Has being an audiophile changed the way you view the quality of other things?

Folsom

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So, the question is has being an audiophile changed how you feel the quality of other things in your life?

I believe I was quality obsessed before I became an audiophile, and it drove me to seek higher quality audio. In fact I argued with my electronics teacher who liked Bose, when I was in high school. And I'm always fascinated with the difference in quality with everything. That doesn't mean I always have the most expensive or think expensive always equals better. But I have noticed that audiophile gear quality of workmanship tends to be much higher than other things in life. And so I was wondering if has affected others to start viewing things that aren't audio as well?
 

spiritofmusic

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Definitely girlfriends, when I was young I was deffo an "I am there" kinda guy, my flat was so messy. But as I came up in the world "she is here" suited me as I got a better pad.
 
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bonzo75

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Definitely girlfriends, when I was young I was deffo an "I am there" kinda guy, by flat was so messy. But as I came up in the world "she is here" suited me as I got a better pad.

Also in arguments you need to go toe to toe with them rather than turn in
 

PeterA

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I’ve become a better observer of many things since I became more serious about Audio.

Apple products have superb industrial design and the lack of visible connectors or fasteners reminds me of the front plates on Magico speakers. I’ve also become more aware of things like packaging with well-designed audio products.

I went through architecture school and practiced architecture for a number of years so design and aesthetics and quality and construction were important to me.

oh in my last year of experimenting on my system, I’ve learned more about cause and effect and have improved my observation skills.

I think that touches on what you’re getting at with this thread. Nice topic.
 

tima

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Apple products have superb industrial design and the lack of visible connectors or fasteners

Such a shame too, all that care and beauty and attention to detail for planned obsolescence.

So, the question is has being an audiophile changed how you feel the quality of other things in your life?

Having been in the relatively stressful hi-tech world of constant change for many years, I've found solace in the take-your-time patience inducing world of vinyl playback. The audio world has shown me that newer is definitely not qualitatively better in terms of both gear and music. While I've always loved and been involved with music, in its own way being able to reproduce music in my home has increased my appreciation for the quality of the art and the people creating it. As my enjoyment of music has increased so has my appreciation for the quality of the natural world.
 

christoph

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Makes me think of the two muppet geezers in the balcony - night after night, kibbitzing at every show.
Waldorf and Statler :D
 

Folsom

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I’ve become a better observer of many things since I became more serious about Audio.

Apple products have superb industrial design and the lack of visible connectors or fasteners reminds me of the front plates on Magico speakers. I’ve also become more aware of things like packaging with well-designed audio products.

I went through architecture school and practiced architecture for a number of years so design and aesthetics and quality and construction were important to me.

oh in my last year of experimenting on my system, I’ve learned more about cause and effect and have improved my observation skills.

I think that touches on what you’re getting at with this thread. Nice topic.

I will admit that I like what Apple is going for aesthetically. I only wish business practice wise they were less deplorable.

Now homes and architecture design is another can of worms. I'm very critical over bad home design. And it's also where I see a lot of horrible quality work done. It's amazing how basic so many things are, and how many contractors etc don't know them/do them. These days the information is out there for anyone, and they own the tools but...

It's not like we don't discuss a fair amount of finer things on the forum. But I wonder how many people were turned towards looking for better coffee, better furniture, whatever it is... because they came to appreciate some of the nearly absurd build quality found in audiophile products.
 
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tima

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But I wonder how many people were turned towards looking for better coffee, better furniture, whatever it is... because they came to appreciate some of the nearly absurd build quality found in audiophile products.

After having grown up in east-coast Colonial American Virginia (big brick chimneys and boxwood gardens), lived around the country and eventually moving to the mid-west, I've come to love Prairie-style, land-integrated Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture and furniture. And quality home building. At WBF among our ranks, our experiences differ and it would surprise me if most here didn't like 'nice stuff'.

Yet I cannot say my sense of appreciation generally and for what I specifically enjoy has much to do with audiophile product build quality. Not that I don't appreciate that, but I don't buy it to look at it or showcase it or impress with it.

Exacting, meticulous construction with high reliability and superior sonics can be had without, as you say, "nearly absurd build quality". While I do appreciate what can be and is being done with turntables, electronics and speakers in terms of build and aesthetics, as well as a really well put together room, I don't how far that goes (with me) when the lights are lowered for a listening session. I tend to put art on the walls or in the record shelves rather than in the rack. But there is some nice stuff out there.

Where I find the absurd-o-meter goes off the track today for build n' bling quality in audiophilery is cables and power cords.
 
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Ultrafast69

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I was anal about things well before being an audiophile and after getting back into audio probably made things worse! I believe that I’m less now after 5 years but that can be argued. Its one of those things I have to be careful with as my Wife and Kids don’t hold the same appreciation of things I do.
 
