Article: Editorial: What's Wrong With You?

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[AudioDoctor]

AMEN!  

Preach it Brother Chris!

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, AudioDoctor said:

AMEN!  

Preach it Brother Chris!

 

Thanks Doc. I'll take two and call you in the am. 

[Axial]

That's nice. But I'm not a Sheryl Crow's fan. 🙃

[AudioDoctor]

5 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

Thanks Doc. I'll take two and call you in the am. 

 

2 shots of well, in the spirit of this post, whatever in the hell you want. 😉

[miguelito]

This...

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

13 minutes ago, miguelito said:

This...

 

 

If that helps you find enjoyment in life, I'm all for it. I'd love to hear some great music on that system.

[Tin]

Hi Chris,

 

I understand your frustration, but I can assure you that you'll find hateful forum dwellers on each and every forum, about each and every subject in the world.

 

I've seen it on cars, computer parts, politics, news, and even BBQs, and obviously on music choices and audio equipment as well.

 

I've been on a very heavily modded forum where -every- remark I made mentioning my own brand of equipment, ended up being removed because the brand generated so much hate. From the parts that I could read before the moderation interfered, I was being held responsible for some choices that company made a decade or 2 before I even heard about the brand (*)

 

The moment your life choices imply a statement, somebody will hate you for it.

And, being on a forum about any particular subject, people with strong opinions about that subject, will be plentiful.

 

*) Reading this part back, I guess not mentioning my setup by name can be seen as pretentious too... Oh well...

 

[ajay556]

Great article - You got to pay to play - the more you pay the more fun it is playing....that's life and everything else is just noise 

[Paul R]

Well said!  

[kirkmc]

"On one end is the gear junky and on the other end is the music junky. Based on no objective data, I'm willing to bet most audiophiles fall more toward the center than the extreme poles."

 

This is entirely possible, but in forums, you tend to get the extremes making the most noise. (And in audiophile forums, it's more often, at least in my limited experience, those on the gear end of the continuum, who are most vocal.)

[Bones13]

Well stated. As with much in our current society, everyone seems to think their opinion = fact, and everyone who thinks differently is flat out wrong. Of course there is a wide spectrum of audio gear, and music itself. Of course different people will be on their own part of both of those spectrums. I, along with many others, slide up and down the gear spectrum. Current interests, and finances, have shaped my gear selections. It was Head-Fi, and Foobar2000, and a new, to me, concept of “bit perfect” via a computer+DAC that sparked my interest, more than a decade ago, in this part of music.

 

As a youngster, I enjoyed listening to my Dad’s McIntosh+DIY Klipshorns system. Radio tuner and vinyl. It all started there for me. I think we all have different life experiences that make us unique, and I would expect us all to have different interests in gear, and music. I would also expect those interests to change over time, for each individual.

[mav52]

Well said Chris, well said.   Agree 100%

[audiobomber]

I was surprised to see no mention of cables in the editorial. Audiophile cables appear to be the biggest trigger for animosity on this site (and many others).

[accwai]

Quote

[...] As if audiophiles can only be gear enthusiasts or the so-called better audiophiles, the music enthusiasts. Like politics and the endless objective / subjective debates, there's a continuum on which audiophiles land. On one end is the gear junky and on the other end is the music junky. Based on no objective data, I'm willing to bet most audiophiles fall more toward the center than the extreme poles. [...]

 

Chris, you've probably way underestimated the showoff freaks. Cleverest of them can take advantage of both gear and music at the same time. Look at this guy:

 

https://youtu.be/pd1JYxBZS3s

 

Worst, he's into heavy photo gear and blasts around in Ferraris ← yes 's', mid *and* front engine. whatsbestforum.com is packed with freaks like that. As a service to the people, could you open a subforum here so we can rat these guys out? Then we can bring full force of the AS brigade to bear and shame them off the 'net

[miguelito]

9 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

If that helps you find enjoyment in life, I'm all for it. I'd love to hear some great music on that system.

I actually meant I am not looking at the system, just listening to music. But then again, I was pretty cryptic. At the time it was Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" album (sorry remembered incorrectly).

 

And of course, you're always invited to come over to play some tunes.

[The Computer Audiophile]

51 minutes ago, accwai said:

 

Chris, you've probably way underestimated the showoff freaks. Cleverest of them can take advantage of both gear and music at the same time. Look at this guy:

 

https://youtu.be/pd1JYxBZS3s

 

Worst, he's into heavy photo gear and blasts around in Ferraris ← yes 's', mid *and* front engine. whatsbestforum.com is packed with freaks like that. As a service to the people, could you open a subforum here so we can rat these guys out? Then we can bring full force of the AS brigade to bear and shame them off the 'net

 

Maybe my message wasn't clear enough. I don't care what brings people joy and I don't think you should either. 

