analyzing sound

@jrdavisphd 

An audiophile is nothing more than one who pursues better sonics for recorded music through better equipment.  Like the sky, ocean, mountains, etc words cannot describe how much more a musical connection from recorded music we each feel, a much more inviting musical and emotional connection.

There are different sonic presentations, we chase the ones we subjectively find more pleasing within the constraints of our budgets. Sonic differences in sources (analog, digital  tape, tuner), typology (Solid State, tubed, hybrid), speakers (dipole  cone, Omni, electrostatic, planar,…), DACs (r2r, chip..)….

To truly understand, you have to go out and listen for yourself to discover the sound profile that personally resinates with you.    We cannot tell you what you’ll like.  

Again, I appreciate all the comments.  Having just resumed serious listening this year at age 71 I have found real enjoyment in hifi.  But, I know my days are numbered and so want to squeeze as much pleasure from listening to music as I can.  Therefore, I wrote my post with intention of seeking direction from those on Audiogon with far more experience and ability to articulate how to listen for the variety of parameters that hifi-reproduced music presents, and that are spoken about by knowledgeable audiophiles.  In sum, I'm trying my best to learn to listen, talk about hifi, and explore both recordings and the devices that reproduce their music.

With Qobuz I can easily listen to a multitude of different recordings of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, and identify which I like better than others.  I am beginning to realize the value of spending time listening to many recordings of the same piece.  But, I'd like to learn the proper lexicon for describing differences between recordings I like and those I don't.  Additionally, when I cobble together the funds for a better streamer or DAC, and audition a device against what I currently have, I'd like to be able to have tracks that are known to be capable of demonstrating one or more parameters so that I can conduct the audition efficiently rather than "winging it" with a poorly recorded track that I still like for sentimental reasons from the '60s.  However, I appreciate there must be many different methods or perspectives that people use to evaluate (or just plain enjoy) recordings and gear, and they may all have some value.

As a newcomer to the audiophile community, I appreciate all of the responses to my post.

If you stream QOBUZ,

search for the term AUDIOPHILE and look under PLAYLISTS,

Every major manufacturer or reviewers SHOW PLAYLISTS are available for your enjoyment 😊 

HAPPY LISTENING 👂 

...and some of us just listen to sh*t that rakes the rocks in ones' pit.....

...dammed to the dregs of the drive....

Loud, puleze....*s*

@tomic601 ....

....when not hedonistically seeking please with solving the n dimensional rubic cube of audio variable optimization....

Ahhh.....Oh, Kay.....  topology in audio starts to get a tad beyond and above the typ imho.....

Your *ahem* 'enhancements* are worth considering to this mortal to divine what plane of existence you've intersected.... ;)

@sunmoon 

+1 Excellent. Thank you… this is really cool. 
 

OP,

i’m 72. But have passionately pursued high end audio since college. Let me just recommend a couple things to accelerate your learning curve.

First get Robert Harley’s book. The Complete Guide to High-End Audio. This will add a framework and flesh it out with the basics.

You have time. Go listen to great systems. Go to some high end dealers and listen to,their best systems. Not because you will want to,buy them, but they will exemplify “kinds” of sound and make detecting sound characteristics like micro textures and the less obvious ones easier. 
 

A word of caution on having a list of tunes for evaluating sound. It better be highly varied. I used to take my three or four favorite albums with me when I auditioned equipment. I was going through an electronic music kick… to my disappointment, I optimized my system to electronic… and all other genre sounded much worse.

Finally. When you audition, spend most of the time listening to the music… not the system. Make sure you can tell which you are doing. As interesting as hearing the conductor move his foot… it is the overall gestalt of the music and its conveyance that will make you happy at home. You don’t want an instrument you want a musical reproduction system.