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The Definition of An Audiophile

My definition of an Audiophile is a person who seeks the recreation/reproduction of music in their home based on a live event.

The purpose of this thread is to gain an understanding of why the majority of people on this forum only compare components to each other. I don’t understand the terms of one amplifier sounding more musical than another. How about the “cold and sterile” attribute often attributed to Halcro amplifiers. The description “tube sounding” description sometimes applied to a solid-state amp is another example.

Whatever happened to a comparison of an actual live event? I consider myself an Audiophile; as well as, I presume, everybody else who frequents this website. How many of you so called Audiophiles have ever been to a decent live event. I’m not talking about your local Civic Center jam packed with 30,000 screaming punks smoking pot, no offense; I used to be one some time ago. How about a concert in a acoustically correct hall with minimal amplification?

The ultimate goal is unadulterated recorded music from the artist to your ears in the privacy of your home. As we all know every electronic component from the front-end source to the speaker adds some form of signature to the recording. The phrase “the best amplifier is the one that adds the least amount of unwanted distortion or noise to a signal” is a very good description. So when I read a thread on a comparison of a particular amplifier that sounds tube like or more musical then another this only mean one thing; the amplifiers are adding unwanted noise!!

Comparisons of “cold and sterile” are based on someone’s reference, most likely, to a tube amplifier or one that sounds tube like with it’s rounded off music transients to avoid the presumed solid state harshness. Have any of you Audiophiles ever thought that the “cold and sterile” attribute just might be the amplifier with the least amount of added distortion or noise to the original source?

How about the next time someone thinks about asking for advice on the qualities of a particular brand compared to another go to a live event before asking the question. That also goes for all you experts, with all the experience of multiple brand ownership and auditioning ready to give the advice. When you’re at this live event ask yourself this question; does the music sound tube like, cold and sterile, or does it sound like the real thing?
audia
davemitchell
253 posts
 
If an amp sounds more musical than another I can only conclude that this particular amp is adding something to the original signal above and beyond the original recording.

You are missing the point of the term "musical". It refers exactly to the opposite of what you think it does. Live unamplified music is the ideal form that we try to mimic with our stereo systems. Calling a system "more musical" often means that it more closely approximates the natural sound heard live. Calling a system "cold and sterile" means that it does not sound natural like live- usually because it strips away the natural harmonic information that should be present and/or adds electronic artifacts to the sound.

Good live unamplified sound is effortlessly dynamic, open, harmonically rich, and free of artifice. Stereo systems tend to restrict dynamics, reduce resolution, and add all kinds of electronic artifacts that get woven into the music and make it hard, sharp, thin, bright, etc... Human hearing is very sensitive to all of these omissions and commissions. Calling something musical usually implies omitting less of what should be there and avoiding more of what shouldn't
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Audiophile - one who collects & covets audio media & gear
mechans
3,048 posts
 
GOLDARAK,
thank you for being a true linguist I love that stuff really.
I do have to add another component to part one of your defintion. It should IMHO include using much of their income disposable or indisposable on part 2 of your definition.
Audia- I have calmed down but it took me 5 years to finally put together a system which I love everytime I use it. It was a compulsive task all because I knew how far off the mark it was from the real thing. I would add though and echo the belief that no music reproduction set up ever sounds like live music. My wife and I buy season tickets the Philadelphia Philharmonic she played violin as a semi pro and was a child prodigy. She couldn't care what it is played on. The pieces are so ingrained in her "aural" whatever that it sounds to her like the concerts she played in a practised mind numbing times.
As for the descriptions . There is no technical guide book it really requires listening with an audiogroup as I do, comparing what one person means by musical compared with others and then my own experience. BTW I find that term used too often to represent sound that isn't harsh, unfortunately if it is used without reference to high defition space etc. leaves you with dull almost low quality sound . If want to stir the pot. BBut warm is easy to recognize cold should not represent a challenge airy etc.
I taught wine tasting if you think this jargon is silly listen to what wine reviewers use. Just keep slogging away through the murk.
Finally you are right an absolute outrage is occuring with regard to how people listen to music. They are turning away from playing out loud. I don't believe you can even start to really enjoy all of what reproduced music can do without playing it outside of your body. That is the way it was made in the first place.
darkj's avatar
darkj
150 posts
 
An audiophile is someone who will sit and listen to an album or two for just the music. It's a simple definition, covers my interest in music from my first humble rig as a kid to my kilobucks system now, and really. How many people do this? Very few. Most just listen to music in the background...
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi audia:

newbee is a wise person. further, all components are colored. it may take some time to discover the character of a component, but none are perfect. since components are not perfect, stereo systems are not perfect.

relax and stop worrying about what an audiophile is, try to assemble some components and enjoy the music.

i suppose an acceptable connotation of audiophile is the appreciation of music and enjoyment of the reproduction of the sound of instruments.

someone who enjoys music but has no concern about sound would not be an audiophile. someone who is not concerned about music but only cares about sound would not be an audiophile acccording to the above concept.
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