What are Audiophiles really chasing?

[@Lasse3]

Audiophile rigs will bring tears to my eyes, it will give me shivers, it will put a big smile on my face, it will make me laugh, it will belittle me, it will dumbfound me, it will impress me, it will immerse me, it will make me forget about myself and my life, it will make me forget about my sorrows and problems.

[@mortenstjernholm6404]

SPOT ON TUII!

[@DuanePortal]

A brilliant summation, my thoughts exactly! You also have excellent oratory skills, The presentations are informative, positive, and relaxing. I am really enjoying this KZbin series, thank you.

[@EduardoGarcia-jx8mo]

Your passion is admirable!!!! The way you talk about music and audio it’s remarkable!!!

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Yes it is very cool. I am watching your videos one after anther without stoping. Thanks.

[@eggshellskullrule7971]

I repeatedly listen to the same music over and over, over the years. For some part of the hobby, I am after re-living the experience and the feeling I had at one time point in the past.

[@BigDaddy4Real]

Excellent! and it was refreshing to hear that someone else is brought to tears by the beauty of the audiophile experience. Thanks.

[@tinfoilhatlover3660]

Hahaa...you are clearly a cukt member. Your being scam

[@mz5222]

Paul, you nailed it about being there and enjoining the music, some times even better than being at a concert. Here are my 2 cents, I also listen to music based on my mood, if that makes any scene. BTW I need to get one of those hats. Cheers M

[@mz5222]

Sing me up for one

[@mz5222]

One more question, I hope you speak in one of you videos about electrostatic speakers. I am very curious to see your opinion.

[@SimplyGetPaid]

🤩 …I ALWAYS KNOW WHEN AN AUDIO SETUP OF MINE IS ‘DIALED IN’ WHEN IT GETS TO THE POINT ( USUALLY AFTER MANY MONTHS, MAYBE EVEN YEARS) WHEN EACH TIME I LISTEN TO IT, IT SOMEHOW SOUNDS ‘BETTER’ THAN I ACTUALLY REMEMBERED PREVIOUSLY…. …SEEMS LIKE IT WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE BUT IT’S AN AMAZING THING TO WITNESS.. 🥲

[@friedmule5403]

I think that there is three breads: 1) Music user: Shall have some music in the background while working, reading and so on. 2) Music lover: Are in for the love of music, do not care so much about if it distorts here or there, if all the details are there, but always seeking ways to get the "dance effect." 3) Audiophile: Always seeking to improve the sound, to get all out what is possible, details, bass and so on. Chasing the goal of absolut clarity and stereo imaging. In short the sound that makes angels weep.

[@kencohagen4967]

Flat response. The exact same thing as what was recorded. The way the instruments really sound. The ability to close your eyes and visualize every instrument, every voice and ever nuance of what would be perceived in a live performance. To hear the voices of the guys in the studio giveing directions to the band before a track starts, or the Lee laughter and comments after a track ends along with the comments of the band, the stuff that never gets publicized. The real stuff, the magic that makes music, music to our ears. That's what I want. Whether it's through an set I'd headphones that are well equalized, or better yet audible through a set of incredible speakers, that's the stuff. That's what we live for!

[@wasimmohamedmuthaharpasha7926]

This is really matches with my experience Paul for what I seek in the audio as an audiophile.

[@sc51153826]

truly concur, my system is my personal time machine too! Excellent series!

[@taineasy]

I believe everyone hears and finds audio enjoyment in a different way. Even though I am a musician I much prefer to listen to music (for pure enjoyment) from an audience perspective rather than from an on-stage perspective. When at a live performance, unlike my wife, I like to be away from the stage and hear a more open full sound rather than the on stage detailed sound.

[@patk2225]

mike young the sound from my sound system and headphones is identical

[@dhpbear2]

3:01 - The live concert would probably sound good if you were suspended from the ceiling, in the same position as those mics! :)

[@andershammer9307]

There is no drug that can relax you and make you feel good like a good stereo system. Just thinking about my system brings tears to my eyes.

[@시드니최서방]

Huge thanks for your honest talk on being an audiofile!!

