Audiophile vs Music Lover – Which Are You?

Phil · « **Reply #20 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 12:52 am »

I just can't understand why folks interested in audio are so binary. Everything is black and white. Very unlike the music they listen to (I hope). Weird. One would think music would open ones perspective, not diminish it. With very simple equipment one can travel the globe in a few minutes or, in a sense, travel back in time.

At any rate, music lover first, and for a long time. Audiophile second (and for a much shorter time). I have to say, however, that as my gear has improved my enjoyment of the music has grown too. I like to hear what the musicians are communicating, and, unlike musicians themselves who (often) seem not to need good gear, I can't seem to fill i the information myself.

Seems that the love of gear could lead to love of music, and see no inherent contradiction. But, I've met folks who really only do care about the gear, and I'm not sure what one would call them aa

As to getting advice at a high end shop, that would be great. Mostly, I've found shops with some great gear that sounds really bad because their setup was bad -- speakers VERY close together, speakers not broken in, mismatch of gear, etc. One dealer was a music lover and just presented the equipment in a relaxing environment. I think there are too few of these guys.

Spirit · « **Reply #21 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 12:53 am »

Quote from: Phil on 26 Feb 2007, 12:52 am

As to getting advice at a high end shop, that would be great. Mostly, I've found shops with some great gear that sounds really bad because their setup was bad -- speakers VERY close together, speakers not broken in, mismatch of gear, etc. One dealer was a music lover and just presented the equipment in a relaxing environment. I think there are too few of these guys.

Sad, but very true!

bluemike · « **Reply #22 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 01:22 am »

An easy way of determining which "camp" you are Music lover or Audiophile
can be summed up quite easily

How much do you have invested in Music vs Gear ?

Do you still listen to record/cd if the recording is poor

rollo · « **Reply #23 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 01:28 am »

All solid valid opinions gentleman. That is why I treasure AC.
This is how we learn how both sides of the fence think. This is enlightening as long as it stays civil and I am sure it will.
Even though I do not agree 100% with you or you with me at least we can learn a little from this exchange of opinions
rollo

topround · « **Reply #24 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 01:40 am »

Yeah this does sound like a loaded question

PhishPhan · « **Reply #25 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 01:44 am »

My question would be this:

Do you have more money tied up in your music collection or in your gear? I think the answer to that question is a good place to start when trying to answer this question.

I have slightly more tied up in my music collection, but it's tough to say because all my audio stuff is second-hand stuff and most of my recent music purchases have been used too. I get more excited when I crack open a new toy, but I get the urge to buy new music much more often.

WEEZ · « **Reply #26 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 01:52 am »

topround,

yeah, loaded question. It's not an either/or situation. Most here at AC are both, I believe.

WEEZ

topround · « **Reply #27 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 01:57 am »

I agree. the way the question is posited is that if you are an audiophile then you have no sense of music. You want to be classified as a music lover otherwise you might be deemed a shallow yuppy with too much money and no sense of music, but killer gear, meant to impress of course.
Maybe that big amp will someone fill in for that little pee pee or lack of self confidence or some other psycho shit.

There is no right answer here, as we all know
we are all hear for the same reason
And this topic should be dumped to the intergalactic wastebin

Daygloworange · « **Reply #28 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 02:05 am »

Quote

Do you have more money tied up in your music collection or in your gear? I think the answer to that question is a good place to start when trying to answer this question.

I don't think that's a good equation. A person might have a vast music collection, but a modest system. What happens if he all of a sudden buys a mega buck system?

I know people who have a love for a certain style of music, and have a modest collection of recordings, but passionately enjoy that. Does that qualify whether they are a music lover because their tastes aren't as varied as someone else?

I think you could be an over the top music lover, but not over the top about audio. And vice versa.

To that end, what's the importance?

Cheers

aerius · « **Reply #29 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 02:15 am »

Here's the way I see it. I want as much of my music to sound as good as possible. Good being defined as "I like how this sounds", not "accuracy" or "true to the source" or "detailed" or the usual jargon words. If I were forced to listen to Led Zeppelin on a dollar store radio for the rest of my life I'd still be happy, but I'd be a hell of a lot happier with Led Zeppelin playing on the system I currently own.

