Do audiophiles only listen to special music?

[@georgeradulescu7175]

There is a difference between listening to music and listening to your gear. A lot of people write off certain recordings because they don't sound how they would like. I think that's their loss. Old or imperfect recordings still hold a lot of detail and they are just as delightful to listen to. I'd like to think they're not worse, they're just different.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

You are so right. Listening to only audiophile approved music is both limiting and sad. And many do it all the time. Half the stuff I grew up with would never pass audiophile standards but who cares? There’s a huge emotional connection there and so I play and enjoy it.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

To many sadly listen to their gear and not music. Pretty sad but oh well….

[@ThatGuy2042_]

The recording imperfections tell a story. What mics they had, what room they were in, what desk it went through. It all conveys a moment in time in a specific studio.

[@scottyo64]

Much the same here, i use certain tracks to show off the system but I will listen to music I like whether or not its a good recording

[@OldTooly]

I solved this problem for myself by building a system which can be modified on the fly both physically and electronically to suit my personal taste of the moment or be a better match for a specific recording. I attempt to achieve this without using EQ with the exception of a little bass curve on occasion. By selecting which speakers to use, their crossover points and relative volumes, the final sound characteristics can be quite different. After 50+ years of audio work I never came up with a one system fits all design. This is my current solution to the problem and I'm having a really good time with it. Particularly with live rock concert recordings and symphony recordings both full orchestra as well as chamber ensembles . Here's one more fact this experiment has taught me. Those audiophile jazz recordings and vocal tracks always sound best with just 2 smaller speakers with a breath of sub woofer in a near field placement. And it's so nice to just press a few buttons and have only that for those late night listening sessions. What an incredible hobby/lifestyle this is.

[@markwilson5262]

a hell of a lot of these people who find lots or most music poor quality or thin sounding usually dont have subwoofers or true full range speakers this is essential

[@royrice6060]

Whether vinyl or CD, I have both, 60’s hits were just not recorded well. It’s hard to pull out clean bass when it’s just not there! 👍👍👍

[@joeblack8915]

The way they were recorded and the equipment they were recorded on gives them the sound they have - the thing that makes them what they are and defines the era in which they were recorded. It gives them an atmosphere that could not be recreated on modern equipment. Why is it that people can't seem to understand such basic things about music, especially music recorded from past eras? I've listened to cleaned up recordings on CD of old music - an example being Glenn Miller's 'Moonlight Serenade' - and yet it can come nowhere near to recreating the atmosphere of the recording when played on an original 78rpm shellac record using an old valve record player. If you can't understand what I'm trying to say, then you just don't understand music from past eras, and why it's the feel and sound of it that's important, not some pre-conceived idea of what constitutes audio perfection. All this audiophile bullshit is just nonsense. Spending stupid amounts of money on equipment, just because it has a high price tag and a pretentious name, and because some 'expert' tells you how wonderful it is by spouting a load of technical twaddle at you? Just listen to music and enjoy it. You don't need all this stuff, which is merely designed to part fools from their money.

[@johnholmes912]

Some 60's recordings were awful, others were absolutely glorious. In fact the great recordings of the late 50s and the 60s were better sound quality than most of to-day's recordings

[@coyotecirclestudio9611]

I heard a funny comment I like: Music lovers use the system to listen to the music. Audiophiles use the music to listen to the system.

[@jackturtle131]

Thank you so much for your play list Paul. There are some beauty's in there mate. Regards Jack - Australia

[@tylee5291]

As an adult, I've gone back and have listened to music that I've grown up with. My dad's system (my then reference) was a Gerrard Turntable, Scott Stereo master tube amplifier and a pair of Seeburg Discotheque speakers with a horn and two 15" woofers. For me, the gear had to reproduce whatever I thought it should make music that I listen to on the regular sound best. I don't necessarily think acquiring "audiophile" music is my preference to determine how good my system sounds. It's great for hearing how fantastic your system can be, but where's the fun in that? I've had more fun listening to old stuff I grew up with and actually hearing stuff and having that, "WHOA...never heard THAT before" moment than going, "wow, you can really hear how well the midrange speakers handle that glockenspiel or the breath from that vocalist". Everytime I listen to my music on my system and have that "WHOA" moment, I add that song to my "speaker listening" music list. When I audition a system, I use that music....not necessarily "Audiophile" music. There were some fantastic recording engineers back then who deserve to have their records to be considered as Audiophile recordings. Have fun listening to that.

[@RennieAsh]

A good recording helps, but if you enjoy music for its emotional engagement then the quality doesn't always matter. If the audiophile recording doesn't engage emotionally, then it had better be good technically lol

[@marcbegine]

You're so right Paul, it took me 58 years to get quite close to Nirvana (+/- 75%). I do agree that "all" music should sound "good" (depending on setup)

[@amirkhalid5449]

Once when I was still a journalist, a colleague who wrote for the hi-fi section advised me against buying a compilation of Woody Guthrie recordings. The primitive audio would be unlistenable, he said, and I would hate it. The audio was indeed not great; but the music is iconically American, and I got to hear it the way Woody's audience heard it. It is not that the point of music is achieving hi-fi. The point of hi-fi is to convey the _music_.

[@jasomkovac9115]

True, I've always been more interested in the system sounding live. Even though I know it's studio. Couple musicians I knew would come over(not together) , and if I was playing folk on the player would come running in to see who was playing. When they saw it was a record would start to tell me how this or that shoild be adjusted etc. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to pick out diff things, but that's not what it's all about. Imo.

[@jamiehess4211]

Some of the most important and influential recordings in American history sound very rough, because of the era in which they were recorded. A few examples: Robert Johnson's blues, Carter family country and gospel and Harry Amity's Anthology of American Folk Music (1920s-1936). Some others were recorded roughly on purpose (e.g. Nebraska by Springsteen-1982).

