[macrojack]

Yes -- I think so. While we all have different axes to grind, the grinding noise doesn't vary very much.

Most topics have been flogged to death and ground to dust. What a bunch of hopeless, repetitive geezers we have become.

[TheChairGuy]

ha - great topic choice/name

Not sure if this particular one belongs in Audio Central, however.  Possibly, Sports Circle 

[TjMV3]

This post lacks detail,   convincing presentation and is certainly short on resolution.

I would have prefered a warmer,  more emotional,  yet nicely detailed presentation which provided some resolution.

Your words did not present a 3D image that would conjur up a convincing visual.  Even with what little you did say,  there's seems to be some low level background noise to the subject matter.



 

[csero]

My favourite quote, and I totally agree with it:

"The average audiophile is stuck that deeply in his trench that he'd rather be killed than accept advice based on reasoning other than an audiophile one."

[WOR Radio]

To truly advance, one must have an open mind and explore all possibilities, no matter how absurd they seem.

Stanton Friedman once said: (paraphrasing here)

We did not get to supersonic flight using propellers.
We did not use Vacuum tubes in pocket calculators.

Every significant advance with technology was done using different and sometime radical new means. What works...works. Keep an open mind if you want to advance your cause.

[miklorsmith]

Yep, just ask any non-audiophile.

[konut]

There are, at least, 5 different types of audiophiles, as well as sub groups within the 5. Firstly, lets agree that an audiophile is anyone who enjoys listening to the reproduction of music.

The 1st type remains just that and never seek to improve any aspect of their listening experience. They are happy listening on a car radio, the elevator, or whatever music conveyance they happen to be in the presense of. I envy these people. They are unencombered by the need to seek 'better quality'. Ignorance is bliss.

The 2nd type begin to realize that better sound is possible but haven't a clue as to how to obtain it, nor do they want to go through the learning curve neccessary to obtain it. We've all seen them. It'll be a first post and they'll ask what the best amplifier is. We'll ask them what their budget is, what kind of music they listen to, what their speakers are, etc. They won't reply because they come to realize that they actually have to think about whats going on and don't want to put the effort in to dealing with it. They go to the nearest dealer of stereo or home theater goods and purchase whatever the sales drone recommends.

The 3rd type will reply to the questions asked and try to reconcile the variety of opinions presented. These are the people I pity the most. The learning curve is steep. They will have to learn the variety specifictions that components have and learn which are important and which are irrelevant. They will be confused by the differing opinions proffered about whats important and whats not.

If they're persistent they will graduate to the 4th kind of audiophile. Depending on what they've come to believe, they will persue components based on what they've been convinced are the important parameters to benchmark. Some of those parameters might be wrong, nontheless they will loudly proclaim, to all who will listen, that the view they hold is the only true path to auditory nirvana. They seek to convince everyone, including themselves, that music can only be reproduced correctly by the way they advocate.

The 5th kind of audiophile have heard all the arguements. They have heard a variety of componentry based on previously held beliefs as well as components they have been dismisive of, and come to conclusions that might have been different than what they might have originally held. Through careful observation, the auditioning proccess, and research, they have come to know which distortions might be euphonic and those which are non-euphonic. They have figured out why one record/disc sounds good and another might not.They have learned to evaluate equipment based on its sonic merits rather than either psuedo-scientific gobbledygook or marketing sleight of hand. They have learned WHY a component might sound pleasing and measure badly, and conversely, why it might measure well but sound horrible. They are able to recognise that there is no perfect way, yet, of reproduction but a series of compromises. Most importantly, they have come to know themselves. They are able to put together a system that reflects their priorities, and manage the compromises, in sound reproduction, yet do not feel the need to denigrate or ridicule those whos priorities, and compromises, might be different.

And then, theres me.

[eric the red]

Yes -- I think so. While we all have different axes to grind, the grinding noise doesn't vary very much.

Most topics have been flogged to death and ground to dust. What a bunch of hopeless, repetitive geezers we have become.

