Am I right for this forum?


I’ve been an Audiogon member for some years now; I remember (fondly) "millercarbon," for example, which will mean something to some of you. And I’ve been a lover of audio equipment since high school—so, for over 50 years (I graduated in 1973). And yet...more and more, I find myself alienated from this forum, even though I do still read it regularly.

I do have what I consider a very "high-fidelity" system. I’ve written a very long account of my "audio journey," complete with many photos, but not "published" it on this site. I’m also a member of our local audio club, which includes several very well-heeled members who have systems costing more than most homes (one of them owns equipment valued at nearly a million dollars, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg: his system is housed in a separate structure purpose-built for it that cost well over a million). I play cello and guitar; my wife plays piano, my daughter piano and violin. We play those instruments in the same room occupied by my main audio system, and so I can attest to the "fidelity" of that system’s reproduction.

And yet...my system cost me less than $3,000 in total. I don’t lust after any particular "upgrade," even though I read reviews and all the many accounts of improvements in "SQ" documented in this forum.

So...am I an "audiophile," or not? Do I belong here, or not?


I’m listening right now to a wonderful bit of Mozart. I also love Tool. And Christy Moore. And Eva Cassidy. And so many others. I agree with Nietzsche: without music, life would be a mistake. But am I an audiophile? Do I belong on this forum?

Any sympathy here? Anyone else feel alienated from the "audiophile community" despite loving the miracle of audio technology?

128x128snilf

Showing 3 responses by rok2id

 

@immatthewj

 

But to that point, would you consider the Maranzt SA10 SACDp to be expensive at around 7k msrp?

 

Absolutely! I have the SA8001. $899msrp. What is it about the SA10 that makes it worth 6100 more?

Full disclosure: My SA8001 failed after 18 years of service. Currently looking for a replacement. Probably the marantz CD6007. Finally giving up on SACD.

Cheers

@immatthewj

 

The 'Art' is reproducing recorded music.  The best it can be done with electronic boxes, today,  is very low on the price pole.  The Marantz Yamaha thingy.  The only thing we can DO, is to strive to perfectly get the info from source to the speaker.  Compare output of source and input to speaker, it don't cost much.

Much more important is the room, speakers, and speaker position. Whenever I hear a system, the main thing I hear is the size of the room.  In person or online.  Its so obvious.

 

Cheers

So...am I an "audiophile," or not? Do I belong here, or not?

 

I know what you mean.  On this site, forget anything you read about gear.  Stick with the music.  The best thing about this forum is the age of the participants.

Considering the current state of the art, $3000 is spot on.  The state of the art can be found at the Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, Polk, etc.... level.  All else is hype and eye candy.

Do you belong here?  Yes.  But, think of it as being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a raft with no water.

 

Cheers