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Are You Happy?

On another currently running post a number of people have commented that the majority of their digital music collection is unlistenable. One person said 90% falls into this category. I don't get it! Have these people purposely assembled systems to make their favorite albums sound bad? Do they sit and audition equipment while thinking to themselves "hey, this is great, I won't be able to listen any of my Rolling Stones, but wow does it sound good." Why would someone do this to themselves?

As audiophile we are all a little crazy, but these people, IMHO, have gone one step beyond. Please help me to understand what's going on?
onhwy61
sean
6,231 posts
 
It's pretty simple. Most digital sounds "soul-less", is bright and glaring and lacks what many claim is not real or quantifiable: PRaT. As such, you might initally like the music on the recording, it's just that the reproduction of it isn't "musical". Who wants to listen to something that isn't enjoyable over and over again ?

This is the reason why even a basic vinyl system can seem "so good" for many people. Even though they've dumped hundreds ( sometimes thousands ) of dollars into a digital source, it still can't compete with the "antique" yet "musical" recordings preserved on vinyl. As one gets a better digital system, the differences begin to shrivel but are still there. Sean
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dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I've always spent more on my vinyl setup than on digital (including SACD) but have to admit that digital is sounding pretty good these days. I don't find it "soulless" or bright and glaring but maybe my tube amp and preamp are compensating. To me, solid state is the real culprit (but if I were totally honest, that's probably because I haven't heard the right solid state). In any event, vinyl still rules, but not by much. Anyone who can't find some satisfaction with CDs hasn't tried hard enough, IMHO.
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,992 posts
 
I'm pretty happy. Yes I have some cd's that are untolerable but this is a minimal amount. Most of these are classic rock and some blues. I'm planning on adding a sub which will hopefully add a little bottom end and help smooth out some of the brightness of these offenders. I can't imagine anyone having 90% of their cd's being unlistenable. That system is unacceptable.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Just enjoy the music. Live music is better than any recording, but having said that, I have to say that I have never been in a concert hall, etc., that has been free of accoustic problems. Amazingly, many of the problems have to do with bass response the same as audio. So nothing is perfect.
bigjim
32 posts
 
Extremely happy! Use a high sample rate CDP like an Audiomecca Mephisto and well recorded CDs like XRCD or DCC/MFSL and you are in Nirvana!
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