Listening Biases and Music Preferences

[Cellcbern]

I am proposing that categories be added in the "About" section where WBF posters can describe their listening biases and music preferences along with the lists of equipment that make up their systems. I think this might enhance understanding of posters' viewpoints and improve communication on the forum. I see that Ron Resnick proposed something like this back in 2015 (link below) but apparently it was not acted on.

What do people think about this idea?

Introduction and Listening Biases

INTRODUCTION To better understand my reviews and the context in which I make my comments I want to explain my high-end audio philosophy, my listening biases and my music preferences. By so doing I hope that my reviews and my descriptions of what I hear will be more valuable to you. By...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[stehno]

I am proposing that categories be added in the "About" section where WBF posters can describe their listening biases and music preferences along with the lists of equipment that make up their systems. I think this might enhance understanding of posters' viewpoints and improve communication on the forum. I see that Ron Resnick proposed something like this back in 2015 (link below) but apparently it was not acted on.

What do people think about this idea?

Introduction and Listening Biases

INTRODUCTION To better understand my reviews and the context in which I make my comments I want to explain my high-end audio philosophy, my listening biases and my music preferences. By so doing I hope that my reviews and my descriptions of what I hear will be more valuable to you. By...

www.whatsbestforum.com

It's probably better than nothing. I would think it better to list what we've done to what we have than just list what we've acquired since that's where the real potential exists.

Then again, I'd think that providing in-room recordings would tell us potentially far more than words and/or pics. But apparently that's pushing the envelope a bit.

BTW, I'm curious. I realize it's been a practice for some for decades, but what do others' listening biases really have to do with anything of significance?

 

[PeterA]

Much of this can be accomplished by members creating a virtual system thread as a form of introduction with a link in their signature. I recently did this with a history of past systems and an explanation of interests and goals and approach. I’m sure it expressed my bias.

I think many people just don’t want to share this information or go to the effort to create it. Then posting videos comes with a great deal of risk.

I think it’s an interesting idea and people can take it up if they wish, but I understand why people want more anonymity and less disclosure. I think there are many casual readers of the forum who do not want to really participate or share much information.

 

[tima]

I am proposing that categories be added in the "About" section where WBF posters can describe their listening biases and music preferences along with the lists of equipment that make up their systems. I think this might enhance understanding of posters' viewpoints and improve communication on the forum. I see that Ron Resnick proposed something like this back in 2015 (link below) but apparently it was not acted on.

What do people think about this idea?

1. I see no objections to this although I think this is better off in a post than in the about section. It is already hard to get people to post their systems and some deny access to their about section.
2. Be an example for others and go first.

Edit: I encourage you to post more of your own thinking.

 

[stehno]

FYI - Here is Ron Resnick's take on the benefits of explicitly describing listening biases:

Introduction and Listening Biases

INTRODUCTION To better understand my reviews and the context in which I make my comments I want to explain my high-end audio philosophy, my listening biases and my music preferences. By so doing I hope that my reviews and my descriptions of what I hear will be more valuable to you. By...

www.whatsbestforum.com

I was asking you but that's fine. And you bring up a good point. Ron is a reviewer and for those who follow reviewers routinely reading their reviews, etc, sure over time some of these biases could be potentially beneficial to their followers. Potentially.

But in all honesty, why should anybody care what somebody else's listening biases are? Maybe it makes some feel like they're establishing some imaginary comradery with strangers but ultimately I would think we should only care about their playback system's level of musicality. And IMO listening biases don't change that one bit. Unless of course their listening biases cause them to do strange things to their playback system.

 

[Cellcbern]

1. I see no objections to this although I think this is better off in a post than in the about section. It is already hard to get people to post their systems and some deny access to their about section.
2. Be an example for others and go first.

Edit: I encourage you to post more of your own thinking.

