Where do you fall?

[Grant]

It has been (wrongly) suggested on another topic in the hardware forum that I am more of a collector than a music lover. I take offence to that because I am a die-hard MUSIC lover who collects. Someone here mentioned those audiophiles who will play, say, a sax solo over and over just to enjoy the reproduction, not caring about music. Some of you guys are high on gear quality.

But it got me thinking, not everyone here has the exact same passions. Where do YOU fall in the audiophile world?

Comments?

[Dave]

All of the above Grant.:D

[Steve Hoffman]

Grant,

I think if you just said that you didn't have the financial means to upgrade your system right now people would drop it!

Instead you are saying that better sound doesn't matter. It does, or we wouldn't be here....

Look, I was there, dude. For many years I had the same system that suited me fine. Pioneer receiver, bookshelf speakers and Pioneer turntable. That was it for me for 15 years. I couldn't afford anything else. But I never fooled myself into thinking that my stereo was perfect, or that I couldn't improve my system, it was just all I could afford. When I got richer, I upgraded, slowly. But it was NEVER my top priority. I had to pay rent, eat, date, buy clothes, music, etc.

[mcow1]

Once again, all of the above, sir.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Grant,

I think if you just said that you didn't have the financial means to upgrade your system right now people would drop it!


Ahh, But I have said this in the past but that doesn't seem to phase some of these guys.


Instead you are saying that better sound doesn't matter. It does, or we wouldn't be here....

I never said that either! I mean that if I have to choose between the two, having the music will win out everytime!


Look, I was there, dude. For many years I had the same system that suited me fine. Pioneer receiver, bookshelf speakers and Pioneer turntable. That was it for me for15 years. I couldn't afford anything else. But I never fooled myself into thinking that my stereo was perfect, or that I couldn't improve my system, it was just all I could afford. When I got richer, I upgraded, slowly.
Yep, For a long while I was there too! And I upgraded when I got the opportunity. I have also said that I thought my playback was perfect. You cannot find anywhere where I have stated that! It's what you guys are reading into what I write.

[Todd Fredericks]

Where do you fall?

Usually in the shower when I'm piss drunk! Seriously, I do (not really)...


Okay, seriously (really), I enjoy all types of music and I prefer to listen on a good system with well-mastered material (the best of all worlds I think). I'm aware usually of how much certain albums cost because they're usually the ones I would like to own because they have great sonic qualities or rare music. I sometimes will grab an additional rare CD/LP if I feel I need the additional income and will sell it on Ebay with a fair opening bid. For me again, the main thing is the music and the pleasure I get from it...

Todd

P.S. I usually fall in love... Do I win a danish & black coffee?

[Angel]

I think the problem began when Grant mentioned that he had over 10,000 LP's.

That's a lot of LP's! If I had that many my first priority would be to get the best playback system I could afford.

It would be like owning thousands of DVD movies and playing them back on a 19" TV.

The two things go hand in hand; music and music reproduction.

If Grant is happy with his system, let's stop bugging him. But he has to stop making judgements that CD's sound better than LP's. He must say that they only sound better to HIM, on HIS system, yes?

Then we can all go back to work.

[Beagle]

Grant:

I'm not sure what the purpose is of this poll, or what conclusion you hope to draw from the results.

Music is #1 of course, but better equipment can certainly aid us in our enjoyment of it. I listen to music first in my car on the crappy stock CD player/system. There are no "fi-fi" distractions here. I have no choice but to pick up on the musical message or hook, if there is any. If I don't hear anything worthwhile, I don't proceed to the next step, which is listening on my main system. If I hear some great tunes and sounds, when I play them on my system at home I hear them in all their glory, along with whatever detail and resolution my system will provide.

Again, the music is #1. A lousy song or a "non-event" is not worth listening to from any source. But a great tune is a great tune, whether you hear it over the phone or over a $300,000 system. And to hear the correct instrumental timbre of the instruments making that music is also enjoyable for the soul and does not cheat you out of anything on the recording.

So for me, the only logical response to the poll would be "all of the above". It all matters, in different situations and context.

[vex]

It's kind of funny, looking back to my junior-high and high-school days. I didn't have much money but I was able to scrape enough together to buy a complete component-based system from Radio Shack. Obviously it wasn't great, but I got more use and enjoyment out of that system than anything I've ever owned.