I agree 100%. After you've gone through the hundreds of gear changes that alot of us have and waded through the myriad of 'the next big things' in gearland and finally found a rig you are happy with, what else is there to talk about?  People get bored with the 'all cdps, cables sound the same' grinding noise that we've been beating to death for the last 20 years and start listening to music again and move on from audio boards is my guess. The gear part of this hobby is BORING after awhile.

[miklorsmith]

Konut - Nice post!   

I could argue that the first couple categories wouldn't meet the necessary "neurosis threshold" to be true audiophiles, but the Audiophile Rating Scale (for better or worse) could be on a graded scale with low numbers being the blissfully ignorant you listed.

I like!

[Wind Chaser]

There are, at least, 5 different types of audiophiles, as well as sub groups within the 5. Firstly, lets agree that an audiophile is anyone who enjoys listening to the reproduction of music.

The 1st type remains just that and never seek to improve any aspect of their listening experience. They are happy listening on a car radio, the elevator, or whatever music conveyance they happen to be in the presence of. I envy these people. They are unencumbered by the need to seek 'better quality'. Ignorance is bliss.

You don't have to be ignorant to graduate into this class.  After three decades of spending most of my disposable income - and then some - into audio, I've found contentment and pleasure in listening to music without going into extremes or even having a home system for that matter.  I chose to become unencumbered by the need to seek 'better quality', and I feel much better for having done so.

[michaelavorgna]

Excellent question!

I'd like to add another - Do all Audiophiles taste the same? Surely some taste better than others, and others still taste best.

Now I know what you're going to say - you have to add butter, slow roast, parboil, maybe even smoke an audiophile to get their full flavor. Some of you may even try to tell me that you have to spend at least $3,000 on an Audiophile before it'll taste good. Then there's the whole skinny v fat Audiophile debate. Damn! Sorry I even brought it up.

[Scotty]

I would like to add a sixth kind of audiophile destination,if you will. Arrival here can occur at any time during the "learning curve". This pursuer of audio perfection
realizes that at some point they lost sight of the original goal which was a greater enjoyment of the recorded music they listened to and that their focus has shifted to obsessing about the equipment instead. When this epiphany takes place the seeker returns to the original goal and now listens to entire songs,albums/CD's and even entire symphonies as time allows.
This audiophile now listens to the entire performance and experiences it as a gestalt.
This behavior is the exact opposite of the obsession driven individual who listens to "music" in 30 sec. sound-bites for the purpose of evaluating the sound of a piece of audio gear. I think people who get to this destination are probably happier than someone still stuck on the road, experiencing home audio as a cup half full and living with semi-permanent dissatisfaction.
Scotty
Sidebar,michaelavorgna, you have strange tastes or is it that you taste strange?
 Maybe better with a nice Chianti.

[michaelavorgna]

Hi Scotty,

I think it may all just boil down to a matter of taste.

M

[macrojack]

Michael La Tuna - Sunkist is looking for audiophiles with good taste

                           ...............not audiophiles that taste good.

[macrojack]

OOOOOPS!!! I meant Starkist.

[michaelavorgna]

Sorry Charley. I seem to get those two confused too.

[rollo]

This post lacks detail,   convincing presentation and is certainly short on resolution.

I would have prefered a warmer,  more emotional,  yet nicely detailed presentation which provided some resolution.

Your words did not present a 3D image that would conjur up a convincing visual.  Even with what little you did say,  there's seems to be some low level background noise to the subject matter.

Well done TjMV3,

                     Just would like to add there is depth to Macrojacks words.

   rollo

 

[2wo]

The last audiophile I ate, tasted just like chicken. 

Or how about, too much bass not enough trout 

Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself...John

[rollo]

The last audiophile I ate, tasted just like chicken. 

Or how about, too much bass not enough trout 

Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself...John

 

    Have you noticed everything tastes like chicken except chicken. Gotta love the steriods.

  rollo

[aerius]

The last audiophile I ate, tasted just like chicken. 

According to various studies of human tribes which practice cannibalism, humans taste more like pork than anything else.  Apparently, humans are also known as "long pig".