High Fidelity: Decades of Decline

[Rdenney]

Well, it occurs to me that once people listened to live music because that was the only way to hear it. People want to hear music but what they hear in their head when listening to music evidently has little to do with live music or even high quality reproduction of recorded music. And yet these people certainly love music.

I get the emotional effect of recorded music regardless of the quality of playback.

Yes—I did not say that people today don’t love their music, I said people today don’t have enough experience of live music to give them a reference for what it should sound like.

Rick “and reproduced music, even the stuff we love, is part of the reason” Denney

 

[JimPA]

Well, it occurs to me that once people listened to live music because that was the only way to hear it. People want to hear music but what they hear in their head when listening to music evidently has little to do with live music or even high quality reproduction of recorded music. And yet these people certainly love music.

I get the emotional effect of recorded music regardless of the quality of playback.

That is one of the reasons why the Irish people engaged in bar and folk music.

 

[4-2-7]

While I'll agree that modern speakers have improved over older ones,I don't think someone buying $70,000 speakers does it always for sound quality. I think some with a lot of disposable income do it for bragging rights.

I always laugh when I see a comment like this made by someone who would never by any audio equipment in this price range, or even spend that much on a whole system. How many people are over your house for you to brag about what any of your gear cost? Do you? Would you? Do they even bother to ask?

On a side note, I have had a couple people in my house that have that classless mentality to actually ask how much things cost. I find it a very repugnant mentality. Dave believe it or not, the people spending this kind of money on speakers, and putting together $100,000+ systems enjoy the hobby just like you do, they just by better and more expensive stuff. They want to try different speaker, crawl around on the floor plugging new gear in, hey they even take a crap and wipe their own ass....who knew. However they don't go on sites with members that feel the need to make comments like yours or even that douche that would be the one to ask the price of everything.

 

[JimPA]

I always laugh when I see a comment like this made by someone who would never by any audio equipment in this price range, or even spend that much on a whole system. How many people are over your house for you to brag about what any of your gear cost? Do you? Would you? Do they even bother to ask?

On a side note, I have had a couple people in my house that have that classless mentality to actually ask how much things cost. I find it a very repugnant mentality. Dave believe it or not, the people spending this kind of money on speakers, and putting together $100,000+ systems enjoy the hobby just like you do, they just by better and more expensive stuff. They want to try different speaker, crawl around on the floor plugging new gear in, hey they even take a crap and wipe their own ass....who knew. However they don't go on sites with members that feel the need to make comments like yours or even that douche that would be the one to ask the price of everything.

IMHO most folks don't care about the price of someone else's system except the owner.

My son is in the music industry and has seen a lot.
One of the music producers he has worked with has a system at his estate that cost more than most people's homes.
He prefers to work from his residence rather than driving to the city.

 

[4-2-7]

IMHO most folks don't care about the price of someone else's system except the owner.

I find a lot of members on this site actually do care about what others spend on things they buy.
I find on this site many feel the need to talk about how much they paid for something, like a badge of honor.
I'v even been asked how much I spent in buying something on this site, that I ignore and think what a douche

 

[JimPA]

I find a lot of members on this site actually do care about what others spend on things they buy.
I find on this site many feel the need to talk about how much they paid for something, like a badge of honor.
I'v even been asked how much I spent in buying something on this site, that I ignore and think what a douche

It's really nice that some audio forums have people that don''t get jealous over what others have spent on their systems.

I have had people tell me I am crazy on what I paid spent on my subwoofer satellite crossover parts.
Some have said it''s better to get a powered sub or use iron cored inductors instead of the air core I use.
They haven't heard what a transmission line subwoofer is capable of with the right parts.

 

[4-2-7]

It's really nice that some audio forums have people that don''t get jealous over what others have spent on their systems.

Or even just leave the price out of the discussion as to what you bought, that's what I do. But there is always the guy that's asking, or the guy that needs to brag about their new score. A score to me is finding something Unique or that I wanted to try in my system, the price of it doesn't make it a score. It's not a score if I didn't need it or it doesn't elevate my system no matter the price.

 

[just dave]

I always laugh when I see a comment like this made by someone who would never by any audio equipment in this price range, or even spend that much on a whole system. How many people are over your house for you to brag about what any of your gear cost? Do you? Would you? Do they even bother to ask?

On a side note, I have had a couple people in my house that have that classless mentality to actually ask how much things cost. I find it a very repugnant mentality. Dave believe it or not, the people spending this kind of money on speakers, and putting together $100,000+ systems enjoy the hobby just like you do, they just by better and more expensive stuff. They want to try different speaker, crawl around on the floor plugging new gear in, hey they even take a crap and wipe their own ass....who knew. However they don't go on sites with members that feel the need to make comments like yours or even that douche that would be the one to ask the price of everything.

Hey guess what, I try different speakers and gear and wipe my own ass too. Maybe one day I could make wonderful intelligent non douchelike comments like you do.

 

[musichal]

I always laugh when I see a comment like this made by someone who would never by any audio equipment in this price range, or even spend that much on a whole system. How many people are over your house for you to brag about what any of your gear cost? Do you? Would you? Do they even bother to ask?

On a side note, I have had a couple people in my house that have that classless mentality to actually ask how much things cost. I find it a very repugnant mentality. Dave believe it or not, the people spending this kind of money on speakers, and putting together $100,000+ systems enjoy the hobby just like you do, they just by better and more expensive stuff. They want to try different speaker, crawl around on the floor plugging new gear in, hey they even take a crap and wipe their own ass....who knew. However they don't go on sites with members that feel the need to make comments like yours or even that douche that would be the one to ask the price of everything.

I think it's like driving a vehicle; each one of us tends to assign other drivers into one of two classes - maniacs, who drive faster than me, and assholes, who drive slower. Except in this case, it's those who spend more, or less, than we do.

However, cost is an intrinsically important topic for audio, or cars, or clothes, or homes, etc and not at all an inappropriate one. I love your comment about bragging. Non-enthusiasts (and many enthusiasts, too) tend to think it crazy to spend much on gear - now let's define "much." Differs for all of us. So you're right, to whom will one brag? Many will think him a fool, while others tag him a loud-mouthed braggart with his ego so fragile it requires nice things to project. That's how some of the other drivers on the road will perceive spending.

However, that simply has not been what I have seen, though there are likely a few exceptions (as always). It is human to brag a little now and then about something. Who hasn't? But those who spend a lot on our hobby do so for the love of music and SQ. That is what I saw when I sold gear. In fact, it can be a bit frustrating to encounter a very wealthy prospect who cares so little about SQ that it's difficult to pry an extra dime from his wallet for something half-decent. OTOH, I always enjoyed a challenge, and could pry dimes with the best of 'em.

 

[Archguy]

I've mentioned (IRL) what one of my pieces cost a couple times. Because it's absolutely preposterous what it cost (new; I bought it used of course). I find the topic ripe for mirth and merriment, but then I feel that way about most things.

Also, I have no class, but what're ya gonna do?

 

[just dave]

I sincerely hope so...

 

[nailer]

^^^ This, we have great live music all the time, different Venues and all genres. Just need to look.

Live music is alive and well where I reside. There is also a lot more of it played at a higher level than 40 years ago.