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PeterA

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Where I find the absurd-o-meter goes off the track today for build n' bling quality in audiophilery is cables and power cords.

I agree. I once made the mistake of referring to such cables and cords as "fancy". That seemed to upset quite a few folks. I was specifically referring to the massive metal connectors and elaborate packaging and marketing efforts. Now, the mass of some of these products has created the whole new accessory category of cable supports and lifts and stabilizers. I've seen speaker cable network boxes so big and heavy that they need stands to raise them off the floor if the speaker binding posts are high off the ground.

There is indeed a luxury look to a lot of audiophile products that has little to do with performance, but it does help to justify the escalating prices. I do however have a fondness and appreciation for a really nicely crafted and finished wooden or metal speaker cabinet or horn or leather listening seat.
 
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microstrip

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Exacting, meticulous construction with high reliability and superior sonics can be had without, as you say, "nearly absurd build quality". While I do appreciate what can be and is being done with turntables, electronics and speakers in terms of build and aesthetics, as well as a really well put together room, I don't how far that goes (with me) when the lights are lowered for a listening session. I tend to put art on the walls or in the record shelves rather than in the rack. But there is some nice stuff out there.
Unfortunately, it is not true in many cases. In order to control some particular sound aspects manufacturers need to go to "nearly absurd built quality". This can happen is most aspects - parts quality, parts selection or mechanical aspects. This happens particularly in extreme low distortion, low noise equipment - if you have lots of distortion to mask most aspects you do not need to be so selective

Where I find the absurd-o-meter goes off the track today for build n' bling quality in audiophilery is cables and power cords.
Cables or power cables can produce more changes in sound quality than changes in electronics. IMHO trying to understand others motivation and strategies is also part of this hobby. Cable sound quality can be one of the most fascinating subjects of the high-end, but extremely hard to discuss properly.

In any category we can have excess of bling, as you say. Excessively focusing just on this aspect makes us forget about the extraordinary sound quality of some products having bling.
 

microstrip

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I agree. I once made the mistake of referring to such cables and cords as "fancy". (...)
Once, Peter? As far as I remember it is your favorite epithet for audiophiles cables ... ;)
 
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PeterA

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Once, Peter? As far as I remember it is your favorite epithet for audiophiles cables ... ;)

The cables I currently use in my system are the best sounding in my opinion of all the ones I’ve had. I would never refer to them as fancy. The question is are they audiophile cables? They were built for me by an electrical engineer Who happens to be an audiophile. They are high performance with zero bling. No fancy marketing, no fancy packaging, no fancy connectors. Just great sound.
 
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tima

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I once made the mistake of referring to such cables and cords as "fancy". ... I was specifically referring to the massive metal connectors and elaborate packaging and marketing

I might have been a critic ... vaguely recalling ... it came across as a bit ... nah, no point in rehasing yr history with the word fancy. :) Again, not recalling exactly, but don't remember qualifying comments about metal connectors, packaging at that time - maybe in one of your posts. I understand what you're saying. And there is merit in simple design/construction that is genuinely effective.

Audiophile cables have always been an easy target.

Some cables make, imo, legitimate use of technology innovations that have a payback. Here I'm thinking of Shunyata signal cables (not power cords) that mitigate time smearing caused by dielectric absorbtion and relaxation - a solution to a real electrical phenomena. Wrt to 'over build' I agree that things like interweaving gold and silver thread through a cable's outer covering, hanging exotic wood or carved metal things around cables, carbon fiber connector wraps, etc. can come across as over the top impress your friends silly. I look at some of the Kharma speakers - have no idea if they are overbuilt, but they sure are good looking compared to Wilson and Magico.

But it's easy to knock what appears as excess and virtue signal over the humble roots of one's own choices. If there is a market for overbuilt gear and some people are in a position to indulge, then let the marketplace play out. Sound will speak for itself.
 

BlueFox

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To get back on topic, I would say no. While I love my stereo it doesn't carry over to other areas. I want my car to be dependable, my roof not to leak, my solar to give me free electricity, and my friends to be honest and fair. But my stereo needs to move my soul, and rock.
 

Folsom

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I think we're all guilty at one time or another assuming build quality equals sound quality, but obviously it isn't always so. Still, it's hard not to appreciate the next-level build quality of some equipment.
 
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twitch

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As funny as you two are, @spiritofmusic & @bonzo75 , do you not feel like you guys can be thread killers when you're the first in to just go straight to jokes?

perhaps as an 'audiophile' you need to get a grip, lighten up, whatever !

personally and IMO way too many 'audiophiles' are so obsessed with their gear that they all but forget what they are listening to !

internet forums (audio) have turned into 'show and tell' for a bunch of middle age kindergartner's ........
 

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