# You too can be an Audiophile **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 19, 2021, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278 "2021-04-19T02:23:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/61 "2021-06-30T16:33:36Z")
> [@larsvsnapster](#): > > There’s a sound quality curve as well, and I find the audiophile game destroys this. When I’ve made a playlist there’s going to be something sourced from scratchy vinyl or worn analogue tape, and the anomalies add colour and character to the overall experience that I value as important in preserving. I come from the Cage/Tudor school that considers that all sounds heard during playback of a piece of music are part of the musical experience. The audiophile game of removing them to me is like trying to make a convincing chili with no chili powder. They may be trying to remove them, but, unfortunately, the producers are trying to put them back in with their panoply of saturation and distortion plugins! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/62 "2021-06-30T19:47:27Z")
So to sum up, what you heard the first time is what you want to hear. That’s fine, and I understand the idea of overproducing a track. I don’t want to hear Robert Johnson’s Terraplane in 5.1 Dolby, it would be wrong. But a remaster isn’t a crime against humanity, either. As an artist, the option to remix and make the sound what you wanted it to be but couldn’t due to technological limitations is worth consideration, too. We all have experiences of time and place with music, and messing with that offends some people. An analogy is the original Star Wars movies and why finding them is virtually impossible. The films George Lucas wanted to make weren’t possible when he made the first three, but they were later and he made the expanded versions. I grew up with the originals, and I don’t think the expanded versions really added to the story I had already seen. Had I never seen them, I suspect that the extended cuts would have resonated with me just as much. Same goes for the voice over version of Blade Runner. I don’t like the director’s cut nearly as much but only because I was exposed to the original first. Watching it in Atmos is still friggin’ awesome though. ---
**Author:** ![larsvsnapster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@larsvsnapster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsvsnapster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/63 "2021-06-30T23:48:17Z")
Well, remaster doesn’t mean that the remix is part of it. You could just add or subtract 1db out of hearing range and it would be remastered, and I think that goes on a lot more than you think. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/64 "2021-07-01T20:04:26Z")
My apologies for not explicitly defining the difference and you are correct, but so what? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/65 "2021-07-02T03:21:13Z")
So what? SO WHAT??? It’s obvious that the Krell amp easily has the resolution to make the effect of that 1 db apparent in adding air and presence to the performance, while the McIntosh amp struggles to properly create a decent soundstage. Of course, it’s highly dependent on using the proper cables, but that goes without saying. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/66 "2021-07-02T03:23:10Z")
🤣 But, but how will I play my 78s? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/67 "2021-07-02T04:27:19Z")
Between yer knees! ---
**Author:** ![larsvsnapster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@larsvsnapster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsvsnapster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/68 "2021-07-02T20:49:38Z")
So what? well, we have you as an example. Your words indicate you’re more interested in the playback equipment than the music. I on the other hand am glad that I can still hear. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/69 "2021-07-02T21:27:58Z")
> [@larsvsnapster](#): > > I on the other hand am glad that I can still hear. I’m pretty sure there are a few sounds you can’t hear. Especially overhead sound. ---
**Author:** ![larsvsnapster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@larsvsnapster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsvsnapster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/70 "2021-07-02T21:40:20Z")
There’s lots I can’t hear. My upper range stops at 15kHz. Consequently there is no audible difference between a $25k mondo setup and a $65 bookshelf system. Complete waste of money, not to mention buying the same tired, overplayed albums over and over. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/71 "2021-07-02T21:44:01Z")
15kHz is pretty damn good. But let me try to explain. There are four major components to sound: bass, mid-range, treble, and woosh. I think you may be deaf to one of those. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![larsvsnapster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@larsvsnapster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsvsnapster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/72 "2021-07-02T21:48:36Z")
You forgot attack, timbre, and material (stone, skin, wood, metal, etc.). Never mind all the curves I was talking about. But my point is that you spent the money and I saved it. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/73 "2021-07-02T22:12:11Z")
I do admit to being particular about my equipment. For instance, I am a huge fan of the Wilson Audio Alexia speakers, though they are somewhat modest at $58,000. But one likes what one likes. The important thing, though, is properly breaking the speaker in. I have found that I need to initially drive the speakers with a 1 kHz test tone at 25 watts for 90 minutes, and only then does it sound right. For about twenty hours of listening. After that, they go off and I need to send the drivers back to a specialist in Moldova to replace the voice coils. I also find the speakers finished in blue sound the best. Just kidding. I don’t send the drivers to Moldova. I just trash the speakers and buy another set. After all, they are only $58,000. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/74 "2021-07-02T22:14:34Z")
But you do use coat hangers as speaker cables, don’t you? They’re the best! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/75 "2021-07-02T22:16:54Z")
Of course! Although they do severely limit my options on where I place my speakers. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/76 "2021-07-02T22:22:14Z")
You can use several coat hangers in a row. Just connect them with screw joints. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/77 "2021-07-02T22:25:41Z")
Mind. Blown. I never thought about doing that. But trust me that blue speakers sound the best. Miles Davis knew what he was doing when he named that album. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/78 "2021-07-02T22:30:20Z")
Yeah, Joni Mitchell also knew this. QED. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/79 "2021-07-02T23:04:06Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > You can use several coat hangers in a row. Just connect them with screw joints. I tried this. I could hear the difference. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278/80 "2021-07-02T23:08:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I tried this. I could hear the difference. You’re definitely a snob. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-too-can-be-an-audiophile/940278.md?page=5)