My first foray into becoming an "audiophile" was when I bought into MoFi's marketing, something along the lines of "the most important upgrade to your hi-fi that you can make". Basically, them selling their records as components instead of as software. That worked for me since I could afford to splurge a few extra bucks on a disk but not a few hundred on better equipment.

It was always about the music and finding ways (within my meager budget) that would allow me to enjoy it more. The equipment has always been just a means to an end (even now where I have a fatter budget) and I would really rather not have to fret about it. However, the collectable aspect of the media I find very appealing. Collecting is just icing on the cake. The cake is enjoying the music. Ah hell, why stop there... the knife that cuts the cake is the hardware...

What was I saying?

[Bob Lovely]

All,

I have gotten to know Grant pretty well because our many, many dialogs about music, recordings and life. To some degree, I do understand where he is coming from however, I believe, in a Forun like this, we all (this writer included) has to have pretty thick skin. It is the nature of the medium, electronic communications. I try very hard to treat each interaction with respect, dignity and decorum. The world has enough lack of civility. This Forum should be characterized by better behavior than the behavior we see on the freeway, the streets or in a line for the latest Christmas toy at Walmart.

I consider the other members of this Forum to be my friends and part of my life even when we agree to disagree, a basic element of the human condition. Each of us has a life, a story, and a history. Superiorism has no place in this Forum and such behaviors are just as offensive as a direct verbal attack. At the same time, people are people and we all have to bear that in mind. In this world of increasing personal and spiritual isolation, this Forum has renewed my passion for finding new friends and sharing my passion, hobby and ultimately, myself.

Bob :)

[Grant]

Originally posted by Angel
I think the problem began when Grant mentioned that he had over 10,000 LP's.


HOLD ON THERE! I wrote 1000 LPs. If I typed 10,000 i'll have to look back at that! That was either a typo or someone else put that in thier response and it got confused!



If Grant is happy with his system, let's stop bugging him. But he has to stop making judgements that CD's sound better than LP's. He must say that they only sound better to HIM, on HIS system, yes?


Oh, you must not read things very well, Angel! I have said that CDs sound better to ME. Check your sources first!

[Grant]

Grant
Incurable Music Addict

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2234

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Metralla
Grant,

I asked you once before but things get lost easily on this board. Here's a simple question mate. How many records do you own? I'm sure you know where I'm heading, but please just humour me.

Regards,
Metralla
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


No. I don't know where you are heading, but I estimate about 800-1000 LPs, 500 45s...why?


__________________
The single version ain't wrong!
Grant



Here you go. Angel. Copied and pasted directly from that hardware thread. You guys have to start reading thing a bit more carefully before you start throwing around accusations.

[sgb]

Like Grant and Bob, I have a passion for music of the fifties and sixties - most of which sounds pretty bad on the quality audio system I've put together. As a consequence, I listen to a lot of music that has my local audio friends thinking that I'm not as much of an audiophile as they were led to believe (from the equipment sitting in my living room). One of them even asked me why I bothered with the equipment when I pulled out an oldies compilation to put in the CD player.

Yes, I wish all of the recordings I enjoy sounded at least good enough to satisfy every audiophile, but it's not going to happen.

There is a type of sound that I cannot abide, though, and that is bright, etched, sizzly highs - the kind you hear on most of the Time-Life Rock 'n' Roll Era series CDs. If there's something I want to hear from one of them, I load it into my computer, and turn the treble all the way down. Since my preamp has no tone controls, alas, I am forced to take that step.

