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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
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Most people get into Hi-Fi because they love music and they want to hear it reproduced as well as possible. I don't understand why anyone would do it for any other reason. If someone has another reason they do this please enlighten me.

Can someone love music and not care to hear it at its best? Of course. Can someone dislike music but want to hear it at its best? Maybe but would you listen to that music on a regular basis because the sonics are good? I know I would not.

Sean
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
"I sit here now with money buring a hole in my pocket and I can't think of a thing that would improve my sound, save a new room. So I buy good music instead."

I agree with you most of what you say but would only add "what would improve my sound MOST". Why do so many feel that more expensive components will somehow compensate for a room that will not support or justify the added expenditure beyond a given point? So much for being an audiophile, different strokes I suppose. I would be curious to know how many audiophiles realize this to the point that they would make that expenditure of a new room, if feasible, over purchase of "better" components, diminishing returns. At what point in the journey does this become a factual realization?

Of course the above is a bit off topic but the subject of loving music or hi-fi encompasses so many different elements for the varied listeners on this forum and the rest of the audiophile community that one can only say, "You know who you are", what difference does it make, really? Live, love, learn and yearn, it's what we do.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Tubegroover:

Stated in your usual succinct manner. I think I will do that room this coming year. The wife is all for it.
Merry Christmas
inna
7,296 posts
 
$10000 would not get you a reference system, not even close. $100000 would, maybe. I agree with the rest of your statement though.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Or a person could follow the lead of the Oracles and just declare their system a 'Reference' system.

BTW, for those of you who think you have heard Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons', give this a listen:

Vivaldi
The Four Seasons
Fabio Biondi - violin
Europa Galante
More to discover