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Do You Love Music or Do You Love Hi-Fi?

I know a lot of hi-fi enthusiasts who seem to have poor taste in music but can talk all day about their audio gear. I got into the high end audio hobby because of my love for music first and foremost, and this has done a pretty good job in guiding my decisions around what equipment to buy. Don't get me wrong, I Jones really hard on gear, but at the end of the day it's not about the gear but how great the music I love sounds on the gear I buy. I study music and learn all I can to discover new music to enjoy, regardless of the genre, but I am certain that I will not be investing in the latest Jennifer Warnes vinyl re-issues. I also wonder why Mo-Fi issued the first three Foreigner albums on vinyl. Are there really that many hard core audiophiles asking for this? There are so many great recordings that are begging for the high end vinyl treatment, it makes me wonder who these people are making decisions about what to release on these labels? I'm sure the entire Don Henley catalog is coming soon from one of these labels.
OK, I'm done ranting, but I really do want to hear what others think about this. Or is it just me? Is it about the gear or is it about the music for you?
128x128snackeyp
rockitman's avatar
rockitman
417 posts
 
Music first...HiFi is the delivery tool to maximize the musical listening experience.
mlsstl
1,379 posts
 
One has to be careful in accusing others of "bad taste". Even famous classical composers often had detractors. Rossini said that Berlioz was "a regular freak without a vestige of talent." Tchaikovsky on Richard Strauss: "Such an astounding lack of talent was never before united to such pretentiousness." Bach almost got fired from his first job as a church organist due to his style of playing.

I certainly have some writers and performers I like better than others, and know others feel the opposite. However, the only thing that really dismays me are those who have no sense of musical exploration, those who never venture past the small group of artists they grew up with 20, 30 or more years ago. It probably makes them happy, but I find it a bit sad.

As for the equipment versus music question, people approach hobbies from a variety of perspectives. I just hope they find what they do interesting, fulfilling and challenging.

inna
7,132 posts
 
Hi-Fi of course. Music is just structured noise made tolerable to hear by great equipment. Musicians and music industry in general are the lowliest occupations I can imagine. Anyone agrees with me?
rockitman's avatar
rockitman
417 posts
 
^^^ NOPE !
jazdoc
364 posts
 

Theodore Leavitt famously told his MBA students that "People don't want a 1/4" drill. They want a 1/4" hole."

My audio system is simply the tool required to enjoy my music collection.
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