Audio Nation, it's a state of mind

It's a small island, populated by audiophiles, but please don't look down on us for our devotion to good sound.

Yes, it might seem a little strange to outsiders, but we like to hear music the way the producers and musicians did when they recorded it. If they put a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears into creating it, it might be worth listening to. Sure, you can play and enjoy music over freebie headphones or $20 computer speakers, just don't kid yourself that you're hearing everything, or more important, the emotion that went into the music.

Computer speakers vs. the real thing.

(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)

But don't get the wrong idea, we're not elitists, we just place a higher priority on listening than most people. That is, we listen, most don't. Sure, they have music on all the time, as background sound while they work, drive, exercise, read, etc, but never just listen. For those that do occasionally listen, well, I'd say they're audiophiles. So you see, it's a state of mind. Listening, appreciating music should be enough, if it's great music why relegate it to the background?

Being an audiophile doesn't mean you're into vinyl, vacuum tubes, or that you're made of money. No, we audiophiles just love the sound of music. So if you listen please join us on the island and whatever your budget, get better sounding gear.

The speaker on the right is an Usher S-520 ($400/pair). It's 12 inches high; the small round speaker came with my old iMac.

[filmfan214]

I may not have any audiophile-level equipment, but I'm not hatin' either.

Steve, what speaker is that on the right? I know I've seen it before. Would it be your favorite desktop speaker? I remember reading about Audio Engine's A2 before.

[minimalist]

It?s refreshing to see a positive presentation of audiophiles and their passions. So many times audiophile discussion boards end up sounding like a bunch of bitter old men who are always complaining about ?these kids today? and make it seem like the sky is falling. And how inviting is THAT is to a young person interested in getting better sound out of their system?

I?ve always thought the cause of good sound is better served with honey than with vinegar. Instead of lashing out at iPods or whatever is the popular medium of the day with contempt it?s so much more productive to encourage people to build on what they have to make it better, step by step. Got an iPod? Try these headphones and see how much more you can get out it. Using computer speakers to listen to iTunes? Here are some great speakers that cost just a bit more but are light years ahead of the ones that came with your PC. Will these people ever start buying 2000 dollar pre-amps? Probably not. But a rising tide lifts all boats, right?

I?m a reluctant ?audiophile? in that I value good sounding systems but I also embrace the flexibility of new technology. I buy entry level audiophile equipment yet I stream high bit-rate music to these systems from my Mac and control all of it with my iPhone and I think it sounds pretty darn good. Maybe not Martin Logan perfect but its light years ahead of a pair of computer speakers. I am sure there are lots of readers out there like me who are in the middle ground. I?d love to see this blog offer more hints, techniques and equipment reviews for people like me who want good sound but aren?t willing to drop thousands to get it.

[alegr]

"Will these people ever start buying 2000 dollar pre-amps?" Are you kidding? Who needs a preamp when all your source is digital?

[alien_brain]

Greatly put!
I have to agree with you completely. Better sound Does come at a cost ..
Some might say it's a crave, some might say its obsession..
but baiscally I would compare it to stimulation of any other senses (good food, good smell, comfort) .

[alegr]

Steve,

I'm confused. Which one of those puctured contraptions is a computer speaker, and which is a real thing? What's actual size of those? 5cm or 50 cm?