[@PSA78]

I walked in to listen to new speakers, I told them my budget and they showed me a couple of different ones, and for point of reference they played cheaper speakers to demonstrate the difference. Well to their surprise I liked the cheaper speakers, I realized that the music with often really bad recordings that I listen to would have been obnoxious on the higher priced ones. I enjoyed the cheaper speakers for +10 years, every day, and they are still "as bad". 😂 I'm in it for the music. 🎶

[@stimpy1226]

It’s all in the listeners perception. If you like the sound then these are the right speakers for your system. Simple as that.

[@PSA78]

@@stimpy1226 Yes, though I later realized that I was listening to speakers "built to sell" and it's possible to have decent sound quality without them sounding obnoxious. 😂

[@khoi83]

You gonna like CheapAudioMan :) 😀

[@Theupgradeguy]

Yes, because 'lesser' quality speakers(and gear) have lower resolution, its like defocusing a lens to hide blemishes in the picture. Same goes for audio. BTW Paul, I like those 'old man' speakers.

[@PSA78]

@@Theupgradeguy That is also true, though I now believe that you can have good resolution as long as the frequency response is as it should be.

[@Megellin]

I do the same! I found with some adjustments using very selective crossovers, high end preamps, and advanced dsp you can get most stuff to sound very reasonable, but there is a difference between a audiophile grade recording and something that isn't, but I find it still very enjoyable to listen to most the things I like regardless of if they were audiophile grade or not on my system!

[@tomthompson7400]

Sometimes I actually wonder if audiophiles remember to listen to the music at all , and not get too absorbed by the sound they are hearing.

[@stimpy1226]

I finally stopped and got off the merry-go-round and just enjoying music now. It’s not that hard to cherry pick recordings if you read reviews in the absolute sound in other places about certain recordings you can be pretty sure that you’re getting something excellent. You can build your collection just by doing your homework and be very happy.

[@PSA78]

Exactly, some seem to listen to the system and not the music. 👍

[@billsoutherland5499]

Sometimes I lister to my system and sometimes I listen to my music. Other times, I do both!

[@SpyderTracks]

@@stimpy1226 this, so this, I spend a lot of time researching and over a few years have found the usual labels and series that I always enjoy and usually collect those. There only one copy in my collection that I don't actually like, but it was a knee jerk buy on a new album without knowing if it was any good or not. But SQ wise, I adore my entire collection, absolutely love it. I rarely replay an album within a year, save for 2 or 3 favorites

[@stimpy1226]

@@SpyderTracks sounds like you’re doing the right thing Spider Tracks. I owns several thousand CDs that are PCM and many many of them sound as good as DSD In many ways to my ears. That is not saying that a great DSD recording is not superior to my PCM’s but I am totally satisfied with what I have right now.

[@Andrewatnanz]

I always joke and say that audiophiles listen to equipment.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Its no joke….

[@gregoriokakilala5734]

Thank u for sharing the PS audio playlist on Qobuz. Listening right now.

[@WWeiss-nv5vz]

I like music that demonstrates the full frequency spectrum that any good system should be able to reproduce. This is usually brass or synth - cutting highs to again the lowest notes on a synth, kick drum, or kettle drums. If anyone wants some specific examples - respond.

[@BenJohnsonyo]

Please

[@WWeiss-nv5vz]

@@BenJohnsonyo Chris Botti- You will need a subwoofer or excellent floor standers to get the bass right. Trumpet should be at 90dB. The right speakers, you are in the fifth row! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zniyi51ulNGqgqM Weather Report, I am a drummer, so I listen for the crispness of the percussion at the beginning of the track , when the electric keyboard comes in, it should be loud and crystal clear. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGS9lXScir6dbdE

[@colanitower]

The centerpiece of my stereo system is not the system but the collection of tracks I love the most. Quality of the system is important too but comes second. It's fun to discover more tracks that qualify for the collection of best loved tracks and then to get the best playback quality for the selected tracks.

[@colanitower]

@@ElectronicMusicUnderground Haha. In my high school years in the '70s we often went to a dancing where a classmate was DJ on Fridays. He had the rare gift of selecting relatively unknown music and yet keeping the dance floor full & going for hours on end. A number of tracks from back then are in my favorite tracks collection to this day.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

Personally …I have set up my system with your help ( bought the book and the CD 💿 ) and now I look 👀 for QUALITY MUSIC 🎶 of All genres and re-recorded older music streaming Apple Music and have the best of both worlds 🌏 and I am happy as a clam 😁🤗😍😍😍

[@gnoter2]

During my humble beginnings, I followed a mentor of sorts, to hone my interest & knowledge of music I knew not much about, to open my ears/mind. I also play/perform/collect music genre's to form a collection to listen to. I followed HP of TAS for years. Followed my own tastes, discovered others suggestions (reviews) obviously liked them, expanded from those & have my preferences. Buy gear I like/enjoy play it back to hearts content!

[@guystpierrecomposer]

It is exactly why I think a good eq is way more important than fancy cables on a good system. Almost any recording from 70´s will lack bass and a lot of pop music is to bright, etc. A very good four bands eq like the one on Mojo 2 can "fix" a lot of that without destroying the feel of the music. The standard bass/treble on most integrated amp is not good enough for me and very high end system won't fix that either because the problem come from the source. ( qobuz won't fix that )

[@gitmobob6266]

I own 4 or 5 records that I use when auditioning new gear. They are very well recorded and I know them well and really like them. It would never occur to me to not listen to a piece of music that I want to hear because it is not audiophile grade. There are recordings that are just so bad as to be unlistenable but I like the music so I will only play it as background music.

[@traildoggy]

The most awesome stereo I ever saw to that point (this was 1970s) was owned by someone who listened a lot to these insanely realistic stereo demo records of ambient environments, footsteps crossing the room, police sirens, bombing raids and other special effects. He did listen to music, but when it was time to show off the system it was straight to the Demo tracks.

