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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
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
1,994 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!
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
How many CDs can you take for auditioning from your collection? Maybe it will be only 10%? and them you've heard good and bought the system. But after realized that the rest of your CDs don't sound as good as they used to.

I believe that the question isn't only about CDs but the music collection in general. Same thing can happen with analogue as well.

I riched the point where 50% of my records sound great to me and the rest isn't so. I also know that some records that sound great on my turntable will not sound as great on the other even much more expencive one. I'm also aware that some of my records will sound on my friend's Thorens TD125/ better than on my Michell GyroDeck AND at the same time I'm not going crazy and continue to listen sometimes 5 hours per day.

The very main and important point that you never judge the music by its recording quality and your musical collection will serve you well.
If you feel that you won't need to listen anymore to one, several or bunch of particular CDs -- sell them and buy some other CDs to listen.
Somehow I manage to keep myself happy with acquiring new albums or CDs and selling whatever I'm not listening anymore.
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