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Listening to music I don’t particularly like

Do you find yourself listing to music you don't particularly like because it sounds so good on your system? If I'm honest with myself I am an old dude who grew up with classic rock and really enjoy it but a lot of it was not well recorded. So I find myself listening more and more to other genres of music that I normally wouldn't  just because they sound so good on my system. I don't know what this says about me, maybe I am more of an "equipmentphile" than a music lover? I keep listening to music ranging from classical to vocal jazz to country and I love the sound of it  but it doesn't get my toes tapping like a good old rock song from my youth. I was even listening to Chinese drums today. Is there hope for me? Will I ever ever enjoy this music as much as I enjoy the "sound"?

emiliop
ejr1953
921 posts
 

That's something I rarely do, listen to music that I'm not fond of, but that makes my system shine.

When I toured my then local lineup of brick-and-mortar audio stores to find a new pair of speakers, it really bothered me that one of the dealers insisted that I listen to a particular piece from an artist I didn't know or enjoy, but made the speakers really shine.

bjesien
1,368 posts
 

Roon radio plays often in my house. I tune it out until something good comes on. At that point you can save that song to a playlist and later start the playlist from that song. I would call that exploration. Saved songs typically have a good sound and rythm. 

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,015 posts
 

I too find myself listening to well recorded songs to hear my system.  Percussion is a big thing for me.  

You might listen to these songs to hear what your systems are capable.  These are high quality recordings:

1. Girlfriend (Feat, Dam-Funk) by Christine and the Queens

2.  Lights on by Maggie Rogers

3.  The River by Aurora (ADifferent Kind of Human

4.  Chocolate by The 1975

5.  Kiss in Blue by Yello

6.  The Expert by Yello

7.  Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancocks 1973 Head Hunters Albumn 

axpert's avatar
axpert
125 posts
 

OH YES ! There are many,many recordings from the past that were not only poorly recorder, but also poorly transcribed and poorly produced.  I have been able to clean up some of the poorly "produced" albums but it's only part of the picture. 

I actually have found that MANY afficianodos of ROCK and ROLL and HEAVY METAL bands, etc. actually like the "distortion" associated with a large number of poorly recorded albums from the past. Even some of the newer albums or the so called RE-MASTERED recordings. aren't a hell lof a lot better.

You can clean up a little of the "grunge" with a first class DAC, but even with that it still remains a "GI-GO" situation.  For some, the pain is worth it.  I'M NOT ONE OF THEM !

cns1946's avatar
cns1946
68 posts
 

Thanks for this post, very interesting. The reason for having a nice system is the ability to hear all the music and come as close as possible to having voices and instruments sound natural. Any music mentioned on this forum or songs featured on YouTube videos by Audiophiles or stores showcasing their equiptment, we pull up from Tidal and give it a listen. If we like it, save it or move on to the next song. Tracks that are poorly recorded are difficult to listen to,  yet sometimes the recording is so good we may continue to listen just to enjoy the detail andd clarity.

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