[@mysock351C]

Glad to see I’m not the only lunatic who does that… I have a spatial two-channel floor system and since it’s hooked to a PC and that is one of my guilty pleasures of owning it. Since it can reproduce the actual acoustic sound field with a good mic it has startling immersion and realism. My last job was next to a rail yard and this recording makes it sound like I’m out standing next to one of the locomotives. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH7SeoNuZ9NpoJI The one thing it does not capture is the SPL levels of an EMD. Wow those things are loud in real life when you are next to them. Pretty much any conventional speaker would spontaneously combust before it even got close.

[@jonpatrick66]

I really enjoyed turning up live drag racing events when the dragster takes off down the track it would rattle my windows and shake the house! What a blast!

[@rupe53]

@@mysock351C Was at a trade show with a buddy several decades ago where I was walking down a hall and we both looked at each other and said, "are we really that close to the train station?" (we're both train nuts too) Then we heard / felt it again and went to discover where the sound was coming from. Off in a conference room was a guy doing a demo of rail yard sounds through a set of cabinets about the size of a modern kitchen fridge. Just as we walked in you could feel the chugs of a steam locomotive give way to track / wheel squeal. We both did a double take. The windows were closed and we were still a mile away from the station. Absolutely amazing sound quality!

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

Most basic systems would pick up a stereo effect, its the quality, depth & musicality & placement of sound I would go for on a reasonably priced system.

[@joz411no8]

I struggled with that some time ago. There was music that I’d loved for years and when playing it on my now much more revealing system, I found quite a bit average-sounding. For that music, I tend to just keep the volume lower. While some recordings may fall short of the “audiophile” categorization, others can really reveal how little engineers thought of the music ever being listened to on anything better than $20 earbuds. That can honestly be unlistenable, so I can’t completely blame hi fi enthusiasts completely, for being unforgiving.

[@leokuiper2593]

@@Wizardofgosz I bet you never listened to a revealing system, otherwise you would know the difference. Even as you state the same notes are played, they don’t necessarily sound the same. Music isn’t just a bunch of notes and yes, there are subtleties that a revealing system let you hear that you don’t hear on a lesser system. Then there is something that’s called soundstage, instrument layering, center imagine, channel separation, timing, timbre, etc. Not every system reproduce these aspects the same. Some do it better then others. You come over very foolish as you say every system reveals the same. To magnify the difference in how a speaker reveals sound compare a $20 dollar speaker set with a full range speaker set that plays from roughly 20hz-20khz and tell me then if the last reveals much more in the notes then the first. If you don’t know what you talk about you better stay quiet.

[@leokuiper2593]

@@Wizardofgosz A system testing neutral doesn’t mean it’s great and certainly not saying it will test the same in your room or how you placed them in your room. A system can test perfectly flat and have a total lack of engagement or prat. How do you know your system measures great? You took the measurements yourself or did the manufacturers of the different components? If the manufacturers did, how do you know the system measures well in the pairing you compiled?. If you did the measurements, are you an expert taking measurements? Do you know how to read measurements? If you tell me soundstage doesn’t exist that tells me enough. You don’t have a system that’s able to produce a soundstage or the way you set it up in your room doesn’t bring it out or you have untrained ears that don’t know how to recognise soundstage. Nobody who knows a bit about audio gear will take your words serious. By your attitude I would say you are just somebody who doesn’t know what you are talking about, but you want to pretend that you do. You better go back to class and learn something buddy, like this you won’t impress anybody that has a little bit of knowledge. In matter of fact it makes you look very dumb!

[@leokuiper2593]

@@Wizardofgosz Great specs of gear doesn’t guarantee great fidelity. Anybody with knowledge can tell you that. Great sound have many variables you need to fulfil. Specs are just a guideline, but doesn’t say anything about how it will sound and certainly not in a pairing with numerous other components. Even when you have a great sounding system, it will still sounds shit with a crappy source. That great system won’t sound great if not properly set up in a room or a room with poor acoustics. Again you just make yourself look dumb, because you don’t have the knowledge to talk with the adults. Go back to class and have an education. If you want to talk with the big boys, behave modestly and try to learn something.

[@leokuiper2593]

@@Wizardofgosz A recording engineer huh, guess you are responsible for all the crap recordings coming out. Measurements are real and even important for people who design audio gear, if properly used a great tool. But every well known engineer who designs audio gear will tell you it is just a tool to work with. In the end listening test will overrule measurements, because measuring well doesn’t mean it sounds good. If you have a speaker that has great specs with a frequency range from 20hz-50khz it won’t tell you it will sound good. Maybe the cabinet is producing ringing or vibrations. The crossover can be crap and cause bad time alignment between the different drivers. The drivers ca have a broad frequency spectrum, but doesn’t sound organic of pleasing. Specs an measurements say nothing about how it will sound.

[@leokuiper2593]

@@Wizardofgosz just search for the interviews with a guy like Andrew Jones, one of the most famous designers of audio speakers. Listen what he will tell you about measurements and specs and sound quality and try to learn something. You can find it here on KZbin as well of many other interviews of other wel respected designers of audio equipment.

[@dhpbear2]

1:40 Are those PS speakers?

[@graxjpg]

Bands like Hatfield and the north, egg, gong, Steve hillage, all have absolutely incredible recordings. I absolutely love this stuff, as a music lover, and a recording nerd!

[@KeysBR]

Very cool to find a Canterbury Scene fan audiophile! Just starting the audiophile hobby myself, being a vintage keyboard nerd before.

[@graxjpg]

@@KeysBR my choices as an audiophile will always be in the interest of getting me more “inside” those records I love so much! Zappa too, he was a huge nerd as well and his records that he made himself are made really excellent in every aspect.

[@TheNoonski]

I think instead of elevating your system to overcome less sounding recordings. Maybe it should be downgraded. My standard needle is a nude elliptical and I'm planning to get an easily swappable, lowest end conical one. That should round off the more revealing high end system right? I recently bought an album I have always loved. Unfortunately it wasn't mastered very good for vinyl. And it did sound a lot flatter then some other records I love and also sound amazing. I was just disappointed in the band or label not taking more care in the mastering. Instead of just taking a CD master and pressing play on making a record. But I'll never leave it sitting collecting dust. I'll play it whenever the mood arises. Record in question was By The Way from RHCP.

