Rap music on high-end speakers

Look what I started. But I am glad I did. To bring the worst in Kevziek, since his "Classe" thread, where he spoke volumes about himself. TRASH all things Classe and now Rap without doing enough research and much with prejudice. Stop bragging about your artistic highness already.

Since my response, I see a good discussion coming out on the topic ( although that was not Tru's intention). I say keep it going with intelligent responses (no bitching)like Onhwy61 and Psychicanimal has been providing. I urge Audiogon to sensor responsibly.

Tru:

At the risk of getting slandered myself by someone (or a group of persons) who have elitist stigmas attached to them out there (and I hope and pray that they aren't any on this board), I am kind of like you also. I listen to R&B, Jazz, Fusion, and Rap/Hip-Hop as well, but my tastes in audio equipment is definitely high-end. Even though, I listen to the same type of music you listen to as well, the thought of owning anything made by Technics, Bose, Pioneer (unless it is an Elite model), or Sony (again, unless it is an ES model) is enough to make me cringe, if not make me puke altogether. While I cannot afford any Mark Levinson or Krell gear, I am not going to settle for any mass market crap either. The way I see it is this, if any audio component that calls itself a "high-end" component, then that tells me that THAT component strives to put accuracy and presentation over "tizz, boom, and sizzle" each and every day. The component in question should be able to reproduce the musical piece EXACTLY the way the artist has intended it to be reproduced. It should NOT add anything to it, NOR should it take anything away from it. It should reproduce the piece EXACTLY AS IS. It's all cut and dry when you sit down and think about it. The component in question should be able handle P Diddy, T-Pac, and WuTang just as well as it would handle the Mozart, Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, and the Stones.

And just for the record, I listen to the same stuff you listen to (LL Cool J, Naughty By Nature, 2 Pac, Nortorious B.I.G., P-Diddy (including the stuff he put out when he was addressed as "Puffy"), DMX and Lil Kim), but I do has some Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie (and some other Jazz artists) as well.

And I listen to it on THIS system:

KEF Reference 102 with KUBE Equalizer
Adcom GFA-545 MkII
Adcom GFP-750
Magnum Dynalab FT-101
Pioneer Elite DV-37 (has a surprisingly good audio section)
JVC XL-M509TN
MITerminator 2/MITerminator 3 Interconnects
MITerminator 2 Speaker Cables

I also listen to rap music on a "high-end" audio system, and I see nothing wrong with it. Be true (no pun intended) to yourself. Listen to what you want, and do so on any system you feel like buying and listening to. Any one who cops an "elitist" attitude toward that, then I say, screw them. This is 2002 right now. We're supposed to be way beyond this kind of crap.

--Charles--

Kevziek, I've got the medicine for you: Wednesdays 6:30 PM @ the Buzz (308 W. Erie St.)

Go with an open heart and have fun. Only $5.00 cover.

Kevziek, I hope you are a troll, cause if so you're brilliant.
The way you conflate hatred of the people playing the music with the music itself is the point. Hell, I usually can't stand those car sub woofer systems either.
Anyway, 'Rap' like any other genre isn't monolithic, you have obviously only been exposed to a small slice, and comercial rap is an awful primer. It's market tested to piss you off.
The other thing to keep in mind, and the reason many people can't stand the stuff, is that they're concentrating on the wrong part. Most of it is all about the lyrics. The focus of production is on saying something clever/poignent/funny/abstract/whatever. The beats, while not necessarily an afterthought, may not be given as much attention - just make them funky. Of course there are plenty of acts where the beats bleed in to electronic music territory and are the just as important, or more so.

Tru:

As I look at your system again and again, I would say that I like your amplification, and I don't think you should change that.

But perhaps, maybe you could tell me a little more about the Platinum Audio Reference 2's that you have in your audio system??? As I am not familiar with this speaker system, maybe you can tell me what kind of system this is. Is it a floor standing/full range system??? Or is it a bookshelf/stand mounted system like my KEF Reference 102s are??? And what is the driver complement of the Platinum Reference 2's???? Is this a two way or a three way system??? And in either case, what is the woofer size of the Platinums??? I am asking all of this because if you like the Platinums so much, then why are you so inclined to change them?? Depending on what you tell me about the Platinums, I am inclined to tell you to go ahead and keep them, and just spend your money on a good subwoofer instead. But now, if you have your heart on upgrading the speakers anyway, then I would say that you should look at the Wilson Cubs (like you have stated), and then mate them to a Wilson Subwoofer (if you want to spend the money to do so). Otherwise, if the Wilson Subwoofer is not your cup of tea, then there is always the Velodyne HGS-18. Also, at a risk of opening up another can of worms here, are you planning on upgrading the CD Player anytime soon????

Me??? In order to upgrade the bass response in my system also, then I am looking at either a pair of Aperion Audio SW-8 Powered Subs, or a used REL Strata II. If those two options are not feasible, then I may upgrade my speaker system as well. If I should decide to go down that road, then the speaker system that I have my eyes on would be either a used pair of Vandersteen 2Ci's or a new pair of Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures (with the endcaps finished in cherry or rosewood).

But anyway, look at the options that I have suggested for you, and then tell me what you think.

Thanks........

--Charles--