From: chrisc@gold.gvg.tek.com (Chris Christensen)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Blind Listening
Date: 15 Apr 92 21:31:32 GMT
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA

In article <1992Apr15.053251.7193@comp.vuw.ac.nz> brian@comp.vuw.ac.nz 
(Brian Boutel) writes:
>In article <11840012@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM>, garyr@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Gary Rosen) writes:

>|> As a non-audiophile musician, I can't help gloating a bit. None of the
>|> musicians I know are audiophiles; they'd rather spend any spare cash on
>|> MUSIC (i.e. recordings) rather than overpriced equipment.

>Do you also gloat a bit when people choose to spend money on overpriced cars 
>when they could be buying more gas instead? Or on overpriced cameras when 
>they could be buying more film?

Someone tried to pull this one off a while ago.  There is no parellel
between Audio and Cars.

If someone wants to own and operate an "overpriced" car than so be it.
If it's a really nice car than don't rag on me if i'm jealous!  And I
would LOVE to have a great "overpriced" camera, I know how to use that
too!

>Isn't gloating ("gazing exultingly, esp. with a wicked or malicious joy") 
>rather unpleasant behaviour, particularly when it's in reaction to legitimate
>consumer choice? 

The poster (whom you are intent on humiliating) chose poor judgement,
a poor choice of words as well as the wrong forum to express a
gloating at the facts!

>Surely it's reasonable to want to listen to good recordings on good equipment,
>and if that involves a tradeoff between quality of equipment and quantity of
>recordings, then that's just a decision that the person with the limited budget
>has to make. I can't see any justification for criticising anyone for making 
>that decision any way they like.

It is reasonable to listen to good recordings on good equipment.  Your
judgement of good equipment is effected by your Audiophillia.

I don't criticize you for having an unlimited budget, just don't
criticize me for doing the best I can.  There always must be a budget
or the project will never be compleated.

What is it like to have an unlimited budget?

>I, for one, find the _sounds_ of music particularly important. I'm interested 
>in early music and prefer "original instrument" performances. On inadequate
>equipment, much of the special quality of these recordings can be lost. Of
>course, most of the other aspects of the music come through, and that is why, I
>imagine, that many musicians are happy with cheaper audio components. For
>_them_, the extra quality isn't worth the extra cost. I want that
>extra dimension to the music, and so I have to spend more money to get it. 
>What's gloatworthy about that?

You are putting your listening preferences ABOVE that of the musicians
preferences.  You are being insulting when you state that musicians
are happy with "cheeper audio components" You further insult musicians
by stating that to _them_ the extra quality isn't worth the extra
cost!

Why should we try and produce the best product, with fine instruments
so you can demean us with such statements.

I will not demean you for spending vast ammounts of money to satsfy
your craving for the ultimate sound so don't criticize me if a less
expensive piece of equipment is capable of reproducing MY instrument
with accuracy that pleases ME!  You see I can directly compare the
result!  You can't.

This is not a flame to the world of Audiophillia. There are a lot of
sensitive, clear hearing and well meaning audiophiles. 

(If you think that I am flaming you, you should have seen what I
edited!)

-- 
Chris Christensen                  The opinions I express are my own,
chrisc@gold.gvg.tek.com            and sometimes they are wrong!
916-478-3419 FAX 916-478-3887      After all, I AM only human.