[@harackmw]

I agree. I recently went back to my father's old Moody Blues albums, which I loved as a kid, and goodness me does my setup now simply reveal mistakes and weird artifacts in the recordings that are distracting me from the musical experience. On my brother's vintage amp and speakers I don't hear this, and the music sounds as I remember. Funny how that works.

[@shaynakash4222]

i listen to music i love regardless of its quality ,the tracks that are not recorded as good i'm allready use'd to their lesser quality so i don't mind anymore ,if you realy kove music you will listen to it even on your smartphone 8 hours a day at work [ because thats what i can listen to at work ],music comes first .....

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Amen brother!!!

[@shaynakash4222]

@@Michael-xz1nk THANKS BRO ....

[@Michael-xz1nk]

U bet! Great minds think alike!

[@mygirlfriendismean]

This man prints out his emails. Makes me miss my stepdad.

[@NoEgg4u]

@4:57 "...and, of the stuff that you want to listen to, that doesn't sound so good, you can elevate your system to a point where that is no longer a problem" Paul, if I understand what you said... you have it backwards. The better the stereo, the more it reveals how bad such recordings are. Great recordings will be revealed for their amazing sound quality. Poorly done recordings will be revealed for their lousy sound quality. One of the problems that music lovers unexpectedly run into is that after an upgrade, their so-so sounding songs will sound worse. So when you win the lottery and buy that dream stereo, you will find a lot of your favorite songs to sound not so good. Of course, you will also appreciate songs that were recorded properly, as they will transport you to a magical place.

[@andershammer9307]

Thats why I sometimes think its best to have 2 stereos. One with something like a shure cartridge that makes most records sound ok and anther stereo with something like a Koetsu cartridge that really lets you hear great sounding records.

[@joeblack8915]

Oh dear, another one who doesn't understand that the appeal of music isn't always reliant on what you think constitutes audio perfection.

[@NoEgg4u]

@@joeblack8915 You should not poke fun at Paul. He was probably trying to give George, in London, England, positive feedback, and did not choose his words carefully. He misspoke. But that does not mean that he does not understand the appeal of music. Paul knows what sounds better. His business is married to that understanding. His channel is dedicated to helping people attain better sound quality. He aims for perfection, which will never be achieved, but having that goal is how he continually improves his products and services. To accuse him of not understanding the appeal of music is akin to accusing Gordon Ramsay of not understanding the appeal of food, or that Enzo Ferrari did not understand the appeal of racing. We all misspeak. I pointed it out so that others would know and not be misguided. From what I know about Paul, he would never do so intentionally. But to assert that he does not understand is laughable. Perhaps you were joking?

[@sc0or]

Sure, they do. Instruments must be tonally separated, there must be shaped accents in highs and lows, and powerful instrument or a voice in mids.

[@LuxAudio389]

Streaming is so nice with a proper streamer. If I really like something, I'll buy the CD.

[@terryjefferylee6314]

Good to see the AN3's again. In my view you should have bought these to market. You call them "Old-man" speakers; guess who buys yours speakers and electronics (and it ain't young men or mature women - except your stellar range which is more their price range). I hope you have good success with Chris' creations though, looking forward to the rest of the range - I believe there is to be a reference level plus two smaller models. Any idea when we will see them? Are the reference ones going to be of a line source arrangement like the Infinity range? (that would be good) As for the viewers question the problem is the recordings. I recall you suggesting some device which could enhance these, maybe something to expand the DR (to overcome all the compression in those awful recordings). Seems a shame to not play your favorites just because they where engineered to listen to in the car or on a phone. Should be able to reverse the damage so you can enjoy them on your Hi Fi.

[@andrewfurst5711]

I think the upper part of the AN3 looks great, which is the only part you can see in this video. Then again I am 63, so I might have "old man" views myself. But the bottom of the AN3 did not look good IMO. That circular cutout near the bottom really killed it for me. Even worse when it was partly covered by a sort of vertical grille. A nice try, and if they could fix the aesthetics of the bottom part I would consider the AN3 a big winner in appearance, and probably in sound as well.

[@julianfranco7689]

Man I have this happen with Arctic Monkey's "I bet you look good on the dancefloor". The kickdrum is so low/papery/covered by everything else that it took the joy out of it. Grated I don't have a sub. I tried the song out on 3 different set of speakers on an audio dealer to the same effect, seems the recording is just like that. On the flip side, I use that song to tune low mids, if I can hear more of that hidden kickdrum, I've moved things the right way.

[@garychauvin89]

I listen to a lot of different music every time I have time for some serious listening but it is always music I like .Most is recorded good to great thanks to the beauty of streaming . I do always end my sessions with well recorded music to satisfy my audiophile side . I also have plenty of tunes that I love but are compressed crap that I listen to in the car or on the boom tube in my garage. Its all about the music.

[@NickP333]

That’s a kinda intense question, but a good system should be able to make any recording sound good. I’d never ditch music I love just because it’s not an “audiophile” or just a good sounding recording.

[@rw80]

I listen to everything and sometimes you’re lucky that good music is properly recorded. On the other hand, there are also examples of bad recordings that sound great. E.g. the Taylor Swift albums she recorded with Aaron Dessner sound great but if you analyse the waveforms, there’s a lot of clipping.

[@rcmoot]

Paul. I know that a lot of album songs were recorded at different studios. Either they concentrated on the top song and poopooed the rest. Very few albums sound remarkable through the whole playlist. I have listened to your great pressings off your notices. They sound good , but some put me to sleep and some I skip. Give me some tempo to keep me intrigued to keep me going and i will purchase.

