyl, SACD, or stream it? They all sound different. As long as the recording was done well it’s all good. I have to say I love listening to music. Any time I can experience that music in a different way excites me because it is new. I have Pink Floyd’s, Dark Side of The Moon in UHCD, SACD, Vinyl 2018, Mofi Vinyl, and CD, they all sound different, not bad, just different. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
Great audio club name: “golden-eared musclemen”
cool_jeeves
37 posts
 
I don't think listening to music, no matter how noble that may be, is classifyable as a hobby. Hobbies are related to things one does, gets absorbed in and that count as an activity.
whart's avatar
whart
3,047 posts
 
Jeeves- interesting viewpoint. Anything that involves "collecting" while an activity during the hunt, is ultimately passive, e.g. film collecting, record collecting, stamps, baseball cards. (though some of those "hobbies" are in reality, money making enterprises, or involve trading, but leave that aside).
Is buying equipment a hobby--going to a store, or website, writing out the check or filling in the cc payment? Set up is an activity, but once that’s done, unless you are constantly tweaking, it’s passive.
Not sure it really matters at the end of the day what you call this way of occupying time or interest (or spending money). I can tell you I exercised a lot of muscles the other day moving around quite a few stacks of records. :)

PS: for me, a lot involves research and reading about the recordings, the performers, the sessions, etc. And some writing. All of that is an activity, though pretty sedentary. As to being "absorbed," I think that depends on the degree of involvement and time spent. 
Bill
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
It would be interesting to contrast "active" vs. "passive" listening. Some listening -- like some viewing, e.g. of art works in a museum -- is quite an active thing to do. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2007/07/music-moves-brain-to-pay-attention-stanford-study-fin...
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