I think one of the unfortunate things about audio is that it's so hard to describe what we hear and what we like. Words like soundstage, detail, depth, imaging and so forth don't really tell much about the listening experience. How does one describe that "holy crap this is awesome!" feeling which happens from time to time in our journeys? It's almost like trying to condense a movie down to the DVD cover, unless it's a porn movie or something like that the cover doesn't come anywhere close to telling the whole story.

bluemike · « **Reply #30 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 02:21 am »

I agree this is a loaded queston

The important thing is what ever sytem you have just enjoy the music

konut · « **Reply #31 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 02:22 am »

OK, I want a clean fight. No hitting below the belt, no eye gouging, no wedgies, no nuggies, no spitting, no name calling, no sticks or stones, and yes, we have no bananas. When the bell rings, I want the music lovers to come out singing, and I want the audiophiles to start twirling knobs(!) like crazy!

The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we'll all be able to go out and

woodsyi · « **Reply #32 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 02:49 am »

I am a music lover who was quite happy with my midfi stuff until a few years ago when I first heard an all out audiophile system. I didn't know music at home could sound like that. Then I became an audiophile. I know because I now have more more gears than I know what to do and I still bought yet another pair of PC because they were such a goog deal.

I am like Imelda with gear.

But I do all this because I love music and I can pretend to be in a $500 seat every night. I am saving money right?

mtodde · « **Reply #33 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 02:57 am »

I am a music lover first and an audiophile second.

mjosef · « **Reply #34 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 03:09 am »

Clean fight?!? Bah-hum-ba...clean fights is for sissies...

Tell you what. I am a music lover at night and an audiophile by day.

loki1957 · « **Reply #35 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 03:18 am »

Quote from: mjosef on 26 Feb 2007, 03:09 am

Clean fight?!? Bah-hum-ba...clean fights is for sissies...
Tell you what. I am a music lover at night and a audiophile by day.

I'm with this guy

srclose · « **Reply #36 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 04:27 am »

Neither. But if I didn't really care about hearing music I wouldn't go to the trouble and expense of putting together a decent system. A great day is finishing work, coming home and having a good homemade dinner, and then having a couple of hours to listen to music and read. For me, the better the sound the better the connection to the music, and the more motivating it is to buy music and listen. But I think loving music and pursuing audiophilia are relatively independent. It's their coincidence that best drives this hobby forward. Exposure to really good reproduction could bring more people into the hobby, because for many who really want to enjoy music, they don't know what is available and how they could affordably and practically improve the quality of their sound. The prospect of spending $10,000 for speakers and $15,000 for electronics is not going to do it. If converting those with an interest in music to audiophiles is the goal, the hobby needs to be much more accessible, easy, and affordable.

gonefishin · « **Reply #37 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 06:00 am »

Hi guys

I'll always enjoy what music brings into my life, even at times when there is no music playing. I also enjoy my hobby of audio with music...or without (like when I'm surfing sites like this).

They are both quite fun! ...and quite seperate from one another (for me at least).

dan

Quote

Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music.

-Marcel Marceau

denjo · « **Reply #38 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 08:32 am »

I don't see it as a tussle between one or the other. It is because I am a music lover in the first instance, which passion motivates me to vicariously experience music as it is played, be it in the jazz club, studio or concert hall. So, I would say I am both a music lover and an audiophile! aa

Dennis

shep · « **Reply #39 on:** 26 Feb 2007, 08:43 am »

Why pray tell should this go into the waste bin? It's an awkward question for sure but goes to the heart of the matter. Some of us doesn't want to fess up

! Seriously these are not necissarily incompatable, as long as we are honest about it. I love the gear. Some of it, a lot really, demonstrates great industrial art and because the pieces are faily unique, made with care and thought...why not have pride of ownership? Form following function. The music gets lots when I get obsessive. I suspect that's so for most of us. It's fun to mix and match. We're like cooks seeking ever newer and unusual ingrediants. The cook books are scarce and only give a matrix. The audiophile has to compose the menu. As long as he realizes the goal is to have a good meal, and not about the squiggly bits thrown on the plate to mask how little there is and how expensive it's going to be, everything is fine!