[@PSM-IPADZ_OX]

To audition any music system, try playing the sound tracks of everyday events that are easily recognisable like the breaking of glass, the sound of car engines, trains, aeroplanes, human voices. After that play test tones from 20 HZ to 20 KHz, not sweep but individual tones. Only after that, you can settle down to hear “real” music. No point buying any device that cannot play correctly and accurately but expect them to sound musically melodiously. That’s oxymoron irrespective of the price or the type of device.

[@voiceofreason9238]

If the sound of breaking glass is an everyday familiar sound to you then you might be in the wrong business... ;)

[@andershammer9307]

I always compared my system to real sounds like birds chirping and people talking. I have a warble tone test record and all tones sound the same as the reference tone.

[@PSM-IPADZ_OX]

@@voiceofreason9238 you can record other tones to be used as test tones, not necessarily sound of broken glass. A sound that you and others are pretty very familiar with :)

[@PSM-IPADZ_OX]

@@andershammer9307 Yup, you are spot on. Warble tone test is a good reference standard too. Birds chirping and people talking such as your partner, parents, children or dogs barking …. all made good test tones instead of following other people’s playlist that you are NOT familiar with. Cheers :)

[@finscreenname]

I've asked a hundred times what do you do when the recording sounds like crap and a lot of the newer stuff dont even have tone controls...blank stares. IMHO You need an EQ brother. Never except what you can change. Some of my favorite album's/disc's sound like they were recorded on one of Edisons wax drums. Couple slides and in most cases they sound as good as a Rush or a AKUS recording. PS, I like the look of those speakers more than the new.

[@scientificaudiophile]

Yes, I only listen to Diane Bish, other organ music and classical.

[@bikdav]

YES! Someone finally spoke up in defense of the pipe organ - "The King of Instruments."

[@scientificaudiophile]

@@bikdav Thanks. Diane Bish is the Queen of the King of Instruments.

[@bikdav]

@@scientificaudiophile I should also mention that pipe organ music tells me what a prospective speaker or subwoofer can do. But, an even bigger issue - in my home - is that pipe organ music can reveal which rooms can do serious bass.

[@KarmaElectronics.]

I'm sorry I was distracted by those wood cabinets!

[@spacemissing]

I don't have time to dwell on a small set of recordings. A wide and ever-growing range of stuff needs to be tried out.

[@Stan_the_Belgian]

Those speakers look like the vintage grandparents of the F30. What a great decision to start again, tye F30 really is a design marvel💪

[@thomaskandersen7250]

Many does, but from my 35+ experience as an Audiophile, most of us listen to all kinds of music. But we are totally ok with buying crazy high priced LP's, as some of the audiophile labels cost. If your system is capable of getting the most out of these audiophile recordings, some may get stocked there and therefor maybe miss out on other stuff? I love buying All kinds of recordings and genres, but i do realize how much a good recording means when i hear it. It's not only the well known typical high end titels, but i own punk/hardcore records, recorded live to 2 track, and on my system, this record is at least as good as a MOFI recording! So go with the music u like, but do try an audiophile recording, if u haven't? ✌️❤️🇩🇰

[@theaudiophilebarista2424]

My opinion: Audiophiles listen to music, but the audiophile part is not about music. It is about the sound of your system. - If you can’t enjoy your music because you are listening to the system instead of the music…that could be a problem. - Using tracks that complement your system for demo purposes is not a problem for me.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🤗👍THEY ARE GREAT LOOKING 👀🤗 and glad you are recycling them for future use and hope to be able to hear 👂 them someday 😍😍😍

[@Michael-xz1nk]

When playing lots of favs from different eras and genres in shuffle mode, there’s no denying the vast amount of sound quality variability that’s out there. And so what, it’s all about the emotional connection with the music first and foremost. Too many listen to their system vs. music IMO.

[@carlsitler9071]

The answer is YES. Pink Floyd, Tool, Yes, Lorn, Santana, Lana Del Ray, Led Zeppelin, Sia, etc.

[@lowwhistler_]

I like to think of myself as an audiophile, not because I have expensive equipment (I don't really, mine is from the 80s) but purely because I sit and listen to the music. I make a conscious decision to take an hour out of my day, sit still in front of the speakers, concentrate and listen to an album end to end. There is absolutely nothing wrong with playlists, listening to music in the background over dinner, while out walking etc. but I think that heightened listening so you learn every nuance of an album is what makes me an audiophile (IMHO)

[@lowwhistler_]

@@ElectronicMusicUnderground My stuff is Acoustic Research. Still going strong, apart from some new cones

[@andershammer9307]

I bought some of the records on your list and a couple of them have excessive bass. Almost to the point where they sound distorted and that's at low volume. I recommend Richard Thompson Rumor and Sigh on Mobile Fidelity and the song i recommend is I misunderstood. Bass is clean and loud and deep with good dynamics. I primarily listen to records with good dynamics like my Sheffield Lab records.

[@andershammer9307]

Boz Scags Dig sounds like the bass is overloading to me.

[@catkeys6911]

I have a good system, and I can say that even poor recordings sound way better on my system than they sound on my friends' mediocre systems. This is why I've spent the money that I have spent on good equipment- because you can't always control your source, but you can still do something to keep the total distortion down to as low as possible, and you WILL hear the difference.

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

What does your good system consist of? Just curious. Someone's good system is not another's.

[@deadandburied7626]

Any Linda Ronstadt on your list?

[@digggerrjones7345]

It seems George is preoccupied with the term "audiophile" when making purchasing decisions. Over time, some people tend to forget it is a subjective term that is self-proclaimed, and used as a marketing tool; nothing more.

[@mamaluigi0631]

Classical and jazz are pretty much the only real audiophile genres, specially symphonies. Anything else is like driving a Ferrari on a street with a 40mph speed limit.

[@barbecuetechtips6024]

I'd argue with you on that. Vocal centric artists and real instruments are audiophile.

