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The Sound or Music

I listen to all genres of music but really enjoy it with good sound. I know of people who just love one particular type of music but don't care at all about audio. My late relative just loved classical music and had hundreds of good records but his system was like bad transistor radio. He had means but was not interested in better system at all. Music, for him was 99.9% and sound 0.1% of the pleasure. He was most likely missing half of instruments of orchestral music, he listened to - either by limited frequency response or very poor resolution. He was a music lover. Am I a music lover or just only an audio freak?
What about you?
kijanki
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
This debate is quite facinating. I have come to the conclusion that we realy don't know who we are; we only think we know. We act and then we give a reason for our actions; as opposed to having a logical thought out reason for taking them in the first place.
"Midfi" people have to accumulate music at a rapid pace because the best music quickly becomes boring on that equipment and must be replaced with something new. I know, I was once one of them.
"Highend" people, on the other hand, discover the old LP's they bought 30 years ago are brand new all over again, consequently; they have no need to rush to the record store.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,464 posts
 
Orpheus10 - You are right but it doesn't have to be LP. I listen more to violin solo CDs that I was avoiding before because sound was flat and screechy - not interesting (even annoying). I cannot separate sound from the music - it is one whole experience to me.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,905 posts
 
"Highend" people, on the other hand, discover the old LP's they bought 30 years ago are brand new all over again, consequently; they have no need to rush to the record store. "

Yes, I do that.

I also purchase new and used lps and CDs (and even downloaded mp3 or other format files) to fill in gaps and expand my collection, but this happens to a lesser extent than it would if the stuff I already have did not sound so good.

I also visit the local library and bring home lots of stuff I would not pursue otherwise to listen to and find a lot to like there as well.

More than ever, I have way more good stuff to listen to and enjoy than ever before and not enough hours in the day to do it all. A nice position to be in I would say for any music lover.

I'd rather spend time listening than putzing around with my system, but I will putz if needed. Does that make me not an audiophile?
kijanki's avatar
kijanki OP
4,464 posts
 
"Does that make me not an audiophile?"

Yes it does - since you care about sound.

Public library is great. For a while selection was limited and physical quality (scratches) really bad. Now they have a lot of CDs plus judging by radial marks (when I take CD against light) they use CD shaver/polisher.

orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
Kijanki, I'm glad you mentioned violin. When the violin is just right, everything else is just right.
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