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Do You Love Music or Do You Love Hi-Fi?

I know a lot of hi-fi enthusiasts who seem to have poor taste in music but can talk all day about their audio gear. I got into the high end audio hobby because of my love for music first and foremost, and this has done a pretty good job in guiding my decisions around what equipment to buy. Don't get me wrong, I Jones really hard on gear, but at the end of the day it's not about the gear but how great the music I love sounds on the gear I buy. I study music and learn all I can to discover new music to enjoy, regardless of the genre, but I am certain that I will not be investing in the latest Jennifer Warnes vinyl re-issues. I also wonder why Mo-Fi issued the first three Foreigner albums on vinyl. Are there really that many hard core audiophiles asking for this? There are so many great recordings that are begging for the high end vinyl treatment, it makes me wonder who these people are making decisions about what to release on these labels? I'm sure the entire Don Henley catalog is coming soon from one of these labels.
OK, I'm done ranting, but I really do want to hear what others think about this. Or is it just me? Is it about the gear or is it about the music for you?
snackeyp
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
4,494 posts
 
Or a person could follow the lead of the Oracles and just declare their system a 'Reference' system.

BTW, for those of you who think you have heard Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons', give this a listen:

Vivaldi
The Four Seasons
Fabio Biondi - violin
Europa Galante
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Tubegroover,

I agree some people overlook the rooms contribution but it is not feasable to move to a better room or improve the room in some cases. It is possible to improve a sub optimal rooms sound by changing your gear to suit the room. That does not necessarily mean they need more expensive gear just more appropriate gear for their room.

Unfortunately it is hard to tell what gear is right without some trial and error. But it is possible to get great sound in a lesser room if you choose well. Will it be as good as a good system in a good room? No, but some people do not have that option.

Sean
dhcod
397 posts
 
I love HiFi. There. I said it. I also love music, but not enough to listen to much of it when I don't have a good HiFi.
peterayer
1,373 posts
 
I listen to music at home and to talk radio in the car. I guess the HiFi has something to do with it. Music is just not as engrossing in the car.
tobes's avatar
tobes
302 posts
 
I think I love hifi because it gets me closer to the music/musicians. That feeling, on some level, of realism - the presence of the musicians etc. I find this connection even more special when listening to musicians who are no longer with us.
Of course it would be nothing without the music itself, but the little cues to realism/presence are what make hifi listening fundamentally different to hearing a tune on the radio.

Getting closer to this palpable presence can become a bit addictive...but if its driven by the enjoyment of music, I can't see anything wrong with that.
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