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Am I no longer allowed to consider myself an Audiophile?

OK, I actually have some pretty decent equipment to listen to. But lately I've been inundated with reviews/opinions about the unmatched transparency of the Magico M9 loudspeakers. But at the same time I have been admiring the new Yamaha NS-5000 speakers (about $15K) which are considered quite awesome sounding in their own right. This brings me back to my 1st wonderful sounding  ADS-810-II speakers (2X 8in. woofers, and a dome-midrange and tweeter). Easy to set up, nice wood cabinets, matching stands, less than $900/pair, with remarkable separation of  instruments, great for ALL types of music, and only minor limitations. Anyway, as nice as the Magico's are, the required room and a whole lot of other things that are necessary to make them play music makes me want to complain about all the over-the-top gushing coming from various experts. It's not the cost of the M-9's that bothers me, but the "laboratory conditions" you almost have to place them in. OTOH, the Yamaha speakers got favorable reviews from the Abs,Sound in 2020, so what more do you really need if you have a living room (a couch, a coffee table, pictures on the wall.etc.) to really "listen" when the music takes over? I find the bewildering complexity involved with scientifically "almost perfect" sounding million-dollar systems to be what it is- an experimental approach rather than a pleasurable way to relax and imagine becoming a part of the performance. So I would want to go to a dealer and audition the Magico's,no question about it. But I would bring some music with me, and I'm certain it would be an enlightening experience. But I wonder if it would change my overall opinion about recorded music. 

french_fries
simonb
36 posts
 

The classic Audiophiles use music to test their system while music lovers use the system to listen to new music. Back in the day it was always the desire to play that new album being way more enjoyable than waiting to listen to it on the Audiophile system. Saying that you can easily fall into the rabbit hole trap. I’ve heard lots of High End systems that at least for me where not that impressive. Others that sounded great with esoteric recordings but terrible trying to play some of my favourite tunes. The obvious example being Bat out of Hell. It sounds just as good on MP3 on a sound bar. I’ve also heard some very good indeed sounding budget systems that you could easily listen to all day. I would say to be honest that your ears and brain do get used to a certain sound signature and are quite happy for it not to change. If you didn’t read the media than you wouldn’t care what you have as long as you are happy with it. Long live the music :)

 

faustuss's avatar
faustuss
809 posts
 

@simonb 

"The obvious example being Bat out of Hell. It sounds just as good on MP3 on a sound bar."

Most popular music only has a few decibels of dynamic range anyway, the rest is noise. Low bit MP3 can cover that and you probably can't hear the difference either.

simonb
36 posts
 

@faustuss 

"Most popular music only has a few decibels of dynamic range anyway, the rest is noise. Low bit MP3 can cover that and you probably can't hear the difference either."

I differ on that opinion. It's more than a few DB's and where does the noise come from?

Cheers.

 

faustuss's avatar
faustuss
809 posts
 

@simo

"where does the noise come from"

It's inherent in all recording processes, in the case of MP3 its due the omission of data or bits or music and what's left is noise.

simonb
36 posts
 

@faustuss 

"where does the noise come from"

It's inherent in all recording processes, in the case of MP3 its due the omission of data or bits or music and what's left is noise.

That makes no sense and is actually incorrect. Thanks.

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