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Getting into the music

I’ve found, to my dismay, that it’s very difficult for me to listen to music for the music itself these days. Since I got into this audiophile game many years ago, little by little my musical appreciation has eroded to the point that I find it very hard  to comprehend the music itself if it doesn’t sound good.  Too often I’m listening for sonic delights rather than the message the composer is trying to convey. I find myself going from composition to composition looking for audio niceties. When something sounds good I can then begin to get into what the composer is saying. 
As a former musician, this would have been unthinkable years ago.  Music was everything to me.

rvpiano
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,821 posts
 

@audphile1 

I appreciate your comments.  
 Fortunately, I’ve mostly recovered from my long bout with audiophilia.  I am able to get into the music now, and still love my system. 
 The route getting there was a little different than I originally anticipated.
 My first thought was to ignore the sound altogether.  Just listen to and enjoy the music. That worked up until a point.  But, here I had this magnificent machine at my disposal.  How could  I ignore it.  
So, somehow I was actually able to get into the music THROUGH THE SOUND.. I know this sounds implausible based on all our discussions, but it actually happened. The physical sound is an aesthetic in itself.  Why not enjoy it!  
 The result is that I’ve gone back to listening with new ears, not sacrificing the music for the sound and visa versa.

 As far as the Benchmark equipment, it synergises with my  tubey vintage Conrad-Johnson preamp (recapped by CJ) ideally so that I have the best of both worlds: incredible accuracy and sweet sound.

I tend to agree with you that physical media probably sounds better than streaming (and I have tons of it) but, trying not to be compulsive about the sound, I don’t care. It sounds so good I don’t miss that 1% difference. And, of course, it’s more convenient AND you have the whole word of recorded music at your disposal.

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,691 posts
 

@rvpiano great to hear you’re back and enjoying the music!
 

cdc
1,929 posts
 

My best stereo consists of Creative Labs SBS250 speakers, Sound Blaster 16PCI card, and music on YouTube.

Why is it my best stereo? First because it sounds pretty good. But more importantly because I NEVER think about anything but the music. Even my audiophile OCD does not get in the way. Amazing!

 

What is going on here? I have yet to fully figure it out. But some thoughts:

1) Near field listening.

2) Simplicity of TEAC2025 amplifier IC and full range single driver. While I can not remove the grills, the photo on the box shows a single 2 1/2" paper driver.

3) The combination of watching on YouTube while listening to music at the same time.

4) Small effort, both physically and sonically, invested into listening.

 

Listening to my main stereo demands a lot from me sonically. At first, the thought of turning it on is "Uugghhh I don’t want to bother with all the effort". Once it’s on and I make the adjustment it’s okay. But there is something distracting about it that always keeps me in "analysis mode".

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