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It's All in Your Head

I commented in an earlier thread that the emphasis on components, cables and room treatments obscures the fact that the music all happens in your head.

This is from John Atkinson at RMAF 2012 reported on Stereophile:

"Stereophile editor John Atkinson used everything from a drumstick to a cowbell, both sounded “live” and played back on the seminar room’s stereo system, to convey the message: “Nothing is real. How the recording art affects what you think you hear!” As John proceeded to point out that the brain combines information from separate left and right loudspeakers into a single stereo image..."

"I showed that it is a fallacy to assume that “the absolute sound of live music in a real acoustic space” resides in the bits, pits, or grooves, even when such a live event existed. Making recordings is an art, not a science and there may only be a coincidental resemblance between what is presented to the listener and the sound of musicians playing live, even when all concerned with making the recording were trying to be as honest as possible. Even the fundamental decision of what microphone to use moves the recorded sound a long way from reality..."

What we aim for when we put an audio system together is a pleasing facsimile of the original musical performance that happened in a studio or at a live venue. But, ultimately, the music's all in your head. It sounds like it's in the room because that's the way our brain makes it seem. Music is essentially a spiritual experience mediated by the brain.
Systems that are not in the "best" category may reproduce music in a way that moves us but the "best" systems have the ability to involve us on even deeper emotional and spiritual levels.

Getting really close to the essence of the performance means we need "special" gear. That's what "gear chasing" is all about -- trying to get closer to the essence of the performance on deeper and more satisfying levels. "Gear chasing" that involves trying to reproduce the actual performance is an illusory pursuit. Many audiophiles have observed that the "best" systems are not necessarily the most expensive ones. This has also been my experience. But it will still take quite a bit of cash to put together a system that enters the realm of the "best".

All of the above is IMO, of course.
sabai
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
There are needs and there are wants. Modern marketing has made a science out of transforming peoples' wants into needs and that is the bedrock of consumerist culture. Most audiophiles already have fairly nice systems and as such their needs have be met. The want of a better and better system is pure want primarily driven by magazines, on-line forums and a keepin' up with the Joneses mentality. It's no different than a fashionista buying her 61st pair of designer shoes. But then again maybe she's on a spiritual quest?

If I were to rank the evil behaviors that human do, genocide would be #1. Consumerism would come in somewhere behind telling small children there's no Santa Claus but ahead of letting your husband go to work with "ring around the collar".

If you object to the addiction language then feel free to substitute the lexicon of OCD, or better yet "blame it on the ADD" and just sail.
minorl
740 posts
 
Onhwy61: I think the only thing you said in your latest post that I may disagree with is that just because a person has a fairly nice system does not necessary mean that their needs have been met. I started out with a fairly nice system a long time ago, but it wasn't quite "there" yet for me. had nothing to do with being in the amp of the month club where I absolutely had to have the latest and greatest. It had to do with the sound wan't quite there, my budget at the time, kids in school, mortgage, etc. Also, one thinks that when you purchase something and take it home that it will be right. most times, unless you take it home and demo it first, you really have no idea if it is right. so, you are correct to an extent, consumerism, amp of the month club, etc. drives many people. But, some of us just want to sit and listen and enjoy without listener's fatique, the empty feeling that something is just not right with the sound.

enjoy
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Minorl,
I agree with you here. We have to make a distinction between the music lovers who feel things are not where they want them to be regarding the sonic attributes of their system, and those who chase after novelty for novelty sake.
mapman's avatar
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mapman
15,679 posts
 
BTW, this is a hobby whose main purpose is entertainment, so there is nothing wrong with spinning through gear, tweaks, etc. regularly if that is part of the enjoyment factor and budgets enable.

The problem scenario is when one who is a music lover that just wants to be able to enjoy listening cannot get off the equipment "merry go round". The equipment remains a barrier for whatever reason no matter what. I empathize with people in this situation! If it were me, I would seek out someone local with good ears that one trusts to see if some additional expertise can help remedy the situation. Or if you can afford it, rather than buy more gear, hire an acclaimed Jim Smith-like expert/consultant to come in and help with solving the problem.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
of you don't have a head(brain), you can't listen to music.

regardless, of the factors that affect sound, the "nervous" system is the mediator to what you perceive.

as i said, there can be two totally different perceptions of the same event
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