[Grant]

Now, direct your attention to Mikel's last two paragraphs. THIS is where you got that "10,000" LPs from.



mikel
New Member

Registered: May 2002
Location: Redmond, Wa.
Posts: 2
Grant,

i have been lurking on this board and i've been following the current discussion regarding how significant a quality turntable might be to an analog lover. i must side with Scott on this issue completely.

after a 20 year break from vinyl, i got back into it about 5 years ago with a VPI TNT MK II/Graham 1.5tc.....which i enjoyed and felt generally better than any digital i had heard. after 2 years i moved up to the Basis 2500/Graham 2.2......now here was a good step up, with a lower noise floor, better bass and it even bettered SACD by a good margin.

then 5 months ago i was fortunate enough to find a Rockport System II Sirius L.E. it took a couple of months to sort it out and learn it's tricks......but needless to say i am living large with the Rockport. there is a very clear performance increase from these 3 turntables.....the Rockport is maybe a giant increase.....and no digital need apply.

there is alot of information in those grooves that is just not revealed on many tts. the noise floor that many associate with vinyl playback is not the format but the limitations of particular turntable systems. so investing in something that will make every record you own MUCH better, especially if you own 10,000 records, seems obvious.

there have never been so many very good, reasonably priced, turntables as there are right now. or great 8 year old ones, like my Rockport.....what is more valuable?......500 more records.....or the 10,000 you already have sounding much better.

[sgb]

Grant,

Check this out and let me know what you think:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4352

[Todd Fredericks]

I say we ban Grant from the forum (I'm only kidding of course)!! I think we're all here because we enjoy music and strive to get closer to it. Also, misunderstandings with text communication are very easy to happen. Look at me, nobody every understands where I'm coming from or any points I have to make (me included). I type & type and nothing (sometimes I even hit the send button). Nada! Only kidding of course. Gee, I'm bored today...

[Grant]

I say we ban all those who misinterpret and get their information wrong! Just kidding.:rolleyes:

[Todd Fredericks]

I say we ban everyone from the forum! "No prisoners!"

[Ben]

I say we ban anybody named ban from the forum.


Hey - I'm getting into this!

[Grant]

I find it interesting that two people voted for just collecting. I also notice that three people voted for just caring about audio reproduction. I made the catagoties restrictive for this reason. I didn't want any vaugeness. If there is more than one narrowly defined catagory that people fit into, that's what the last option is there for. There is no evidence that the people who choose the reproduction only care about music, just audio. Maybe these people like recordings of train wrecks.

On that, I think the poll is valid on this forum.

[Todd Fredericks]

Ban "Ban"! Next will be Van then Man and anyone with such a name as Can should and would most definetly be banned and canned and maybe even slammed!! I'm feeling like Dr. Seuss...

P.S. Ran can't be banned (because it was a great flick!)...

[Scott Wheeler]

My wife says that you should ban me from the forum.

Record collecting started with the music naturally then expanded into sound which looking back was brilliant and humerous on the part of myself and my friends. We would run out and buy the English pressings of the albums we liked then we bought Japanese pressings all the while playing these records on our parents crap equipment marveling at the superior sound of these imports. Then I moved into record collecting for scarcity and completism (is that a word) but the sound and the music were still an issue, then I started making money and buying equipment. After that I got a CD player , 3rd generation Yamaha. Well it was time to get some serious equipment to go with this audio revalation, the CD player. Iwent over to Optimal Enchantment to hear some speakers. I had to bring my own CD player because the kooky owner didn't sell CD players. He said records were better. I laughed. Then when we listened to speakers and compared my CD player to his Oracle the world of audio was turned upside down to me.

I love records for the music, for the sound and for the collectablity. A collection of any sort is like a personal, life long, living work of art.

[Scott Wheeler]

Oh and the old days when I couldn't afford anything. I never let that stop me. Back in college I had to choose between this 100 dollar rare radio show record and paying the rent. I bought the record and begged my parents for more money for the rent.

[MagicAlex]

Originally posted by Todd Fredericks
Ban "Ban"! Next will be Van then Man and anyone with such a name as Can should and would most definetly be banned and canned and maybe even slammed!! I'm feeling like Dr. Seuss...

P.S. Ran can't be banned (because it was a great flick!)...

Todd, you are on a roll today...haven't been tippin' the ole bottle today have ya? ;)

[Sckott]

Grant is a person who's views and opinions are useful to the forum for WHO HE IS (for example). He's here to learn and have fun like the rest of us.

It takes quite a group to spread the right kind of level ground we have here. Grant believes in CDs. Heck, I knew that! I still found an LP copy of "That's The Way Of The World" (his avitar) and noticed just how much I forgot this album.

You can use his knowledge, like mine, to suit yourself.

All kinds, guys!