[@simisim5061]

I have turned off many a songs for being a terrible recording and it’s such a shame. The song might be soo good but I just can’t do it… I don’t find it pleasurable if it sounds like crap 😀

[@simisim5061]

@@ElectronicMusicUnderground yeah and the funny thing is, like Paul said, the more revealing your system is , the more songs have to go!! 😂

[@biancadekker6678]

With older music also a problem is its recorded much softer than later music recordings.... with digital playback thats a problem ... i found out that if i convert it 32 bit float to 192.000 hz with my sony soundforge and set the recording level higher then play it 64 bit float through my dac to my speakers its sounds better to my ears

[@cubinn149]

I had a cd player from 1990 that made everything sound good

[@LuxAudio389]

I recently acquired some new equipment by Luxman.😢 I reset up my Sopras with, yes, the Audiophile's Guide SACD. Then I was scrolling through my Tidal playlists and played Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Guns N Roses and Yowza! 🤯 Everything sounded so organized and memorizing. I stopped what I was doing, looked up, and heard effects just pop out of the background. It's Amazingly beautiful.🥀

[@craighoffman6876]

Luxman gear can do that :)

[@EirkenElite]

I buy hi quality digital masters....but I have 3 different stereo rooms in my house for different music they all play vastly different music

[@ikemi1]

Whatever you do Paul don't stop making these videos, otherwise I will have to go back to listening to music😂😂

[@mrronenza]

Audiophile is a person who listen how the music sounds, Not what it is , And never satisfied!

[@leokuiper2593]

You are talking crap dude. Like if an audiophile is one type of personality that are all the same. If I have the choice I will listen my music on a high quality system and appreciate the sound quality and the music. If there is no other choice I will listen music on a transistor size speaker system and still appreciate the music. I bet it will be the same for you. I suspect a lot of you who are talking about audiophiles with a disapproval tendency are just jealous people who would love to have a great expensive system but can’t afford to buy one.

[@voiceofreason9238]

I've listened to at least a dozen "audiophile recordings" on KZbin. I know I'm not an audiophile because I can't get through 3 minutes of a track without fast forwarding to the next track. I just get bored with the artsy music.

[@leokuiper2593]

I listened to many thousands of audiophile tracks, but my collection only contains a fraction of those tracks, which btw is still hundreds of hours of music. Same with none audiophile music. It is very simple, it is only the music you like that you will listen. But I learned to force myself to keep listing outside my comfort zone, your taste in music will evolve if you do that. Like with a lot of things in life sometimes you learn to appreciate. Always try to fight my own bias, because I know it will limit me.

[@2006Opelcorsa]

Hi Paul. I have Qobuz but cannot find the ps audio playlist you mentioned. Please clarify. Thanks. James.

[@louissilvani1389]

I think it’s a balancing act with the equipment we use Also the kind of material that we play

[@igorslajs212]

Hi Paul, where can I find this playlist? I am looking thrue Qobuz but no luck with PS audio playlist. Helap please. Thanks, Igor

[@thomaskandersen7250]

Or more simple. Learn your ears to listen to all kind of music, on a well known system. Then you by time accept the many differences in recordings ✌️❤️🇩🇰

[@martinlindberg1983]

I totally agree with George... I have an old set of very revealing Martin Logan CLS electrostatics and I cannot listen to bad records in this rig - it sounds crap and is totally unlistenable. I do not understand how you can say that is has to do with tuning or setup to make all recordings sound descent. If a bad records sound "good" the best records sounds unrealistic. If not, please tell me what is wrong in my setup... I have been fine tuning for months...

[@Chrisspru]

its possible to have a system which resonates with musical harmony and accentuates it, but interfers in its resonance with disharmonics. its of course not the most "true to source" system, instead being a high quality interpreter, but that has its merrits too. dampening vibration in your system should help catch one time artifacts noise well, while rythmic vibrations overcome the dampening. an intelligent dsp algorythm can also distinguish common noises from music and reduce them. thats a layer of interpretation more again though.

[@tesmith47]

I have a similar question, do hi fi reviewers only listen to white music, it is very rare to hear Black music used

[@logtothebase2]

I like look of the prototypes as well.

[@Audiorevue]

Something you didn't I don't think touched on that I found has happened to me is that different equipment let's say amplifiers because of their sonic characteristics I feel like I listen to a particular type of music. Like for example when three years ago I picked up a Marantz p.m. 8006 integrated amp I found that jazz sounded really good on it and as a result I was listening to a lot of jazz. then about a year ago I bought a Rega elex r integrated and I found I was listening to a lot of rock music and something I almost never do punk music. I mean I suppose it stands to reason that because different equipment sounds different than different music will of course sound better or worse on it. I mean I suppose in someway that was the point of the video but I suppose my point is that different products have guided me into different music.

[@russelhaxby6194]

"place the record on the shelf, never to listen to it again" Try the record again some day. With your expectations now lowered, it might not sound so bad.

[@jamesfarrow6752]

I think this can be a double edge sword as a less resolving system may not reveal the difference whereas a resolving system will expose just how poor some recordings are. I have found myself blaming my system rather than accepting that some recordings are just not very good. However, after nearly 50 years, I have a system that while exposing the difference in recording quality, listening to those recordings is much more enjoyable.

[@GK-rw2op]

But...Will it blend ?

[@23chilled]

If your system can reproduce poor recordings and well then a system is good. That is the main goal with my audio passion. I have a select few tracks I test various equipment. If it doesn't sound good and starts tripping over itself with those select tracks then it isn't well engineered. One track I find many systems Inc high end gear is Massive Attack - Teardrop. That isn't the easiest track for many systems. Have found a NAD 319 amp todo fairly well though. Needs that dynamic drive to bring out the best in the track. Each to their own though with their audio passion and love of hifi.

[@richardsaila8073]

Music-first audiophiles do not have that problem.

[@AriVovp]

Can i listennto EdM, Electronic, Hiphop music with these hifi system?

[@L.Scott_Music]

It ain't got to be audiophile to dance to.

