Does audio bring out your snobby and elitist side? Does it make you look down upon those who have different (or lesser in your opinion) tastes? Do you feel superior to those who don't know about high end audio fine points? (Bose people, for example)
In my case, it has brought out a positive intellectual curiosity, however, I've fallen victim to many of these lesser tendencies. I feel I may have a bit of an unsociable bias regarding the hobby because of interactions with some industry scumbags early on.
I have seen these negative qualities brought out in other people in person and on here. Naturally, it's each person's personal responsibility how they carry themselves. In my case, with regard to audio, it's a mixed bag and not entirely positive, sadly.
and I'm not talkin' about Barry White playing to 'loosen things up!' :)
Lock me up and throw away the sanity key because I kid you not, there are a few songs in my collection I've listen to that have given me good fortune (in a non -monetary fashion); I don't really want to get too deep into the details (I'd hate to break the spell!) but as an example: for years me and my ex have tried many times to purchase a home only to be disappointed in one way or another...long story short, every since I've played a certain cd and recieved the call from our real estate agent that we were accepted on a home loan and subsequent purchase, I've since bought 3 homes (over the past tweleve years) and each time I played that cd lol...or, if I'm in a jam at work and I need some 'luck on my side' I'll throw in a certain folder containing a few select songs/artist on my laptop and viola' I'm ready to take on the World (almost like a bull$ht shield)!
Sure I know its purely coincidental, and luck of the draw, etc, etc, but hey- its fun to at least think its more of a riding on a 'musical magical, perhaps even spirital wavelength' than just plain luck; so why not, and I'll continue to roll with it :)!
Please do not ask the specifics of the cd or artist, it will break the spell! (ok now lock me up!)
Audio has made me more of a bore to those around me. I have a couple of people at work who are targets of my adventures in audio setup, but they really just tollerate the stories to trade their stories regarding their interests. We give each other an outlet to believe anyone cares what we do in our private lives. In reality we only spew this stuff for our own satisfaction.
Music is a much more broadly shared interest and important to my health, but sweet spot listening as an activity has taken me away from other pursuits that might qualify as making me a better person.
You've heard about the concept of "free will"? "He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
I'm a music audiophile as I like the most realistic sounding recordings I can find, for me that has been mostly SACDs, LPs and high resolution 24 bit downloads. But I'm not into equipment, I just demand that it brings out the sound and feelings of my recordings and not look ugly. I usually keep equipment until it costs too much to repair.
You mentioned "Bose people", Why are so many audiophiles down on Bose? I was quite happy with my floor standing Bose 601 Series I Direct/Reflecting speakers I had for many years.
I don't measure myself against anyone whither their mini system costs $200 or they megabuck system costs $100,000. Although I am proud I put together a realistic sounding audio/video system for less than $3,000 by buying used, demo and clearance pieces.
I have always said that everyone hears things differently and what is important to one listener will not be important to another. As long as one enjoys the music that is the thing.
In the past some have tried to claim I put down people who listen to CDs, this is not true I personally abhor the CD format and cannot enjoy listening to it, so by all rights I should not. On the other hand I envy those who can listen to CDs as they have a wider selection of music to chose from. In reality I am putting down a format that I find unacceptable to me personally not those that enjoy it, a big distinction I believe. Thus I think this translates into other personal choices, I think some people take it personal when others don't like what they like. If everyone would live and let live this would not happen.
I never could understand the snobby and elitist attitudes you mention, I shall be following this thread to try to learn what could cause that.
Listening to Louis Armstrong while typing this, its all about the music!
I am at the point where my system is completely satisfying, and thus no longer in search of gear. So I just spin CDs and enjoy. No more wondering if only it didn't do this or that, or I wish it did more of this or that. Pure enjoyment mode for quite some time now. This has lifted me to a higher plane emotionally. Thus, my happiness leaks out into other parts of my life.
Currently taking a short break from spinning Dexter Gordon's 3 CDs, "Live from Montmartre", sipping on a cool St. Bernardus EBT 12 bomber. Ahh ... I am in such a good mood I'll likely carry it into work with me tomorrow and walk in the door with a big audio eatin' grin on my face. And everyone will be wonderin', "what's he on today?" An audio high bud, that's what.
No, "audio" does nothing TO you, in the sense that I think you are intending to convey. It provides a set of circumstances for you to experience, interact with, contrivute to... Same can be said on 'most any field, interest, set of concepts, environment, etc.
