Has audiophilia changed your music taste?


Before I got into this hobby, I was big into heavy metal. I am very much into progressive bands like Dream Theater and Queensryche. My collection consisted of rock 90% and classical/jazz/other at 10%. Ever since I started getting into audio, my listening has changed and so has my music collection. What used to be 90/10, lean to rock, has changed to about 70/30 and changing weekly. Lately, I can't keep Patricia Barber off my system. I absolutely love her. The thing is, the other day I put on some Pat Travers and the listening only lasted about 30 minutes before it was back to Patricia Barber. For some reason, rock doesn't sound as good as it did before. Maybe it is my system or maybe it is me.

Anyone else like me?
matchstikman
Yep, me too. If anything, it has broadened the scope of things that I listen to, though, so I consider it a good thing. In fact, I sometimes find myself listening to and seeking out things purely because I like the lushness or tonality or warmth of the sound, even though, in a purely musical sense, I might not have been all that thrilled by the music previously. For example, there is something unescapably spine-tinglingly wonderful about the deeply organic thrummings of a chello that I never even realized, let alone gave a damn about, prior to having equipment that could do it justice. Now, just thinking about it thrills me (look at me here, all thrilled). Sometimes I put things in just for their tonality or the pallete of the sound. Am I listening to the tonality of the music or the system -- who cares, it makes me happy. (I am convinced that it takes both, though.) Wierd? Sure, that shoe fits perfectly, I already have a couple of pairs, and I wear it proudly.
Gunbei; the train recordings...too funny!

I also agree with you about finding John Coltrane. the entire reason i got into hifi was to get as close to really hearing this guy as i could. like matchstikman i also got away from my old tastes and now just can't wait to blast some great jazz and enjoy the full range of the instruments as loudly as i can and pretend i'm listening live. i'm always putting on old stuff i liked only to hop up after a few seconds and stick on somethign from coltrane again. i just became fully addicted. same with female vocals; nina simone, cat power and others.

thats the long answer to a great post: yes, my music tastes have changed...and i like it!

for a real treat that might also change tastes for people; find the 45 speed single one-sided pressing of Louis Armstrong singing "St. James Infirmary" on Classic records. (~$15/$20?) I heard this on a reference system at a dealer with Dekay and some others from audiogon. i always liked louis armstrong, i just never 'got' that he was a genius. man, to have heard some of these guys live... oh, well. that's why we're spending all our money here.
Nope, I still listen to the same old trash I always have. Now, even more - they keep remastering it!
I've started listening to a wider range of music. Nothing will get me into rap of hard rock though.
Me neither-hasn't made the slightest bit of difference to the music I listen to.
I don't even know how it could unless you were more interested in the recording quality than the actual music.