Do audiophiles hear something we don't?

[Bucknekked]

A good friend of mine sent me an article out of a UK publication that I thought was a pretty good read. A non-audio addicted journalist went to an audiophile show called "2015 HiFi Wigwam Show" and then penned an article about what he saw and the types of people he met there.

For once, the author didn't denigrate or insult those of us with serious audio addictions. He actually was pretty complimentary throughout while having some fun poking our idiosyncrasies. It seemed a good enough article to share here. Hope you enjoy it

DO AUDIOPHILES HEAR SOMETHING WE DON'T?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Most of that crowd are Audiophools. Even my wife agreed with me that Salk SoundScape 8 was by far best speaker at AH GTG' 12.

 

[everettT]

Yes the do, Cha Ching

 

[MR.MAGOO]

Psychotics probably 'hear' things we don't.....

 

[j_garcia]

Of course they do. Otherwise the internet would have nothing left but porn and propaganda.

 

[speakerman39]

Most of that crowd are Audiophools.

So very true and down right funny......LOL!!!!


Cheers,

Phil

 

[KEW]

Thanks for sharing - a good read!

 

[Irvrobinson]

I have often wondered why a small island nation (GB) that I think, as a proportion of their population, produced a greater number of civilization-changing geniuses than any other nation (including a high number of ground-breaking leaders in audio engineering), also seems to produce the weirdest, least-scientific, silliest audiophiles on the planet.

 

[Bucknekked]

Most of that crowd are Audiophools. Even my wife agreed with me that Salk SoundScape 8 was by far best speaker at AH GTG' 12.

BSA
I'm going to agree with the preponderance of audiophools at high end audio shows (having never been to one I'm risking painting with too broad a brush) but at the same time there is genuine accomplishment.

What I thought was one of the major takeaways from the article was the author poking fun at all the audiophoolery but at the same time acknowledging with some astonishment the sonic achievement of many of the systems he listened to. In other words, in spite of the nonsense the sound systems were awe inspiring.

That was one takeaway. Another was that is was all men. All men. The rumor of a woman in the building was never substantiated. He found that hilarious. I think it mirrors my reality in the hobby. I have no idea why, but, it seems to be a hobby dominated by men. For what reason I can only guess. I don't want to ask the woman in my life because I'm pretty sure she would tell me the answer.

 

[lovinthehd]

BSA
I'm going to agree with the preponderance of audiophools at high end audio shows (having never been to one I'm risking painting with too broad a brush) but at the same time there is genuine accomplishment.

What I thought was one of the major takeaways from the article was the author poking fun at all the audiophoolery but at the same time acknowledging with some astonishment the sonic achievement of many of the systems he listened to. In other words, in spite of the nonsense the sound systems were awe inspiring.

That was one takeaway. Another was that is was all men. All men. The rumor of a woman in the building was never substantiated. He found that hilarious. I think it mirrors my reality in the hobby. I have no idea why, but, it seems to be a hobby dominated by men. For what reason I can only guess. I don't want to ask the woman in my life because I'm pretty sure she would tell me the answer.

Doesn't mean the reviewer was familiar with good sounding systems before his visit....and seems he gives the tweaker side of things too much credit.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

That was one takeaway. Another was that is was all men. All men. The rumor of a woman in the building was never substantiated. He found that hilarious. I think it mirrors my reality in the hobby. I have no idea why, but, it seems to be a hobby dominated by men. For what reason I can only guess. I don't want to ask the woman in my life because I'm pretty sure she would tell me the answer.

 

[j_garcia]

Dog whistles.

 

[panteragstk]

Good read.

I think the author's take away was something similar to those that don't understand how people can spend $2.1 million on a car. Have you driven that car? If so, you'd probably buy one too if you could.

Same with audio. I think a lot of us would spend MUCH more than we do if we had the means on very high end speakers. I'd love to hear @gene system, but I'm afraid if I did I'd come home and just be sad at how mine doesn't even come close to comparing.

I'm sure that'd happen if I heard a lot of people on this forum's systems. Not a bad thing at all IMHO.

 

[j_garcia]

I have heard $100K+ systems, 2ch systems with speakers that are ~$30K/pr and while YES they do sound excellent, it does not make me feel like I need to own them. If I had the money, I am sure I would as most would. I can appreciate them just like I can appreciate a Lambo Performante and still go home and enjoy what I have

 

[Swerd]

For once, the author didn't denigrate or insult those of us with serious audio addictions. He actually was pretty complimentary throughout while having some fun poking our idiosyncrasies. It seemed a good enough article to share here. Hope you enjoy it

Thanks, I enjoyed it. I especially liked these lines. They reminded me of an old Charles Rodriguez cartoon.

"It's the audiophile's biggest fear, isn't it?" grins James, the immensely affable founder of HiFi Wigwam, an online forum that begat the show. "They die and then their wives sell their hi-fi equipment for what they told them it cost."

