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"audiophiles listen to their equipment"

That quote is misattributed to Alan Parsons, as I understand. Anyway saying there's a problem with wanting good sound is like saying an instrument designer, aiming for beautiful sound, could not possibly be a music lover and is only interested in the sound of the instruments. I.e. the sound is inseparable from the music. For me the beauty of the sound, good microdynamics, and so on, are the "doors" to the meaning of the music.

magon
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,433 posts
 

@magon yes, live music is different than reproduced music.  Good luck with your further explorations in the meaning of music.

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audition__audio
1,773 posts
 

I think some of you are thinking about this way too much! Why even differentiate? 

magon OP
91 posts
 

@onhwy61 

live music is different than reproduced music

Not necessarily. I love live classical music, and I love reproduction that gets close to the characteristics of live. I know a recording engineer and musician who wrote a book on recording as a way of practicing, aimed at other musicians. He said, "Just listen to the recording the same way you listen to live music. Some engineers will tell you it's not supposed to sound like live music. Don't believe them."

 

magon OP
91 posts
 

@audition__audio 

I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, but I saw it on Audio Science Review, in a post in which dozens of "engineer-types" chimed in to mock audiophiles, so I think it was worth thinking about it long enough to give an answer. Plus, it actually connects with my philosophy of listening and music-making (i.e. the sound is inseparable from the music) which is worth some time thinking about.

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