Rexp, I wonder if you took 1/10th of the time you spend whining, bitching and hallucinating about “Digital” and instead focused on making your vinyl rig sound better, would you be a happier audiophile?
Is Audiophilia a Dying Hobby or Just in Need of a Tune-Up?
- Thread starter exupgh12
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Elliot G.
Industry Expert
My mother and father were fans and I grew up with Sinatra, Louis Prima and Keely Smith and Belafonte, I feel youMy mother, as a teenager in the 1940s, was a Frank Sinatra fan.
She never became an audiophile, and I doubt too many of the girls screaming at his concerts ever did.
Here she is around that time, with a radio, somwhere around Atlantic City
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As a manufacturer of somewhat novel products I would of course be happy to agree with that. I wasn't arguing that we weren't, just explaining why a live brass band sounds different in real life than through a sound system.
Most sound systems still lack dynamic capacity though. Which is a consequence of a combination of cost and the fact that most people don't prioritize this I guess.
I thought my contemporary speakers with big SS amps were dynamic until I heard four pairs of vintage speakers on SETs and decided to buy one of them. I agree that one of the distinguishing features of live music is explosive dynamics, and effortless sound.
It has been quite a while since I have seen someone reference Gloria Steinem. Who does she think moves around these massive solid-state amplifiers and speaker systems?
I’ve been into music about as long as I can remember. I was deeply into the Beatles (along with much other music) from age 8 to 14.
It was a great time, but I moved on and have kept moving ever since. I wouldn’t want to spend time listening to the White Album or Abbey Road today.
Though equally Flock of Seagulls and Air Supply didn’t make us need better sound systems back in the 80’s.
The culture of a generation can’t be defined by some of the variable pap (my perspective only) that passes as the pop and sometimes even the poop of the time. The big chunk of every generation’s music is ephemeral and eventually mostly diminishes and culturally disappears.
People here play all sorts of music on their super fi gear… there’s a gazillion great reasons to play things that are not just a model of great audiophiley recordings. I also understand some will only play recordings they view as sonically worthy of their systems. We all have our own drivers and valid perspectives when it comes to our playlists.
I do play a fair bit of current RnB, fusion and alternative music from now as well as contemporary jazz and classical along with plenty of what I view as great lasting music from the last few centuries. From my perspective there’s great music being created today but I realise that’s a connection made out of a personal prism only. I also get that plenty of older music lovers just don’t gel with the music of later generations… it’s not really unusual. We’re all little more than some additional data points when it comes to judging music or culture.
I do think it’s the only time I’ve ever quoted her, it’s not a quote that fits into a lot of narratives. I can tick it off my bucket list now.
I don’t want to give Ked aka @bonzo75 a conniption but Devon Turnbull at OJAS probably gives at least one version of a system design model that has some stylistic cues that may appeal to a younger cool. It’s not that his gear sounds the way it might (that can be fixed) but rather just as an example of the context and form, spirit and vibe of a system that may appeal to Gen Y and Gen Z.
Apartment or loft friendly scale with essentially artisanal gear, engaging in bespoke tech with strong character and a sense of spirit that is in ways exotic but accessible. Authenticity in design. Maybe still reminiscent of vintage but not retro copy. Being honest in function. Perhaps more a reinvention of the simpler ways that things all started out. An investment but not an unattainable one. Something to make people happier to play their music and is rewarding enough in use and feel to not leave them feeling like it constantly needs upgrading or analysing to keep themselves satisfied. A sustainable solution that works and sounds great and looks and is cool because it sets the cues and leans the focus reliably into the music. A simple lasting joy to use.
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It’s his target market that’s different, but what you are doing is the equivalent of congratulating gear you don’t like for finding a new market by having smaller, glossy speakers that fit easily into modern rooms
I do think scale is going to be a critical design element. The design itself needs to deliver the music within that parameter. But it’s also about build costs. My referring to OJAS was just to give precedence for a version of a vision in terms of spirit. It definitely wasn’t unreserved praise.
Of course you know I am working my way towards 2 way high efficiency OB with low power SET, but that’s just my take and is only a crystal ball gaze. What actually might appeal needs to be tested first as a concept and then tested by trial and time. But I do think high efficiency and SET simple tech could fit the bill for sustainable design choices that could fit the ethos and need.
The underlying agenda of the system at Swanee isn't to promote entry into 2 channel systems it is , as specifically stated, to engage students in "serious music - classical". While, not party to your conversations at UVA I'd venture that the agenda to the profs there is likely the same. Maybe one leads to the other, but if the purpose of the room was to address the Op's concern of how to get more interest in the audiophile hobby that is not the overriding intent of those rooms.
Just a though but since you appear to be active at UVA have you considered engaging with the students directly to discuss the hobby, gauge their interests, etc. etc. to discover what might work for them in terms of entry?
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Gloria Steinem and Camille Paglia are influential because of their use of polemics. How fascinating to reference both in a thread about the health or demise of a male oriented hobby. Another moment on WBF.
I wish Tam was still around to comment but he was also keen to have some of the students go on to enjoy better gear. At UVA they recognize that partial donations of gear are meant to get some students interested in the hobby. But of course they are really interested in creating a destination for music listening. It makes it more fun and engaging.
I think your idea of talking to the students is a great one. It’s an example of Voice of the Customer. I think appointing students to a listening room advisory board to drive music selection and events would create more engagement. Maybe even have Dave Matthews come by and spin some records or Ron Carter do a selection of jazz.
I want to create a system that wows students. I want to hear, “I never thought audio could be that realistic!”
Simply making them aware of the possibilities may introduce them into the hobby.
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
thats right all the great bands with a few exceptions were pre 1980. aFOS and AS were certainly not great ones IMO. FOr me I listen to everything and there is new and newer music to enjoy but again this is NOT my point. The musical explosion and its place in culture was huge in the late 60's and 70's.. This happened by a particular set of circumstances that are not recreateable now.
There was no cable TV
There was no cell phones
There was no home computers
There was limited TV programming
There was limited broadcast of Sports
There was a change in culture- the sexual revolution, the war in Vietnam
The music changed we went from Sinatra to R&B to Folk and Rock N Roll
the music had messages other than love songs
FM radio became huge with enormous impact and DJ became stars by doing it.
I can still remember the people 60 years ago, that to me is very interesting
This doesnt say that nothing happened since only that this was a HUGE CHANGE in society, how we listened to music changed, the record became like text books and the artists affected and changed culture in ways that did not happen before.
It was far more than the music itself and people made HIFI cool and it was everywhere and everyone wanted a "stereo"
Peace out
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When Daniele of Alsyvox was visiting last summer, we went to a little local eatery that doubles as a jazz club. Bobby Torres (bongos) was there with his “ensemble”. Bobby is now in his 80s, played with Joe Cocker and the Mad Dogs and Englishmen @ Woodstock. We were sitting maybe 10-12’ from the band, and on the first good whack of the bongo Daniele and I looked at each other in agreement — reproducing that explosive dynamic is a goal reproduction systems just can’t quite realize. Some rigs more capable than others, but all still falling short. Just one whack on a bongo made it all so clear.