"It's something my wife doesn't know anything about," he says… "She would absolutely pass out if she had any idea how much money I've spent."

 

[Bookmark]

I would not regard myself as an audiophile. I do not endlessly crave improvements and feel that "if only" is the solution to everything or anything really. Although I do love technological advancements and am inordinately fascinated by them. Additionally I do not regard myself as an audiophool, but then these are ascribed descriptions and not something you can actually claim for yourself.

I do remember very vividly, circa late 70s, being at college. I would listen in my room to my limited mucic collection on my Philips cassette recorder, with a string of various sized speakers drivers attached and thinking it sounded great. Whilst there I met a friend who owned a proper turntable, amp and a very good set of headphones. Unfortunately the makes and models elude me, however the quality and heft was readily apparent and even if I had known it would be years, if not decades before I could readily identify or appreciate them. I did know he said it cost, a lot. One glorious weekend he left me in charge of the equipment and his vinyl collection. Trapped in the darkness, I listen endlessly to Joni Mitchell's Blue and similar albums for the whole time.

Two things came out of that weekend for me, an abiding passion for that particular album and a dream that one day my system would sound as good. Much later in life I think it now does. But then again, who really knows

 

[Bucknekked]

Good read.
I think the author's take away was something similar to those that don't understand how people can spend $2.1 million on a car. Have you driven that car? If so, you'd probably buy one too if you could.
.

The author does make a very insightful observation regarding other types of personal "excess" on hobbies and toys and audio. With other types of excess, like the million dollar Lambo, one of the driving reasons (I love a good pun) is the status and show off effect. Showing off your toy to others is a huge part of buying a Lambo (or other ostentateous toy).

But audio systems are mostly personal and solitary enjoyments. Even folks who spend very large sums of money mostly keep the hobby to themselves or very few folks actually see or get to listen to them. At most, a small circle of friends (mostly men of course) is as far as anyone gets to share.

Very different motivations seem to be at the heart of it all. Audio seems very personal and private.
That's a different kettle of fish from the flashy show off

 

[Swerd]

I do remember very vividly, circa late 70s, being at college. I would listen in my room to my limited mucic collection on my Philips cassette recorder, with a string of various sized speakers drivers attached and thinking it sounded great. Whilst there I met a friend who owned a proper turntable, amp and a very good set of headphones. Unfortunately the makes and models elude me, however the quality and heft was readily apparent and even if I had known it would be years, if not decades before I could readily identify or appreciate them. I did know he said it cost, a lot. One glorious weekend he left me in charge of the equipment and his vinyl collection. Trapped in the darkness, I listen endlessly to Joni Mitchell's Blue and similar albums for the whole time.

Two things came out of that weekend for me, an abiding passion for that particular album and a dream that one day my system would sound as good. Much later in life I think it now does. But then again, who really knows

I enjoyed reading your nice story. Two things came to mind.

You and I were both of the age when, as youth, we craved a good stereo system. It was the object of desire for our generations (I was in college in the late 1960s). Sometime when I wasn't paying attention, maybe during the 1990s, computers replaced stereos as the object of desire .

I always liked Joni Mitchell from the early 70s, but only owned one album, Court & Spark. I always liked it, but because it's vinyl I rarely play it. During this past year, I looked up that CD on Amazon. It cost $5. Blue and Ladies of the Canyon were also available for $7 and $6. So I ordered all three. They're still wonderful. I think I'll play Blue right now .

 

[Auditor55]

Good read.

I think the author's take away was something similar to those that don't understand how people can spend $2.1 million on a car. Have you driven that car? If so, you'd probably buy one too if you could.

Same with audio. I think a lot of us would spend MUCH more than we do if we had the means on very high end speakers. I'd love to hear @gene system, but I'm afraid if I did I'd come home and just be sad at how mine doesn't even come close to comparing.

I'm sure that'd happen if I heard a lot of people on this forum's systems. Not a bad thing at all IMHO.

I don't agree with your reasoning. There exists a thing called a point of diminishing returns to which audiophiles exceed almost all the time.
Also, what some of them are moved by is egotism, elitism and unmitigated consumerism.

You could spend $350,000 on a fast car, but in the end a car is just but a means to an end to get and person from point A to B. If you take in consideration the traffic laws, you can't even use the performance you get from such a car.

 

[lovinthehd]

I was watching "APEX: The Story of the Hypercar" (playing on Netflix, good stuff) and one thing that stands out in my mind was one guy trying to give it some perspective, talking about guys who were buying these million dollar plus cars were more the type who might talk among themselves as to what their "plane situation" was...and that buying such a car was probably more a part of a large collection of cars, more like their hundredth car.

Makes even some outrageous audio systems sound like a downright bargain in comparison....