[@hugobloemers4425]

I wish I could elevate my system to where audiophile recordings also sound nice artistically.

[@stimpy1226]

That’s not an old man’s speaker. Anyone who told you that has no taste. I think they’re really beautiful. And, they got tremendous reviews.

[@hom2fu]

and why they going to tracking room. he's not selling these and nothing to hide. if beauty is a thing

[@stimpy1226]

@@hom2fu because they wanted to make the sound even better it has nothing to do with the look. Is that why you by audio equipment for the look? That’s just plain stupid.

[@thebeatproducer7144]

Connecting two 10 watt amplifier in parallel will give me 20 watts output in a single speaker or it simply won't work ??

[@Justwantahover]

You are right about "elevating your system" so bad recording aren't a problem". Well with most bad recordings but some recordings are that bad that you can't listen to them. Like the old school Dianna Ross recordings. But in the same era and even earlier, there were some jazz recordings that beat most modern recordings. Another point...Why are there so many amateur recordings by cover bands that are better than the vast majority of "official" recordings? And even better than their own "official" recordings! KZbin search the HSCC band and their recording of "Sailing" by Christopher Cross. And also Im2 cover band "Yesterday" by the Beatles. On KZbin these songs are 3D like crazy! The best "official" recording I heard is Jennifer Lopez "Hold You Down". It is amazing 3D and like it's (rocking horse poo) in quality for an "official".

[@gralen]

I tend to listen to anything but rap. Because hearing people shout at you from different speaker than hearing a guitar chord and horns from one speaker and bass and keyboard from another. Since I play several instrument that is what I listen to and for. I tend to listen to R&B but to me 60s and 70s rock and roll sounds the best since they were good with the lead and the other guitar playing from the way it was placed in the speakers. A very good song that I like to listen to is Rider of the Storm by the Doors. The electric piano on one speaker and the interaction of the lead guitar. Another song is Loose Boot by Funkadelic

[@tylee5291]

I can understand why you would say the rock stuff is good as far as recordings go. However, I believe the R&B stuff is way better because of "the buried gems". Listen to the details of R&B like keyboard, rhythm guitar and strings. My reference "go to" recording is Star of the Story by Heatwave....the same group that did Boogie Nights. There is SO much detail in that song..it makes you wanna crawl inside it. Michael Jackson's Off The Wall is excellent. There are some good rock recordings, but you have to listen beyond the guitars.

[@gralen]

@@tylee5291 I listen to more r and b than anything. That song you mention by heatwave is one of my favorite. But I also mentioned loose booty. R and b is up there but some classic rock songs are very good when it comes to recording. I think earth wind and fire really was the best

[@musicstevecom]

The Recording and the Song being played back are not always the same Quality and might or will have the most effect w your listening experiences, a low quality MP3 just sounds BAD! and Drives me Crazy... Even Radio stations Play Good Quality and Bad Quality songs and different stations playing the same song, sound different. (Top Pop 40 songs a very good Qualify)

[@briansimmons5363]

That is like saying I never listen to music in the car etc. because I love the music but doesn't sound good so I don't listen. Don't deny yourself from music you love just because it is a poor recording from 1978.

[@harackmw]

You don't have to be in the hobby long to realize that analytical/detailed headphones don't do any favors for much of your music. I don't know if it is the same issue with speakers and room setups. Despite being into many different genres myself, this is still an issue for me. Analytical and detail monster cans are great when recordings are great, and can be painful knvies in the ears with badly recorded music. I guess this is why tube amps and Meze Empyrean headphones are a thing, even for some people who want more detail.

[@barbecuetechtips6024]

Well I mean no one buys meze or a tube amp if they care about how the studio engineer wanted it to sound like.

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

Certain decades I believe have a specific sound. You can tell the difference in a 50s, 60s, or 70s Sound. I believe the 80s onwards is harder to tell the difference in their quality & style probably due to higher quality digital recording being introduced. I certainly have looked up amazed after hearing good higher quality recordings. The bang bang bang of some bands don't impress me much so heavy rock is not my thing but something like Barbara Streisand, Dire Straits or similar that will pinpoint the quality from my speakers especially most stuff with the royal Philharmonic. Then my favourite artist ever Al Green makes the hairs stand up on my neck but I'm a soul fan first. You can spend 10s of thousands on your system, I believe its a psychological issue if you spend more than £50,000. I would love them obsessed audiophiles to all to walk in 5 rooms blindfolded from £3000 up to 100, 000 & guess the cost correctly.

[@LuxAudio389]

The 50k + budget can and does buy you a phenomenal experience by a great dealer that just doesn't carry any expensive line. Next time you go to an audio show, or even better, make an appointment with a highend dealer that sells full range speakers at >/= 20k with great equipment that compliments the speakers they carry. Have them Demo any orchestral piece of music you like or favorite Barbara Streisand, track(s) and I gaurantee you, you will hear and notice a difference in both the micro and macro details, and speed in the transitions that will leave you wondering how and why it's possible. Details that were once veiled will no longer be, but they won't be the primary part of the performance. They will be there for the effect that they were intended for; before they got lost or smeared. Scale, height, and effortlessness will also be a clear advantage, and I'm not talking analytical or so obtrusively evident that your ears or mind will be fatigued.

[@pandstar]

I have a pretty high end system, but I have no problems listening to not so well recorded music. I guess it is lucky for me, that the main types of music I listen to, tend to be pretty well recorded. I listen to mostly progressive music from the 70's up through today, and with a few notable exceptions, it has always been well recorded. The Jazz I listen to, even more so. Since most jazz tends to be recorded live in the studio, with not too much studio manipulation, it sounds like actual musician playing real instruments, in a real acoustic space. Listen to almost anything on the ECM label, from the 70's up through today. And finally, I listen to quite a bit of modern, atonal, avant-garde, classical music, and just by default, classical music tends to be recorded with substantially better than pop, mainstream rock, hip hop, etc. Classical music is recorded by the recording engineer to capture the live event (even in the studio), with the ambience and soundstage of that space. It is almost always done with mic placement, not with studio tricks. I do have some 'approved audiophile recordings' that I listen to, some I like the music, come not. But I use them as tools, to get a baseline for my system.