[daverich4]

1 hour ago, audiobomber said:

I was surprised to see no mention of cables in the editorial. Audiophile cables appear to be the biggest trigger for animosity on this site (and many others).

 

On this site I’m pretty sure it’s MQA. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, daverich4 said:

 

On this site I’m pretty sure it’s MQA. 

Ha! So right. But at least there's objective evidence MQA is ... oh forget it. I don't want to derail my own article 😀

[bobfa]

Chris I am very grateful that you are "directing" this show.

 

There are so many things I have learned here and just as many wonderful helpful people.  I want to continue to have fun, share, and learn more.  

 

 

 Thank you.  🙏 

[accwai]

13 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Maybe my message wasn't clear enough. I don't care what brings people joy and I don't think you should either. 

 

 

Maybe my message wasn't clear enough either: People on the net could be quite narrow and stubborn. I hope your newfound clarity would be kept up for a good while...

[Jud]

I guess I'm a stickler for trying to be accurate - can anyone find an interview or piece of writing where Alan Parsons actually said what was attributed to him in that quote?

 

Closest I got was a 2012 interview in a publication called CEPro, where, under the headline "Alan Parsons Rips Audiophiles," the engineer and musician had these among other things to say:

 

Quote

I don’t listen to much music recreationally - it’s almost always for professional applications.

 

So the man who supposedly criticized audiophiles for not just enjoying the music seldom listens to music for enjoyment.

 

Quote

The art of listening is the key to any kind of career in this business. My training at EMI/Abbey Road was thorough in how to listen. I learned how to discern minute differences in pieces of equipment, and it helped me to appreciate what I was hearing.

 

The man who supposedly criticized audiophiles for listening to equipment says the art of listening is critical, and you can learn how to "discern minute differences in pieces of equipment."

 

Here's his "rip" of audiophiles:

Quote

 

You get what you pay for. But having said that, there are some decent budget surround systems you can buy at Costco or Walmart that really aren’t bad. Everybody has their budget; the hi-fi world will tell you if money is no object you can get better results out of every component - even the surface the amplifier sits on. Pro sound people have different expectations; they are only concerned that a piece of gear works and allows them to do their job. Hi-fi people spend huge amounts of money for tiny improvements, and pro sound guys will say, “I can spend half as much and get the results I need.”

 

I’m simply not very familiar with the latest domestic hi-fi equipment. I don’t go to hi-fi tradeshows and I don’t have sophisticated equipment in the family areas of my house for music, but there are things that make sense like good speakers and a decent amp. But I dare say there would only be a small improvement if I bought a $20,000 amp. I can live with what I have.

 

I do think in the domestic environment, the people that have sufficient equipment don’t pay enough attention to room acoustics. The pro audio guy will prioritize room acoustics and do the necessary treatments to make the room sound right. The hi-fi world attaches less importance to room acoustics, and prioritizes equipment; they are looking more at brand names and reputation.

 

 

Audiophiles don't pay sufficient attention to room treatment compared to pro sound people, and will pay lots of money for comparatively small improvements that aren't necessary in the pro environment.  Wow, just scathing.

 

_ _ _

 

I think highlighting the quote that Parsons may or may not have really said, and the blaring headline, in contrast to the much more balanced view presented in the actual interview, are symptomatic of exactly the sort of thing your editorial critiques, Chris.  Do race drivers have this jaundiced view of car collectors, or do car collectors think this sort of thing about themselves or fellow collectors?  Professional golfers or weekend duffers about the guy with an expensive set of clubs?  Don't know.  Maybe it exists and I'm not aware of it.

 

If people are that much into regret at participation in the hobby or anger at the industry that absolutely forces you to spend money on equipment(!), maybe we need an AA (Audiophiles Anonymous) section here where they can let it all go and feel cleansed.

 

Is more knowledge about how stuff works (or doesn't) better?  Absolutely.  To me that's not at all antithetical to enjoying my hobby.

[miguelito]

20 minutes ago, daverich4 said:

On this site I’m pretty sure it’s MQA. 

Ok... I will throw a wrench in here...

 

I am generally NOT a supporter of MQA - I don't like the DRM aspect, the licensing scheme, the impact to the music industry...

 

However... The album I was listening to was Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved A Man Like I Loved You" in MQA format. I own many versions of this album, including HDTracks's high res, CD rips, and some of the mono versions as well. To my ears, the MQA version sounds the best. This in my opinion has nothing to do with MQA and all to do with a more careful remastering. I say this because even my AAC (lossy downsampled) versions sound much better from the MQA version than the others.

[Ski Bum]

Well said.  A little tolerance and flexibility can go a long way.  Let's celebrate and appreciate our differences; don't be threatened or upset by them.

[rickca]

A psychiatrist would have a field day just analyzing some of the characters here on AS.