Article: Meet The Audiophile Style Community | Volume 1

[sdolezalek]

Chris: I think this is a very timely idea.  We are having to rewrite our sense of what a "community" is and for many of us, we may be closer to our Audiophile Style Community than our next door neighbors for months to come.  The one thing I'd love you to say more about is about what drives you in this hobby?  As you continuously change/improve your system what are you looking to achieve?  We know that despite its enormous success, this web site (actually more some of us, its users) also gives you headaches.  What keeps you committed to it and what makes you smile at the end of a day?

 

I have spent my last 40 years trying to find solutions to some of our global challenges, first in biotechnology, then in clean energy and most recently in how we can sustainably feed this planet and preserve our health.  I've had the opportunity to work directly with brilliant entrepreneurs and also to experience devastating failures.  It is a stressful 7x18x360 kind of a life but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  But there are times when I need to escape the pace, the noise and the excitement.  That is a big part of what my audio system is for -- the ability to transport me to another world, or even better, to the memory of a great concert experience.  The degree to which my system can do that gets a little bit better each year (even as my hearing degrades a little bit each year as well).  As I have gotten to know other members of this AS community I have discovered others whose listening tastes seem to coincide with mine and I have eagerly watched as they upgraded their systems and tested new components.  Many of them have far more time than I do and I really appreciate it when some (particularly "AustinPop") go to great lengths to explain what they have done and how they have done it. 

 

In the world we now face, having that ability to "transport" ourselves to another happier place, even for an hour at a time, is more important than ever before.  But for many of us, the cost of acquiring "state-of-the-art" components will become even further out of reach.  Therefore the ability of members of this community to build systems capable of emotionally moving us without emptying our wallets will be critical.  As will the ability to find others in this community who share our passions, not only for music but for the other "finer" things in life.  I've been amazed, in that regard for how broadly my other passions for photography, cycling, and food and wine seem to be shared by this audience.  Cheers! 

[sdolezalek]

Covidian beauty in Paris...

[sdolezalek]

10 hours ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

What is covidian ?

 

As in Covid-19, but I have started to refer to it as "we live in Covidian times..." 

[sdolezalek]

5 hours ago, austinpop said:

 

I understood you, thanks to my fragmentary knowledge of French - "la vie covidienne," instead of "la vie quotidienne."

 I like that better! Putting the french feminine spin on it makes it sound friendlier. 😉 

[sdolezalek]

Chris:  Thank you for the generous reply! I very much share the passion in pursuing "the better illusion."  The one thing I wish this site could allow (but it obviously cannot) is for me to experience your illusion and vice versa.  I can still remember times that go up to 30 years back where I had the opportunity to listen to a system that someone had gotten just right and the "magic" that took place in sitting down even for a few minutes to listen.  I can imagine that takes place in your new listening room.  

 

Sadly, I almost never get that feeling at a dealers store or in a demonstration in a hotel or other public venue.  But I'm pretty sure there are at least a dozen systems among the more popular contributors here that would produce that magical illusion even if they do it in a completely different way than mine does.  Maybe when all this is over we'll find reasons to actually share some of those experiences in person.  If you do get to northern California in that better future you are always welcome to come by for a listen.

 

Be well! 

[sdolezalek]

2 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I’d love to get back out to Northern California once we return to our new normal. Perhaps a little tour of community members’ systems. Now that would be enjoyable. 

 

I'll put away a few bottles for the occasion now... 😉