2. analog
  3. 1324505028

Do You Love Music or Do You Love Hi-Fi?

I know a lot of hi-fi enthusiasts who seem to have poor taste in music but can talk all day about their audio gear. I got into the high end audio hobby because of my love for music first and foremost, and this has done a pretty good job in guiding my decisions around what equipment to buy. Don't get me wrong, I Jones really hard on gear, but at the end of the day it's not about the gear but how great the music I love sounds on the gear I buy. I study music and learn all I can to discover new music to enjoy, regardless of the genre, but I am certain that I will not be investing in the latest Jennifer Warnes vinyl re-issues. I also wonder why Mo-Fi issued the first three Foreigner albums on vinyl. Are there really that many hard core audiophiles asking for this? There are so many great recordings that are begging for the high end vinyl treatment, it makes me wonder who these people are making decisions about what to release on these labels? I'm sure the entire Don Henley catalog is coming soon from one of these labels.
OK, I'm done ranting, but I really do want to hear what others think about this. Or is it just me? Is it about the gear or is it about the music for you?
128x128snackeyp
jeremy72
97 posts
 
Guilty of both. Being a gearhead, love the equipment and of course what would the equipment be without the music?

Peace out.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
'poor taste in music' has always somebody else. I love the
'best' music and am proud to own the 'best' equipment for
the reproduction.

Regards,
taters
1,149 posts
 
I've met people that have great musical tastes but listen to music on a Bose stereo. I have also met audiophiles with 100k in gear but only listen to 5 records. Go figure.
les_creative_edge
174 posts
 
I love the things about gear. The techie stuff, the art and design and the subjective parts of it all in terms of emotions.

As to music I appreciate good sounding music when replayed on a decent system, which I have. No not esoteric nor the best but stuff but all in all good quality stuff overall. I enjoy music that puts my mind in a state of zen. At times some of the music I listen to gets me to a point of near falling asleep. When in that state just as I feel submerged in peace the music flows in me audibly like hot chocolate does as I drink it. It's a state of zen or pleasure that I do not get into often and does not often last long during any session. But it's a great time and for that it's ABOUT THE MUSIC!

Other times I listen with my mind wandering etc. and also at times in very critical ways, analyzing the quality of the recording through my system .

When it gets back to hi-fi, I like gear but am not a gear hog nor do I blow money I cannot afford on esoteric and often over rated, over hyped gear. I like dabbling with new when I can afford and justify it and I also like buying and trying out vintage gear bought at often very low prices. This is the hobby part of it all for me. As also is reading up on all of it over the years going back to the early 80's as a very young teen.
cmo
471 posts
 
One of the best original posts I've seen on here in a long time....
More to discover