Rap music on high-end speakers

High fidelity is wasted on hip hop. Why? Hip hop producers aren't concerned with fidelity. How do you know? Well, whenever I hear hip hop, the fidelity is horrible. Oh, so you listen to it at home? No, I don't like hip hop. Oh, but then you must have audiophile friends with hip hop tastes? No, none of my audiophile friends would bother with that. So how, exactly, do you know that there is no high fidelity information in hip hop if you've never listened to a hip hop recording on a high fidelity system? Ummm...

Tru,

I am sorry if my comments angered you. I too listen to mostly 80s and early 90 hip hop, LL Cool J, Naughty by Nature, 2 PAC, etc...my point of my post is that that music is produced for mainly two objectives, low end bass,and tizzing highs. Im not knocking the content, you don't need high end gear to run low end. Go to the local flea market (which I do) and the systems they run compliment and reached the intended goal of the production. Can you buy an amp which puts our good low end? Yes, Krell, Levinson. Can you find a speaker, DAC, analog set up that is Engineered for ONLY low end in mind, and overproduced highs? I don't think so. The pursuit of highend gear for overproduced RB, and Rap is like driving a Hummer in LA.

Have you tried some rock-a-billy polka-punk as a counterpoint to the rap?

The last time I auditioned speakers I used: Vladimir Horowitz, E. Power Biggs, Monte Montgomery, Neil Young (live cut of "Hey, Hey Into the Black" - lots of distortion/feedback), AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, Joe Ely, Leo Kottke, Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, and Natalie Merchant. Sorry, no hip-hop/rap. Closest is FZ's Surgeon General rap on "Broadway the Hardway."

By all means - upgrade your speakers. If you get the Cubs, you'll need a sub-woofer or you won't have deep extended bass. Better put a Sunfire Signature sub on your shopping list or the Wilson sub-woofer (if you have that much $$).

To Justlisten:Can I subscribe to your newsletter?

Tireguy, Not a problem. I like to hear peoples opinions. I dont like the sound of Klipschs for the same reasons as most people. Also rappers dont use expensive gear just because it is there. I have seen some rappers design their own recording studio. Gregm, you are right on. I couldnt have said it any better. I am glad to see that there are more of you that understand. Gunbunny, I totally understand. What you said, brings back a couple of bad memories. Some of you are have gotten my point right on the spot. Justlisten, you dont have to apologize. I am not mad. I do appreciate you writing back and explaning. I would like to hear more comments. Thanks