In Reply to: So you won't listen to a great performance of a classical work, or a killer pop record, unless it sounds good. posted by markrohr on May 17, 2007 at 11:18:22:
Markror:What's wrong with mono? lol. I'd rather have mono that some crazy surround mix with some "middle of the band" experience. (I tried to get middle of the band experiences in high school but was removed from the stage by security each and every time...)
"I you are in fact willing to forgo a terrific rock record or a transcendant classical performance because it doesn't sound great".
Well, probably not. But sometimes I use less revealing mid-fi (HT), auto or a second system to play these recordings so I **CAN** enjoy the music. Highly revealing systems are wonderful when reavealing the subtleties of well recorded material. But this is a double edged sword - I find hi-res systems can make lesser / older recordings MORE annoying than a mid-fi rig!!
I do find that I have more "reverance" (and tolerance for lesser recordings) for bands and groups that I liked before I became an audiophile, but when trying out new material, I find that recording quality has become a criterion. I guess I don't want to fall in love with music that is recorded poorly ALL THE TIME. It's so much more gratifying (and easy) to fall in love with music that is NORMALLY recorded very well. And you KNOW you can choose who (and what) you fall in love with! ;)
Some examples of great artists that regularily produce WONDERFUL recordings that got me into 'audiophilia' in the first place:
Jennifer Warnes, Holly Cole, Jesse Cook, Allison Kraus, Eva Cassidy, Roy Orbison, Mark Knopfler, Chris Isaak... to name a few. Then you get some oddballs like Sarah McLachlin, who has somewhat "studio/pop" sounding recordings, but comes out with acoustic tracks like "Ice" from "Fumbling Towards Ecstacy" that are so good it makes your skin crawl up your back.
I'm not saying I would like a favorite artist LESS because of poor recordings, but I really have a weakness for GOOD music that's ALSO recorded well.
Who doesn't?? :P
Cheers,
Presto
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Follow Ups
- That depends on how you feel about being called an audiophile I suppose!! :o) - Presto 16:55:14 05/17/07 (4)
- If "improvements" to your system make iffy records sound worse . . . - markrohr 05:32:18 05/18/07 (3)
- No, having more than one system is the ONLY direction - Presto 10:23:44 05/18/07 (2)
- Re: No, having more than one system is the ONLY direction - markrohr 12:01:26 05/18/07 (1)
- Re: No, having more than one system is the ONLY direction - Presto 13:38:28 05/18/07 (0)