[@UnworthySubject]

Have you got a Playlist you could share with us? I'd sure love to hear just instruments for a change. I've got a Playlist on Qobuz I could share.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Listening to only audiophile tracks is simply not the real world for genuine music lovers.

[@Mikexception]

I am of the same opinion. .The dream system performs perfect without flaws when feeded with any source and kind of music, even when observed limited tech quality like AM radio reception . But to set up such gear and speakers is realy rare, - I never heard such example in audio store or exhibition In many cases they sound just natural without fancy. But they surprise with performing strange unusual sounds ease and with confidence Few CD records were given to me as gift and for 10 years I did not listen them thinking they were not interestingly performing. With new setup which I consider at last ideal I started to enjoy them with surprise - they are exceptionaly arranged and engineered .

[@jamotter8967]

Where can I find the "Qobuz Paul/PS Audio playlist"? Would someone please provide a link?

[@Chrisspru]

the only music that should sound worse on a better system is music that was destroyed in mixing (with increased trebble, bass and loudness to account for a near-deaf sound engineer) and/or has been through conversion/ data compression/ limited bitrate hell. in such cases a lowest end system simple can't reproduce the the damage, while any half decent system will show more and more of it. at a certain point it may get a little better again, as the systems dsp's and response might counter some song damage, but only a complete remaster to remove the damage, or undamaged version of the same recording, might ever sound well. i had a version of "jerk it out" by the ceasers which sounded horrible on my newer system (still bad elsewhere, but with less revalation of the extent), but a quick spectrum check showed it was basicly deep fried. i then searched for a version that does not have a crust of artifacts, hard frequency cutoff and basicly binary singnal level brickwalling.

[@alexander_mmm]

Which streaming service did Paul mention? Something sounding like [kobo]?

[@julianwest4030]

Qobuz

[@larspedersen1546]

I think audiofile recordings is a mistake. A speaker should emphasize the essence of the music and not be detail-fixed. You want to hear what the musicians want to express and not the details that an engineer can measure. That's what makes the music lively and engaging. Even the worst recordings should come alive for your enjoyment when played on your gear. Maybe today's audio file equipment is a misunderstanding? If the music you love sounds flat and unengaging on audio file equipment, then what good is the equipment anyway? Maybe the audiophile criteria need a revision?

[@TheDanEdwards]

"You want to hear what the musicians want to express and not the details that an engineer can measure. " - why do you think that there is a conflict? Musicians rarely have total control over the recording. Whatever a musician may intend, the result that we buy is determined by the recording process and the recording engineer's choices.

[@larspedersen1546]

@@TheDanEdwards From time to time, i have experienced speakers, that made the music come Alive. But to often, even very expensive speakers, can have a very detail-oriented reproduction with a lot of emphasis on details, Deep bass and more... I'm not impressed... What impresses me is when I feel like continuing to hear a melody more .. When I get lost in the music.

[@eugenepohjola258]

Howdy. I never was into high end very much. I have been happy with my 2 x 70 Watt Yamaha and my medium quality speakers. My headset failed. Some 30 years ago the Pioneer headset cost about 100 dollars or so. I bought a JBL headset for about 30 dollars. Holy Molly ! What a difference ! The quality has advanced enormously. Now I can hear Robert Plant's passion in Led Zeppelin / Dazed and Confused. And the Juggernaut bass plucking of John Paul Jones. Now I am a believer. Regards.

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

But have you ever wanted to see what it would sound like on a say a £10,000 system you to see if you hear anything more. I KNOW I WOULD.

[@eugenepohjola258]

@@ENGLISHISBEST Howdy. Yes. The discussion about listening to the music or the gear has evaporated for me. Whatever delivers sensations of pleasure goes. For myself I must remain in the realm of reality to stay in balance. My new headset opened the door to the realm of high end dreams though. I can allow myself to dream. Yes. Regards.

[@qazizahidhasan5717]

thanks, positive paul

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Certainly not on box speakers

[@Mark-lq3sb]

Offer wood veneer for your new speaker line. The old timers will appreciate it.

[@ThinkingBetter]

I listen to music while working, exercising, shopping, driving, relaxing and listening critically in my audio system. I choose music based on what works for the specific occasion. But even for critical listening, I rarely choose music just for the audiophile qualities only except when I am optimizing or demoing my system.

[@ThinkingBetter]

@@ElectronicMusicUnderground Yes, definitely EDM and trance music has some major importance to me when I need to boost my energy while working at home, exercising or when I go shopping using earbuds. I bought some Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds that sound reasonable for such music when being on the go.

[@ThinkingBetter]

@@ElectronicMusicUnderground Awesome, I like some of your tracks. My favorite tracks in this category have some good sub bass. Now it's 9:40pm here in California and I enjoy keeping the house shaking while working on my PC using my optimized 18" Velodyne servo subwoofer and LS50 Metas on my home office. I mostly play from Amazon Music HD (uncompressed up to 192kHz 24 bits) while working, and this desktop setup runs through some miniDSP box that allows me great optimization for such setup. Some audiophiles would frown when they hear about miniDSP, but make no mistake, those products can sound quite excellent for the cost. And for this desktop setup it made me EQ fine-tune the sound to way better tonal balance against the acoustical impact of the room and my personal taste.

[@ThinkingBetter]

@@ElectronicMusicUnderground I live near LA and some times I go to concerts here and have met a few celebrities. I was at the Super Bowl in February and was sitting near where Zedd was performing before the game was starting in that insane stadium. A year ago I was sitting right next to Usher in some small meeting room of a company without realizing it until someone mentioned it. I rather meet Selena Gomez - now listening to "A Year Without Rain" (Dave Aude Radio Remix)🙂