Cheers.
“As long as we have any intention to be right… we should be wary. So long as words have the slightest ego attachment, they are dishonest.” Charlotte Joko Beck
After spending many years in audio and a few with video from both mid-fi to hi-fi I learned to be inclusive and tolerant of other peoples level of investment both financially and emotionally. Learning this helped better me. Believe me I worked a few sales floors where both greed and arrogance was shown by some of the staff. I also had other co-workers that lead me in the other direction, thank goodness.
I've also shopped at stores where some attitudes were pretty awful. All part of the learning experience. When I show my system to other friends and such I'm careful to point out that it's what I like and not everyone else will. As well, not everyone is willing to invest as much as me and that's OK. I've talked several times on the logarithmic return in dollars spent on about anything "high-end" (cars, hotels, wine etc.) One of my best compliments was when Joe Lee of Joe's Record Paradise heard "Miles in the Sky" on my system and said "I've heard this thousands of times and it sounded better than he ever heard it before." Saying he heard stuff within the recording that he had not previously.
Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak. I've read, that things inanimate have mov'd, And, as with living Souls, have been inform'd, By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound. What then am I? Am I more senseless grown Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe! 'Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs. Anselmo sleeps, and is at Peace; last Night The silent Tomb receiv'd the good Old King; He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg'd Within its cold, but hospitable Bosom. Why am not I at Peace?
It brings out my "American Picker" side when searching and hunting all over for various electronics and LP's . And it brings out my relaxed , blood pressure lowering mellow side when I have a chance to settle down for an hour or more to just listen and that's it.
The gear is 'playing with toys,' the music abides independently of the gear.
At this point, I have realized that if someone neeeds brand X gear to 'finally' gain insight into Cannonball Adderly's solo on some recording, then they still really don't get it.
Look what put the consumers and banks in the boat their in. Keeping up with the Jones and living beyond ones means.
Nearly everyone who wants a nice house and or car wishes to take pride in their show piece. Thats fine. Thats what they wish to place emphasis on. Personally I drive a beater. For me its merely a mode of transportation, nothing more. Granted if I had piles of money beyond my needs Id drive something half way decent. But still Im just not the type to put a whole lot into that.
My apt and furniture is also nothing overly lavish. Fine by me.
Now that half the country borrowed beyond their means to, why, elevate their (pick your feeling) in life, theres a bit of mess.
So yeah, as working class whomever drives past me in their 2011 Audi or whatever that their leasing or making payments on for the next 6+ years, Ill happily sit with my not painfully embarrassing bank account. Fine by me.
So for the small percentage of the population we make up, I can swallow our good and bad traits. I doubt we will ever make up enough to be a tipping point of ANYTHING relevant in the grand scheme of things.
And FTR I think for me and many others, its bettered me as a person. I like nice "art" reproduced well. I pay attention to things in music far more. I have an appreciation for music created by folks many will never know or care about. Its never been just about the gear, for me at least. Every day I try and find new music Ive never heard of before. Its fun and I learn allot. So its been a positive thing for me in life. Granted it can be expense if you let it get outta hand. Which Im trying not to let myself get too close to bordering on ;-)
Before i got into audio i like to set cats on fire in alleys, feed poison bait to neighbrhood dogs. Go down to the smooching lanes and stab lovers.. Mug innocent eldrly foolish enough to be out after dark.. Once i got into music, I just listen to music. Amazing how the crime rates around my area dropped 50 % just from me no longer going out prowling... Though it took awhile for 'friends' to realize they had to be pretty heavily armed to survive a visit to my place. Aside from that.. no problems.
At brief glance of the tech specs, one has to gawk.
Less than 1 degree square wave tilt 20-20 amazing. And no feedback at that INSANE power output.
It kinda made me think though. I remember watching a piece on electric cars. They were talking with a fellow who worked on their insides. He even made the comment about how the amplifier driving the electric motor wasnt all that different from your audio amplifier. They even showed the car amp, it was HUGE. Granted this is a vast generalization. Clearly theres a difference between brute force and brute force with beauty. But it really begs the question. When you can make an entire car with a CRAZY powerful voltage amplifier inside for $40K. How much does it cost to make the same amp with a nice chassis and a circuit with finesse?
I cant answer that, I aint smart enough ;-) but I wonder...
