Article: Why We Need Audiophiles, The subjective perspective Options

[2tec]

I'm interested in what the HA community thinks about this new Gizmodo article, or blog, about Michael Fremer, an audio reviewer from Stereophile, which clearly goes completely against the grain around here. For instance:

"We play my solid 256kbps VBR MP3 of "Heroes" off my iPod; it sounds like shit. Free of pops and crackles, yes, but completely lifeless, flat in every way. This is the detail that matters: Audiophiles are basically synesthesiacs. They "see" music in three-dimensional visual space. You close your eyes in Fremer's chair, and you can perceive a detailed 3D matrix of sound, with each element occupying its own special space in the air. It's crazy and I've never experienced anything like it." ~ Why we need audiophiles

[DVDdoug]

2tec,
Thanks for that post & link. Good stuff!!!

...on his $350,000 stereo system. It sounds excellent.

I would freekin' hope so!!!!

I hear the needle drop... I hear a hiss. And yes, while the record was playing, I heard a pop, a crackle or two.... off my iPod; it sounds like s***. Free of pops and crackles, yes, but completely lifeless, flat in every way.

I grew-up with vinyl, and I hated the noise. Most of my friends didn't even notice it, but it used to drive me crazy! I find it strange that it doesn't bother these "audiophiles"... Any idiot can tell you that my CDs sound better than my scratchy old records.

It's like when you go to the symphony, and the old men are coughing—same thing," Fremer says. Necessary impurities. Reminders of being in the real world.

I disagree! When the noise comes from the sound system, it's more annoying, at least to me. I think our directional hearing ability helps us to tune-out and ignore ambient noises. Even in a movie theater, I can ignore "candy-wrapper noises", etc. (talking is more annoying). But, if I hear a click or a buzz (or distortion) from the sound system, I'll take notice.

If you've ever made a "live" recording... even a recoding of a meeting, there are usually annoying/distracting noises on the "tape" that you didn't notice during the event. Sometimes when I see that an event is being recorded, I start listening-to and noticing ambient noises that I wasn't really aware of before.

Do musicians listen to their own stuff on $350,000 equipment?

A lot of musicians and music lovers enjoy the underlying music without regard to audio quality. I think that's true of most people! They like a "good song" no matter what it's played on.

Unfortunately, some of us can't appreciate good music on a lousy or mediocre system... A lot of us are cursed with the desire for a good musical performance and good quality sound reproduction. I call us true audiophiles (lovers of good audio). I don't know what the "audiophile community" & the audiophile publications are cursed with!


BTW - Most musicians don't listen to their own stuff, except perhaps while practicing, performing, and during the recording & production process, and by that time they are probably sick of it!