'Audiosoph' or 'Audiophile': which are you?

[tohni]

Recently, I came across a thread by notorious Patrick82. He said that the Valhalla cable (along with his other components) he used made him see the "truth in music". That's when I started asking myself: how closely do you really listen do music, do you consume IT, or do you let it consume YOU (in a positive way)? I hardly find myself really kicking back and getting lost in the music. Rather I listen to it by the way.

- Now, what are you: audio-phile ('philia' meaning, e.g., 'affinity to'), i.e. someone 'who likes music', no matter how much, or audio-soph ('sophia' meaning 'wisdom' or 'truth'), i.e. someone striving for truth in (or 'through' or 'as') music? (Schppenhauer sound familiar?)

I love music; but I also love fancy technical stuff - and I guess sometimes one love gets the better of the other (BTW, I feel I spend more time on here reading than actually listening to music).

 

[NiceCans]

I simply strive for eargasms

which does that make me?

 

[Kirosia]

First rule of head-fi - Never take in anything Patrick says

 

[steviebee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCans /img/forum/go_quote.gif I simply strive for eargasms

You know of the crossword clue given The Times or Sunday Times some years ago, then?

"Hark! Sexual deviancy?" (5,2,4,4)*

[size=xx-small]* prick up your ears[/size]

[size=xx-small](OK, OK, shoot me........)[/size]

 

[tohni]

Quote:

First rule of head-fi - Never take in anything Patrick says

I know that; still I think there is some truth to it. (Oh, no pun intended...

)

Quote:

I simply strive for eargasms which does that make me?

well, honestly, I don't know. But that's not what I was asking. I wanted to know if you sometimes find yourself listening to music casually, without paying proper attention. When I eat while watching tv, I think I am distracted and cannot appreciate the taste fully. If, however, you always strive for 'eargasms', and to you upgrading/equipment is in no way an end in itself but the means to achieve that goal (i.e. eargasms), then I would say you are an Audio-PhD. Honestly, though, I don't think you can do that all the time.
Just wanted to know if others feel the way I do: when you really take your time for listening, i.e. you lie or sit down comfortably, close your eyes and let the music "take control" (sounds like a line stolen from an early 90s dance song), you experience another side of the music, some 'truth' to it. This you probably won't do when you listen to music through your K1000s while surfing the web. Or do you?

 

[nick_charles]

a Music Lover, I happen to have quite a lot of music hardware, compared to the average punter but it is only there to play music and it is not what could be called expensive. I love buying old kit since it is often very good and can be picked up for pennies

 

[finbad]

LOL, further research will evidence Pat82 doesn't even "Get" music or the thrill of it as in being emotionally drawn in...

But as Kirosia says, Pat just likes to pull our collective leg as it were, in not getting music, especially so with the gear he has...

But more to your point, there is the aforementioned type, I guess, although few and far between, as i can't imagine anyone not "getting music" and having a love of it on their own terms and with whatever gear is used for its reproduction.

However, there is music, and then there are degrees of presentations that for most make it so much more real, alive and moreso emotional with higher resolution gear, IME...

My own evolution which follows my gear upgrades has yeilded with each step along the way a more fully emersion into the performance by the artist, at once more powerful yet delicate in its presentation and my own experience and appreciation of the event!

I do find it difficult to listen on lesser gear now, so I do so only as background music and its enjoyable for what its worth, harmonic entertainment.

However, listening to the instruments and the emotional intent of most artist does in fact take me on an altered state of conciousness of being one with the music played, a looking into the music and/or being there or them here, that is nearly a mystical and magical experience.

So, I for one have experienced the seemingly magical transportation better reproduction gears do in fact make for ones music appreciation in this "seeing into" the music played.

That is the point of my signature...

Again more to your point, the degree to which I listen as you say, cannot be done all of the time, IMO&E. Concentrated listening is one of the many variables I employ in changing up my music listening habits. Switching out components is another Ie. 'phones or my stereo rig, all of it enjoyable sometimes, magical... Yes, there is an interactive component to my listening as well as a psychological aspect brought to the hobby!

 

[Contrastique]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tohni /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...But that's not what I was asking. I wanted to know if you sometimes find yourself listening to music casually, without paying proper attention...

Because of that sentence and combined with your op I'm not sure what to answer.

I think Hi-Finthen describes it pretty properly, at least for me.
I can lay down with my eyes closed and really "get into" the music.
I can also sit and work while enjoying my music but it's more of a background thing although the moments where it gets me and I have to listen properly for a while are countless during those sessions

During dinner or cooking music is always playing but again more a background thingy.
When going out, well, it's the music that keeps me going. A whole different enjoying with soundqual most of the time not being top notch but it's such a deep feeling I would never want to miss that.

The gear part...also very important in a way as good, nice-to your-ears-gear can add that bit of "extra", or make you hear more of what there is to a recording and provides you with more to enjoy, can sweep you away, can blow your mind with how good stuff can sound.

So, I don't know what that makes me, I'll just keep it at MusicLover

 

[Fitz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia /img/forum/go_quote.gif First rule of head-fi - Never take in anything Patrick says

Second rule of head-fi - Never take anything Kirosia offers you to drink, especially when alone

 

[tohni]

Quote:

especially when alone

Did he do something to you?

The title is not that important. I love music, still I find that I hardly take the time to get into music; more often I just 'use' it. I know I can get into it, I just don't do it very often. And I feel that is, well - wrong. - Basically, how often and for how long do you listen to music CLOSELY per day (on average)? Personally, it feels like maybe a few hours - per week. Guess it requires a lot of time/relaxation/preparation to do it.

 

[NiceCans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tohni /img/forum/go_quote.gif Did he do something to you? The title is not that important. I love music, still I find that I hardly take the time to get into music; more often I just 'use' it. I know I can get into it, I just don't do it very often. And I feel that is, well - wrong. - Basically, how often and for how long do you listen to music CLOSELY per day (on average)? Personally, it feels like maybe a few hours - per week. Guess it requires a lot of time/relaxation/preparation to do it.

For me it depends on the time and place and what else I may be doing, so yes I do at times merely 'use' music. Often when this is the case the music can reach out and grab me away from the 'primary task' and I will find myself immersed.

I do try to also make time for dedicated listening and am usually sucessful.

Regarding the original question, I have enough labels already so I will pass

 

[evilking]

If I can't give my full attention to the music then I'm most likely in a situation where I shouldn't be listening to music or I would be more effective in that activity without music...


I am Audio-devotee.

EK

 

[tohni]

Like the idea. However, often I do something while listening to music.

What I asked myself is basically this: shouldn't I spend some more time listening to music rather than post crap on the forum or think about which HPs to get? I feel it gets in the way of why I came here in the first place, the music. - Wait, that is paradoxical: I am writing how about how useless writing is (compared to enyoing music)?

 

[HiWire]

I prefer listening to live music. What does that make me?

 

[analogbox]

At the moment, I'm an audiosoph. But as soon as I find two headphones that I'm perfectly happy with, and an adequate amp to drive it, I'll return back to being a musicphile that I was and just enjoy my music collection and not worry about any equipments or source. I've already found one so I'm getting there.