Audiophiles are those who solve non-problems with too much money

[curiouspeter]

Is this a fair statement?

I have nothing against people who spend money on the economy. People buy $200K mechanical watches when the clock on a cheap Android phone is much more accurate. A tourbillon solves a non-problem, but it is very cool to look at.

 

[fpitas]

To me it's worse than just that. Expensive watches, jewelry, even a trophy wife: none of these are flying under a false flag. They are what they obviously are, and no more. Audiophilia is a big con man game, and the people getting conned are its most vocal disciples.

 

[Peluvius]

It is not an accurate statement. Fairness will depend on perspective. Is it fair that I just bought a piece of audio gear that cost what it would to keep a family in food for a week in many parts of the world (of course not).

Most here are enthusiastic about audio reproduction and you cannot draw any reasonable conclusion on what might constitute "too much" money to any one of us really.

Is a "non-problem" no speakers?

 

[curiouspeter]

Audiophilia is a big con man game, and the people getting conned are its most vocal disciples.

Electronics are rapidly depreciating assets. They need extra bullshit to keep themselves afloat.

 

[curiouspeter]

Is a "non-problem" no speakers?

Insisting on doing something in the analog domain when it can be handled easily and cheaply in the digital domain with software is like solving a non-problem. Speakers (or other transducers) have to be physical and analog.

 

[Peluvius]

Insisting on doing something in the analog domain when it can be handled easily and cheaply in the digital domain with software is like solving a non-problem. Speakers (or other transducers) have to be physical and analog.

You must take into consideration personal preference. This is a hobby to most here so doing it the way we want to is fundamental to the concept. If someone enjoys or better appreciates an analogue approach that is relevant.

 

[dorakeg]

Is this a fair statement?

I have nothing against people who spend money on the economy. People buy $200K mechanical watches when the clock on a cheap Android phone is much more accurate. A tourbillon solves a non-problem, but it is very cool to look at.

Well, it's their money and they are free to do whatever they want with it.

If you want to compare on the watch analogy, well, people could connect a pair of $50 Bluetooth speakers to their phones and get great music. So why do you even need to spend hundreds of even thousands? Not to mention the equipment consume way more power.

To most pple, this is a hobby, personal entertainment. So as long as they are happy with, who are we to tell them what they should or should not do/use/buy?

 

[curiouspeter]

If someone enjoys or better appreciates an analogue approach that is relevant.

True. But it is totally fine to solve non-problems as a hobby. I used tourbillon in fine watches as an example. No matter how precise you can produce a mechanical watch, it will never beat a smartphone that is synchronized to some atomic clock. But it can be a great hobby.

Well, it's their money and they are free to do whatever they want with it.

Exactly! I salute them. I am a hedonist myself.

 

[dorakeg]

True. But it is totally fine to solve non-problems as a hobby. I used tourbillon in fine watches as an example. No matter how precise you can produce a mechanical watch, it will never beat a smartphone that is synchronized to some atomic clock. But it can be a great hobby.


Exactly! I salute them. I am a hedonist myself.

I would really prefer people in this forum to just focus on what we like. Not talk about what they like and whether it make sense to us or not.

 

[kchap]

Is this a fair statement?

I have nothing against people who spend money on the economy. People buy $200K mechanical watches when the clock on a cheap Android phone is much more accurate. A tourbillon solves a non-problem, but it is very cool to look at.

A bit simplistic and slightly tongue in cheek but I like it.

 

[Sal1950]

Is this a fair statement?

No sir, that's an audiophool.
A Audiophile is a person that loves music and attempts to put together the best High Fidelity reproduction system he can afford.
One that recognizes that his system is neither a fashion statement nor a personal wealth exhibit.
But That doesn't exclude him from appreciating and owning very expensive, handsome, AND good measuring gear if he can afford it.
I'd love to have a stack of Dan D'Agostino Progression monoblocks in place of my Adcoms, unfortunately as is often the case with very high
end gear, John Atkinson hasn't found them to measure very well.
Why is it always the chicken-egg thing.???

 

[curiouspeter]

Audiophile is a person that loves music and attempts to put together the best High Fidelity reproduction system he can afford.

The typical audiophile loves the system at least as much as music. There is no problem with that.

I think measurements provide a way for people to stay honest if they choose to. That said, to me, I think features, usability, and industrial design are every bit as important. From standby, I want to stream Roon from my phone and have sound coming out within a few seconds.

If I had unlimited funds, I would probably go the Steinway Lyngdorf route. Their speakers are well-built and they offer custom colors/veneers. RoomPerfect is awesome (I have the TDAI-1120). Again, with unlimited funds, my dream listening room will have huge windows overlooking waves crashing onto rocks. It will definitely need RoomPerfect to fix the acoustics.

 

[Sal1950]

Again, with unlimited funds, my dream listening room will have huge windows overlooking waves crashing onto rocks.

And a college age cutie under each arm.
I'll always remember George Burns after Gracie died.
He knew how to enjoy life.
YUMMM

 

[curiouspeter]

And a college age cutie under each arm.

Won't that change the acoustics of the room?

 

[changster]

This is such a stupid thread.

 

[Cars-N-Cans]

Well, it's their money and they are free to do whatever they want with it.

If you want to compare on the watch analogy, well, people could connect a pair of $50 Bluetooth speakers to their phones and get great music. So why do you even need to spend hundreds of even thousands? Not to mention the equipment consume way more power.

To most pple, this is a hobby, personal entertainment. So as long as they are happy with, who are we to tell them what they should or should not do/use/buy?

The problem with stupid people that have money is eventually they can attain critical mass and the market starts to cater to them (since that is where the money is). At a minimum, it artificially inflates the price of things. Worse is creating an artificial demand for poor designs that are viewed as somehow "better" and desirable, and creating market pressures that force otherwise good products out of the market that don't conform to established orthodoxy. Great example is LPs. Amazing technology that could surpass things like reel-to-reel and other formats in terms of sound quality... back in the late 70's. With the advent of digital its now thoroughly obsolete, but records keep selling and NEW high-end turn-tables continue to be made, many of which are complete s*** performance-wise compared to old-school Japanese ones that sold for a tiny fraction of the cost in the 80's. Same goes with tubes. They are a complete joke compared to transistors and SOTA switching technology in terms of linearity. But people keep buying them because they are a e s t h e t i c and they don't realize distortion is harder to hear than you think. Because who doesn't want some space heaters that progressively wear out like a crappy old lightbulb? Its quite absurd in the grand scheme of things. It would be one thing if people did this stuff knowing it was inferior, but still want to keep a technology alive or have a physical copy of something, which there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing. But no, they literally think its better than digital and solid state which just buries everything subjectivist-audiophile in terms of performance.

 

[curiouspeter]

Same goes with tubes. They are a complete joke compared to transistors and SOTA switching technology in terms of linearity.

People are attached to colorations that can be more easily reproduced with DSP. But they somehow think using software is like cheating.

 

[MattHooper]

Audiophiles are a bit of a self-hating group, ain't they? ;-)

 

[curiouspeter]

Audiophiles are a bit of a self-hating group, ain't they? ;-)

Some of us are misanthropes.

 

[Sal1950]

Audiophiles are a bit of a self-hating group, ain't they? ;-)

I love myself.
Long and often.