I think it works better in a permanent location so I put my "first draft" (I will improve it) under "About You" in the Account Details section:

Listening Biases and Music Preferences:

The musical attributes of an audio system are more important to me than the sonic ones. While there is a minimum threshold for resolution, spatiality, and transparency to source that my system must meet, timbral accuracy and tonal color and density are more important to me than pinpoint imaging, soundstaging, or mining every detail in the media. If a system gets the gestalt of the music right I can live with less than state of the art resolution. I am not a stickler for "neutrality" which too often describes a cool to clinical sonic signature. I seek natural musicality and emotional engagement with the music, free from electronic artifacts, from the components and accessories that I purchase. For me this has always meant components/equipment whose sound is a little on the warm side of "neutral". I prefer vinyl over digital and require tubes in the chain in order to get the level of musicality I desire. While I was very late to add cd's to my collection I have been able to achieve natural, musical playback of sacd's and well recorded cd's with the Modwright modified players (and nothing else to date) featuring analogue tube output stages and tube rectified power supplies. I am particularly sensitive to a bright treble range and would prefer that it be slightly recessed rather than slightly shrill. I have yet to hear sliver conductor cables that didn't sound a little tipped up and thin, and detest the sound of Rhodium plated connectors which I have purged from my system.

I listen mostly to jazz and female vocals, blues, the R&B (e.g. Motown) that I grew up on, soundtracks, and a little classical. Luckily for me, since I have a small listening room, I prefer the intimacy of the jazz trio and string quartet to the complexity of the full orchestra and big band.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I think this is a great idea, cellcbern! Thank you very much for starting this thread!

We see so much talking past each other on the forum and mutual misunderstanding and disagreements and conflicts and inability to achieve consensus that one may end up dejected. We all hear differently and we all have different philosophical objectives for the hobby, and we all have different personal tastes in sound and different personal tastes in music that it seems we can never agree on anything.

By stating explicitly our listening biases and, even better, our personal objective(s) for the hobby, I think we would be better able to understand each other.

 

[tima]

I prefer vinyl over digital and require tubes in the chain in order to get the level of musicality I desire.

What is in your analog system?

 

[bonzo75]

What is in your analog system?

It's listed if you click on his profile and About. Teach a man to fish...

 

[tima]

It's listed if you click on his profile and About. Teach a man to fish...

Sometimes you are such a cardassian. It could not be ciphered through all the individual bits and pieces. I don't see words like 'cartridge' or 'tonearm'. TT is not a reference to a turntable. You tell me.

 

[bonzo75]

Sometimes you are such a cardassian. It could not be ciphered through all the individual bits and pieces. I don't see words like 'cartridge' or 'tonearm'. TT is not a reference to a turntable. You tell me.

Oh ok. The signature was so long I didn't bother to read details.

The TT is the Pathos TT integrated amp

 

[tima]

Oh ok. The signature was so long I didn't bother to read details.

The TT is the Pathos TT integrated amp

Yes, I got that much which is why I said it was not a turntable. Speakers, yes. CD, yes. Turntable? I don't ask questions without first making an effort - you should try the same. Cellcbern...

 

[bonzo75]

Yes, I got that much which is why I said it was not a turntable. Speakers, yes. CD, yes. Turntable? I don't ask questions without first making an effort - you should try the same. Cellcbern...

This round goes to you. 1 - 10

 

[tima]

This round goes to you. 1 - 10

Apology accepted

 

[tima]

The musical attributes of an audio system are more important to me than the sonic ones. While there is a minimum threshold for resolution, spatiality, and transparency to source that my system must meet, timbral accuracy and tonal color and density are more important to me than pinpoint imaging, soundstaging, or mining every detail in the media. If a system gets the gestalt of the music right I can live with less than state of the art resolution. I am not a stickler for "neutrality" which too often describes a cool to clinical sonic signature. I seek natural musicality and emotional engagement with the music, free from electronic artifacts, from the components and accessories that I purchase. For me this has always meant components/equipment whose sound is a little on the warm side of "neutral". I prefer vinyl over digital and require tubes in the chain in order to get the level of musicality I desire. While I was very late to add cd's to my collection I have been able to achieve natural, musical playback of sacd's and well recorded cd's with the Modwright modified players (and nothing else to date) featuring analogue tube output stages and tube rectified power supplies. I am particularly sensitive to a bright treble range and would prefer that it be slightly recessed rather than slightly shrill. I have yet to hear sliver conductor cables that didn't sound a little tipped up and thin, and detest the sound of Rhodium plated connectors which I have purged from my system.

This is good - original comments. Looking forward to the improvements. Sorry for the bonzetto.