[@alansmithee4895]

Chasing some kind of peak experience that they will never Attain within this hobby or Pursuit

[@bc527c]

For me sound has made indelible and exquisite memories, a single note at a concert or a street musician in an alley, whatever... so it seems what I am really trying to do is make a system that will make sounds so great and wonderful that I will be able to create new sound memories right at home... I have not arrived there yet, I don't think I have the money to get there....

[@fullranger3435]

Excellent answer and analysis! I couldn't agree more. Let me highlight what Paul first said: (we seek) "the feeling of being there"! No less than this! We are audiophiles because we love music and musical events. We are very demanding from our audio systems, we demand from them "to take us there"! To be able to close our eyes and feel like we're at this place, at this time, where and when a musical event (real or studio-fabricated) was going on and being captured, in a technically perfect manner, hopefully. Trying to put it in technical terms, we look for a ruler-flat -super-top to sub-bottom-, frequency response, also a ruler-flat phase response likewise and a perfect impulse response at our listening position (at least). Well, it's A LOT! (hasn't been achieved yet). But...we're dreamers and soldiers on a quest for aural paradise! (well, ok, down-to-this-earth-, a little bit less-than-perfect options might, also, very well do!). I'd also wish to discern a similar "quest" of some audiophiles, who seem to look for "bringing the performers in the room with them"! Although very captivating and surprisingly good at times, setting this goal favors some recordings while ruining others. It's a wrong aim, in my opinion.(if the recording is good and you have enough room that could "host" the entire ensemble, then you'll get this feeling anyway, but you should also expect from your system to "tear down the boundaries" of your room and "magically" replace it with the recording room or venue). So I'll stick with Paul's view of it: "I want to feel like being there"!! Period.

[@ped-away-g1396]

conclusion : MAGIC

[@marcbegine]

Hi Paul, Today we are the 30th of March 2021- Where are you on loudspeakers? Love your videos! Marc, Belgium

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

Looking now towards the fall of 2021. Thanks for asking.

[@arthurbernales1776]

Music is a personal choice.Audiophiles put more importance and treasure on their high end and pricey equipment.I stop chasing for the perfect sound after spending K’s of $$$ and became contented with what I have.

[@ernyfromlatvia]

Yes. I also have reached a point when music from my own system may sound better than a live concert. Not always. So I still go to concerts. But I always imagine inside of me how it could sound differently, if something changed in the system. Sorry, I can afford only used PS Audio equipment

[@scottlowell493]

They are chasing "The dragon". That mythical perfect sound. One day they will get over their "Audiophelia nervosa" neurosis and be happy without continually changing gear.

[@yannisgk]

I AM QUITE HAPPY WITH MY NO MORE THAN $300 PORTABLE ''RIG'' AND I SEARCH FOR SOMETHING BETTER AND CHEAPER.

[@Lasse3]

Each time they *upgrade* a piece of equipment in their chain, the sound improves, and becomes even more enjoyable than before. This is the drug they chase, they want to be able to enjoy it even more, than they already are. There is no perfect sound, it's constantly improving, the transducer manufactures keeps improving the parameters on their drivers, for each new line they produce. This is a science, and science is evolving, always have, always will. Nobody is chasing dragons, Scott.

[@andershammer9307]

I stopped when my system sounded the same to me as the real thing. My system is mostly from 1980 and I have heard nothing since then that made me want to upgrade. Of course my system has been through repairs and modifications

[@stewartcampbell7794]

Onitadium is Attainable ; It require's Just One More $. Da Shiney - Da Shiney ! But when U Hear/ U -R -Dare...60+NOOB.

[@youwhatmadeidk]

What I'm looking for? I'm looking for a completely neutral (no warmth or brightness) sound, with realistic 3D imaging, excellent transient performance (timing and phase) that can hit the deepest notes I listen to and the highest without distortion or stress. I want to hear the original unmolested signal. Everyone can have their opinion, but objectively you cannot reproduce un-amplified music correctly without chasing accuracy. Only technically accurate systems I have heard produce the piano properly, the absolute best do organs well. My system is: KEF LS50 (upgrading soon to KEF Reference 1) Arcam A39 (upgrading soon to Arcam P49) Audiolab M-DAC+ (just ordered a Chord Hugo 2) I have heard hundreds of speakers and system combinations. The best imaging systems have always consisted of KEF speakers, class A amps and DACs that have good timing (Chord DACs for example). Systems like this sound better than surround sound but without the back speakers.

