Best compilation CD you have made.

ZAikesman, You nailed me. You are absolutely right. I know absolutely nothing about music, except what I ENJOY. I have given that compilation to about two dozen people and they all loved it. Guys like you who profess to be the end all about what type of music its O. K. to like and put down anyone whose taste does match yours are the exactly the type of individuals I believe a lot of people on this forum are sick of.

I'm glad you enjoy it - I never said it wasn't okay to. And I'm sure you wouldn't much enjoy one of my own comps, if that's of any consolation, but I'm not at all insistent that your (or anyone's) taste match mine. But I'll admit, I'm a music snob, 100% (and I hope not too much of an audio snob).

Two questions: Are these the artists you listened to before becoming an audiophile? And how much that you used to listen to don't you anymore now that you are one?

Like I said at the top, I'm not exactly proud of my discriminatory tone in this post, and I'm sorry to have de facto singled you out in order to discuss what I see as a larger phenomenon. It's a rather mean thing to have done, I know, but I believe the issue I write about is a real one in audio circles, and none to difficult to spot the victims of IMO (whether it's this stuff, or 1s shaded dogs).

That many of your friends like the comp does not surprise me. What would surprise me is if many of them were audiophiles: If they were, they would either have already bought this stuff, or already written it off. (I mean, how many non-audiophiles are rushing out to buy Jacintha albums?) And that's essentially the problem (aside from $30 disk prices) with 'audiophile' music - it doesn't always reflect personal taste, but prescribed group behavior.

Since I was enticed to click on this thread to begin with by expecting something interesting, in my disappointment I felt justified in spouting my opinion, but didn't have the intent of 'taking over' your thread, which of course I have done anyway. You've got every right to dislike me for it - your intentions were only good, mine only to make trouble. You've been commendably civil about it, so carry on, I'm out.

Actually, to perpetuate this one, I think Z. and H. both have their points. Z. and I share a liking of the band The Chameleons UK. They happen to make some of the best music in the world IMO, but their recordings absolutely STINK.

As a result, I listen to them the most on cheaper systems: in my car, on MP3 players, and on a boombox at work (when I have a job!). I rarely listen to them on my main system at home, because it clearly shows what crap the recording is.

It IS indeed possible to be a music lover AND an audiophile. But it also does mean that sometimes we "compromise" our listening habits to best hear the sonics. We're lucky sometimes when something comes along that has both musicality and is a quality recording.

I happen to like some of H's artists, though perhaps my song selection may be slightly different. When I demo my system for someone, I try to find a nice combination of music and sound. But yeah, sometimes sound takes precedence :-)

My 2 cents. We CAN all get along.... and kudo's to both Z & H for handling this cool, rather than totally ranting.