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Why are you listening to that? ?

I was listening to a new simply vinyl album this afternoon and when it was almost over I was trying to decide what to listen to next. I decided on a MFSL pressing of U2 "The Unforgetable Fire." As I pulled it out of the sleeve I asked myself if I wanted to listen to it because I like it or because I know it sounds good.
Then I began to wonder if people make their listening choices based on what they like or what sounds good. I still have the original copy of the same LP which I bought because I like the band but I hadn't listened to it for years until I got the new MFSL LP.
I am not suggesting that because a recording sounds good is the only reason a person would like it. Though I find myself going back to old favorites less often as my equipment improves. Some of the things I listened to in the 70s and 80s just don't sound good anymore although I still listen to it.
So the question is: are you listening because you like it or because it sounds good? Again, I am not suggesting the two are mutually exclusive.
128x128nrchy
bomarc
501 posts
 
When I'm working on choosing or evaluating components, I concentrate on top-notch recordings. But that's the only time I do. The rest of the time, I'm listening to music, not electronics. And, because I've chosen components carefully, I know without even thinking about it that whatever I'm listening to at the moment sounds as good as I can make it sound (at least until the next upgrade).
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twl
3,251 posts
 
Thefalls1117, are you referring to the never-ending eternal epic saga of the Freebird? :-)
thefalls1117
74 posts
 
Is there more than one?....LS.....
unsound
7,314 posts
 
There may be a few different things happening when choosing a recording. One may be trying to escape the present by being transported to a different venue. One may be trying to get to the essence of a recording. One may be trying to embrace themselves in the intellectual and/or emotional persona of the composer, conductor, musician, engineer. One may be sorting out or testing ones system. Any one or combination of the above may be conscioulsly or subconscioulsly happening. To give credence to a well done recording or for that matter to a well put together system is nothing to feel guilty about. These diversions permit those ocassions when the quest for music in it's purist form, is with out distraction due to recording or system flaws.
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