[@jimolson9671]

Michael The Sociopath 100% agree on KEF I am blessed to on the references three speakers. Absolutely amazing!

[@josetorres5566]

Oh trust me I've reached to that experience of sound. Its unrealistic sound

[@MrPhilipzhao]

You have to get rich first before becoming an audiophile; you can enjoy music without becoming rich first .

[@cillyede]

Great, thanks!

[@paladin3798]

Paul, may I ask.....what is the best system to buy today.... under $25.000...I am chasing my younger days....in 1975 I has a system of $5000.00...it is stolen..I want to buy today ....paladin

[@gixxerboy555]

Clear analog pure quality sound like in the 70's and 80's...

[@genuineuni]

Audiophiles chase equipment to make their source sound good, while people like me, concentrate on a better sound source.

[@shadowxp86]

..almost like drug. Nailed it.

[@shaun9107]

A lot of people dount know it egsists Kids mostly

[@genez429]

Guess what? God is an audiophile? Looks like it... Good music was recommended (and worked) to treat and stabilize a certain kind of mental disorder that caused deep depression. ( 1 Samuel 16:14-23 )

[@paladin3798]

Paul..... I want to know.....take care...I have cash

[@cp070476]

I do not agree with none use of tone controls and EQ.. Saying you should be listening to a system on 'DIRECT' otherwise you have a problem with your system is wrong.. Every song is mastered differently some are heavy on bass/treble some lack it.. You need to adjust your settings to achieve a better more realistic sound.. After all it should sound as 'REAL' as possible and set to DIRECT it does not.. I change my settings for every track! Example.. Listen to 'Tilted' by Christine and the Queens.. Very heavy bass tune it is overpowering needs bass reducing.. Have a listen. Then listen to 'Africa' by Toto that needs bass adding sounds tinny and thin.. Just my views and what i do to make it sound more realistic.

[@cbcdesign001]

"You need to adjust your settings to achieve a better more realistic sound.." If a recording lacks bass, that is how it was mastered and how it should sound so in that sense it is "realistic". You may prefer more bass and want to adjust the tone to achieve that but that's not the sound the engineer intended it to sound so its not more realistic, its just more to your liking.

[@alvidrez7956]

The rooms acoustics have far more play in how a system sounds vs anything else imo

[@jimolson9671]

alvidrez79 you are 100% correct! I have spent about $6000 on acoustic treatment . It was a great investment. The best return on my money today’s.

[@julianwest4030]

Oh... Like Bose. Right... when I think "audiophile" I think of the company that makes cheap trash from plastic housing and paper drivers, only to change the consumer an excessive amount of money for a brand name.

[@stewartcampbell7794]

Perfection:It give's Me the same Feeling as the Real Panorama Disney Experience of that Theater.40 some yrs Ago & u r on the Deck of the Enterprise. No Seats /just Railing's 2 hold on 2...U View 360 " EVERYWARE-PERIOD. Viewed I-Max 50 x+ & as Entertaining that it was - Total Fail 2 True Panavision. Unfortunately , It was not Marketable as Viewers were required 2 Stand 4 Viewing . But Dogg-Gone,The Best. Hey Paul , Make ur Yank-Zilla as good as Dat...O , Did i mention- Affordable ! Luv the Cowboy Charge in-da Show...YYZ-60+NOOB/Aviator/AME/Avionic's/Advanced-Meteorologist/Skydiver/ SCUBA-Dude /GM Welder at 17/Race-Car Builder & Owner/+ More Baggage !!! Tractor 2 Turbine's & don't 4 Git the Horse of Course.That is Me- Mohawk.Da Gloves R Off. Show Me Don't Tell Me.Yank-Zilla ? My Wallet Await's.lol,lol,lol.

[@tinfoilhatlover3660]

A 12$ earbud would give you the same frequency reapond... snake oil is amazing.