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In Reply to: RE: A note from Magnepan posted by josh358 on March 19, 2017 at 08:05:11
I've always been surrounded by "civilians" (non-Hi-Fi enthusiasts), particularly other musicians, to whom computer speakers are now the standard Hi-Fi system. One of my old bandmates came down from N. California to visit me in Burbank in 2006, and seeing the pair of Infinity RS-1b's I had a the time said "You know, people don't have big speakers anymore". I thought to myself "They never did", but held my tongue. People are now so distracted, pulled in so many directions simultaneously, multi-tasking constantly, that sitting in front of a good system and just listening to music is a very quaint, old-fashioned concept. I look over at my sisters in the living room---they can't even just watch a movie anymore. While the movie is playing they are on their smart phones, perusing Facebook and posting responses to other postings. I'm glad I'm old, and won't be around that much longer (assuming I live to my Dads age of 79), having to watch the culture deteriorate any further than it already has.
Edits: 03/19/17 03/19/17Follow Ups:
I feel similarly to @BDP24.
I used to hope the s__t wouldn't hit the fan until I'm gone; now I hope to witness the beginning of the Great Die-off.
Have a nice day!
I can't enjoy music in that casual way. It just sounds wrong. It "reminds me" of music rather than "being" the music. Particularly unconvincing are headphones, and I stopped with boomboxes and headphone portables the moment I had the space and funds for a real stereo. Even in the car the main effect of listening is to have go dig up the LP or CD or file of what I was listening to in order to actually feel it. It reminds me more of what I am missing than actually providing a musical experience. At the office the boom box was always set low so that it was more background than anything else.
It's true. In fact, I find myself listening to other sources more often than my big speakers, just because they're there -- the little Monsoons on my computer, my wifi earbuds (I have a pair of Etymotics but they're too fragile/uncomfortable for everyday wear). That's one of the reasons I set my system up the way I did -- I'm hoping to be able to take a monitor and keyboard into my listening room and work from there.
I think part of this is positive -- it's nice to be able to have music when you're working. But of course when you lose the patience to listen to a symphony or read a good book you've lost something, and headphones can't yet approach speakers in fidelity with stereo recordings because of the in-your-head effect (although I've played with some very promising HRTF programs that like Out Of Your Head).
Another factor I think that's damaging two channel audio is that fewer children are being exposed to acoustical music like classical and jazz, so they don't grow up with an appreciation for it.
Then too, there are so many ways to spend your money on electronics these days -- computers, phones, home theater, smart home automation, what have you -- and I think these have sapped some of the time, budget, and social desirability of two channel; whereas a kid might once have shown off his stereo, now he shows off his new iPhone or what have you. Even cars don't have the cachet they used to, from what I've read.
I will say josh - my 24 year old son writes classical and was in a jazz program. He has written 6 string quartets and is working on his first symphony. Although I never really listened to jazz or classical (he really introduced me) - he did like to sit and listen with me. Not background music... but serious listening. Now he comes in - buys classical cds and listens on my stereo. He is going gaga over the possible arrival of the 20.7s this summer. He refers to them as 'texture machines'. We went on a boondoggle to listen to the 20.7 in Evanston Ill with my brother. Only people here could understand if I said the event is something we will be talking about. So there is hope.
The other angle w the movement towards smaller speakers could also parallel cheaper cost. I mean if I want to pay 4-13k on speakers - I want something very substantial. I find big speakers as a room compliment - not a detriment. Of course you need the space...But that's me. :)
Great about your son! I like his characterization -- texture. It's always hard to characterize what I find special about good reproduction. Yes, it's realistic, and can play pretty loud and hit the low notes, most of them. But still, you can hear the same music on a table radio. So what does it add? I think texture is as good a word as any. The sound isn't homogenized. It's a living, breathing, organic hole and that I think adds to my enjoyment.
Otherwise, I think guys in general want the biggest speakers they can get. Women, on the other hand, complain about speakers the size of earbuds! While of course delighted to pile up their own junk.
Congratulations Tim, looks like you have done an incredible job of raising your son! I have a dearly departed friend (he died from a heart attack at only 56 years of age, the result of his terrible diet) who was the smartest guy I've known in this life. He was put ahead a grade twice in elementary school, his mother (a college professor of language) refusing a third as she felt he would be too much younger than his classmates! I played with him in a musical group in high school, and then in college as he studied music as his major at first San Jose State and then The University of California at Riverside. He passed on his gift for music to his son, who is now an orchestra conductor in San Francisco. My friend gave me the great gift of exposing me to the glories of the music of J.S. Bach. He loved harmony (that of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, C,S,& N, etc. as a kid, later just in general), and I believe his son specializes in choral music. A father and son sharing the love of music is a beautiful thing---I envy you!---Eric.
Awesome story Eric. My son is also in northern cali. He is so immersed into the creative aspect - and I am trying to see if he can market his quartets. :). He actually had a string quartet from the Argentina symphony record 3 of them in 96/24. The recordings are very 'in the room'' with no compression.
It may well be a only tiny fraction of the population but there are many thousands of young people who spend their entire day practicing an instrument in hope of winning a competition, perhaps followed by landing a spot in one of our orchestras, and/or career etc. (And before that, they did the same while even younger and in 'school'. It doesn't prevent them from using social media, etc. Even President Trump manages it. :-))
Attending a classical music concert, opera, ballet, recital etc., one see can see 2-3 thousand people of all ages glued to their seats for a couple of hours (Well, there are intermissions.)
I read somewhere that a surprising number of people say they sometimes listen to classical. It may just be on the radio when they're driving, but it suggests that audiences are still there. Orchestras have paradoxically been hurt by recordings, since going to a concert is expensive and an event in itself. But for someone like me who no longer lives in civilization, they're a boon. :-)
I stopped going to concerts routinely because I started choking in the halls and my coughing was a nuisance for the audience, besides which, I would rather stay at home than sit outside of my preferred seats at the center front, which are always short on availability and high in price. A great deal of my musical enjoyment comes from having a good sense of the tactile detail that you can only hear up in the front, and from the sensual scale of the ensemble or instrument, not just loudness and the sheer power of the orchestra.
OTOH, one of my worst concert experiences was in the front center row at Carnegie Hall, with Von Karajan conducting the ninth. The chorus was frying my ears! They were literally distorting (a very loud female chorus sometimes does that to me) and painful. Hard to imagine what it would have been like on the podium!
But that's a one off. I've heard conductor say they wish the audience could hear what they do from the podium, and I can believe them.
I'truth, I think my main objection to concerts is that they insist on programming stuff I don't much like. I don't see why every concert has to be a smorgasbord. It's particularly problematic when they program some awful 20th century piece that nobody would listen to if they had a choice.
I hear you but I don't know... I look at my kids, now in their 20s and they and their friends are so smart and are so interested in music of all genres and art and travel and they read and they care about those silly facebook friends. They work a ton of hours for really good companies and then really enjoy their weekends and days off. They are way ahead of where I was at their age. Miles ahead.
Amen. Same with mine...
Do not be silly.l Screw them...Great music system is the antidote to despair and numbness of spirit. Music makes you live longer that you would have expected, but one needs the equipment to enjoy it.
Yes, but it doesn't need to be an audiophile system. I've been enjoying music for close to 6 decades, and as you might guess, on a wide range of equipment. From my parents Telefunken console to a Walkman to the several means of audio reproduction I use now, I've enjoyed the music on every piece of equipment I used.
Regards,
Steve
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