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In Reply to: RE: The Big Ahh (long and philosophical) posted by Bold Eagle on June 25, 2007 at 18:50:28
Thanks for bringing this up Jerry!
I have to say,I DO get the conjunction of events & emotions that produce the "Ah's" but I don't think it has anything to do with reality. Certainly it has little to do with the investment in equipment that attempts to bring us closer to the "musical truth." That's just so much BS.
Rant mode ON
IMHO, the sole role of Stereopile/Absolete Sound is to help separate the audiophools from their money. In fact, I'm highly annoyed at the protestations of impartiality by editors who live a reviewer's life that's embedded in the sub-culture of the high-end music reproduction business. Their exposure to equipment and immersion in shows/discussions with manufacturers bears no relationship to the experience of most audiophiles, IMHO. Manufacturers live and die by these mags, and do everything in their power to indirectly (or directly) influence the process in their favor. There is simply NO WAY an established reviewer can be part of this subculture and not be influenced. I saw the editorial as just another rationalization, a way to make audiophools feel good about "investing" their money in high-end esoterica. Been there, done that, got the "T" shirt. Didn't make my musical experience any better, nor did it increase my fundamental reaction to the music (and this after spending well over $30,000 on "stuff")
Rant mode OFF
Back to the question at hand. I was at a concert last night (The Duhks--outdoor folkie/bluegrass thing). Tonight I'm playing a couple of CD's by the same band. I really enjoyed BOTH experiences, but I don't think the quality of my playback system has much to do with my enjoyment vis-a-vis the experience of live music.
The playing last night was somewhat ragged. The group was at the end of a long tour, but they were up, and the audience responded. A dynamic was there that simply doesn't exist at home ("live" concert performances never deliver live). The concert last night was visceral, fun, involving, and so much more dynamic than anything that comes out of my home system. My listening experience live was much less contemplative, and a lot more participatory, so I never went "Aaah" even when it was wonderful.
On the other hand, I get more mini-Ah's (?) from the stereo system. The rhythm builds, the various musicians coalesce around a single note, synchronicity... Aaaaah... It's just so good! Pablo Casal's directing the Marlboro Festival Orchestra; he just FEELS Bach in a fundamental organic way that is so much more alive. Big AHHH moment! You could reproduce my stereo system for less than $500, and get this same AHHH moment.
So my take is, these ineffable moments DO occur. They are clearly one of the rewards of listening and getting totally involved in the music. But I see very little relationship between equipment quality and the ability to perceive these experiences. Above a certain threshold -- easily achieved with vintage gear -- better quality equipment has its own rewards, but little to do with FUNDAMENTAL musical enjoyment.
I won't say that spending has NO relationship to enhanced enjoyment. Certainly it's a nonlinear relationship. Maybe having a subwoofer yields an organic response to a bass fundamental that you wouldn't otherwise experience. Maybe speakers that deliver crystaline highs and a luscious presentation of vocals enhance the experience somehow. But to me, it's the music that matters, and enjoyment has little to do with your equipment investment.
So this editorial pissed me off!
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