Do more expensive amplifiers make a difference?

[DocG]

I think that this comes back to the point that I made earlier about it being the content of the music which contains all the emotion and the HiFi system used to reproduce the sound is just an objective and emotionless piece of electrical equipment.

Maybe we should add the ears to the "equipment"-part of it. So not [music --> hifi --> person], but [music --> hifi+ears --> brain]. After all the emotional aspect, the satisfaction, the pleasure of listening to music... it all happens in the brain. Strictly speaking, the ears are not paramount (nor the equipment), as trained musicians can 'hear' the music in their head, while reading a score. It also explains the weak correlation between the quality of your gear and the pleasure you find in listening to music.

 

[davedotco]

I think that this comes back to the point that I made earlier about it being the content of the music which contains all the emotion and the HiFi system used to reproduce the sound is just an objective and emotionless piece of electrical equipment.

Maybe we should add the ears to the "equipment"-part of it. So not [music --> hifi --> person], but [music --> hifi+ears --> brain]. After all the emotional aspect, the satisfaction, the pleasure of listening to music... it all happens in the brain. Strictly speaking, the ears are not paramount (nor the equipment), as trained musicians can 'hear' the music in their head, while reading a score. It also explains the weak correlation between the quality of your gear and the pleasure you find in listening to music.

An interesting thought has just struck me as I sit here perusing this forum listening to Jason Boland, 'Live and loud at Billy Bobs Texas'.

I spent the bulk of my working life in and around live music of all kinds and find that, as with the album above, I have a profound preference for live recordings, be it classical, jazz and rock.

I have alwayd known that I like live recordings but I have never really thought about why, maybe I just hear it better by filling in, from my own experience, whatever is lacking in the recording?

 

[BigH]

An interesting thought has just struck me as I sit here perusing this forum listening to Jason Boland, 'Live and loud at Billy Bobs Texas'.

I spent the bulk of my working life in and around live music of all kinds and find that, as with the album above, I have a profound preference for live recordings, be it classical, jazz and rock.

I have alwayd known that I like live recordings but I have never really thought about why, maybe I just hear it better by filling in, from my own experience, whatever is lacking in the recording?

I think there is something in your last sentence, thats probably why many pro musicians don't bother with expensive hifi.

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

 

[DocG]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

They're the strong sex! They don't need it!

 

[davedotco]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

They're the strong sex! They don't need it!

Mrs DDC is a case in point, though as ever somewhat contradictory.

She rarely listens to music on the hi-fi, even back in our real home when we had the good system set up. On the other hand she does, on occasion, go to bed with the iPad and her pair of Sennheissers.

She also has music radio on in the car, something I simply can not do, if anything good comes on I get distracted and drive into things.

On the other hand if I arrange for us to go and see something live, anything from opera to a Deep Purple tribute act in a local pub, she is always up for it and invariably has a great time.

Women eh........

 

[busb]

An interesting thought has just struck me as I sit here perusing this forum listening to Jason Boland, 'Live and loud at Billy Bobs Texas'.

I spent the bulk of my working life in and around live music of all kinds and find that, as with the album above, I have a profound preference for live recordings, be it classical, jazz and rock.

I have alwayd known that I like live recordings but I have never really thought about why, maybe I just hear it better by filling in, from my own experience, whatever is lacking in the recording?

I think there is something in your last sentence, thats probably why many pro musicians don't bother with expensive hifi.

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Because they grow up?

 

[chebby]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Ask some and report back.

 

[iceman16]

I've been reading this thread for quite a while but not the whole lot of it.Im not an engineer of some degree or whatsoever. And I don't really care what others may say.IME. "more does'nt mean better" or expensive does'nt mean better..We're goin round and round here.

 

[manicm]

If I had a 200W amp. I would not play it at 200W I would probably play at around 1w to 10W!

Then why the hell buy a 200w amp in the first place?

Well as you used car example why buy a car that goes 200mph if you can only drive it at 70mph?

I don't think you realise how loud 1w is, in my living room 1w will produce about 75dbs of loudness which I understand is a fairly average listening level, 10w will produce about 86dbs which is quite loud, 100w will produce 96dbs.

More watts is about control, less distortion and having plenty in reserve for those dynamic peaks you get in some music. For me 200W is probably a bit OTT at the moment but when I move the living maybe larger than my current 5m x3.5m room size, so no need to upgrade.

My question was rhetorical in case you didn't notice. I've had 2 more powerful amps than my Solo Mini and both were better at low volumes. So those who say (good quality) power means nothing are just talking through the hole.

 

[manicm]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

More women and teenagers are interested in hifi than you'll ever know if you really have to ask the question. Remember a really good hifi turns you away from the equipment and toward the music itself. A really good system is more enjoyable to more people. Simple as that. You don't notice things like a lack of bass or clarity, or image depth etc. It just comes all togther.

 

[BigH]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Ask some and report back.

I have and they say the either can't hear the difference or they are not bothered.

 

[DocG]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Ask some and report back.

I have and they say they either can't hear the difference or they are not bothered.

Though many think it's the former, it actually chiefly is the latter, IME.

 

[chebby]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Ask some and report back.

I have and they say the either can't hear the difference or they are not bothered.

So why did you ask us if you've had the answers already?

 

[BigH]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Ask some and report back.

I have and they say the either can't hear the difference or they are not bothered.

So why did you ask us if you've had the answer already?

I have only asked a few so just interested in people's opinions on here. And that only answers part of the question.

 

[chebby]

Why are so few women interested in hifi?

Ask some and report back.

I have and they say the either can't hear the difference or they are not bothered.

So why did you ask us if you've had the answer already?

I have only asked a few so just interested in people's opinions on here. And that only answers part of the question.

But you are asking a (mostly) middle-aged. male, hobbyist/enthusiast audience why women aren't interested in hi-fi. You are only going to get a middle-aged, male, hobbyist/enthusiast response.

If I were you i'd give more credence to what women tell you rather than ask men what women think.

 

[davedotco]

I know how women think about such things, Mrs DDC taught me with this simple lesson, it went like this......

Mrs DDC was buying a new car, a coupe. Dutifully she told me what she fancied and asked me what I thought. Equally dutifully, I did the research then showed her my findings and after a short discussion it was decided.

She went to the showroom and told them exactly what she wanted, no problem until, close to sealing the deal, the choice of colour came up. She said that she rather liked the silver grey or the rather nice blue (my favourite). They said she would have to wait 'several' months for either but they could supply the car in red or some sort of green in a matter of days.

No she said, she offered to take the silver grey demonstrator, saying that they could replace it with either the green or the red one, but they said they did not want a demonstrator in either of those colours. She said neither did she, and walked out.

Down the road to another dealership where she bought an alternative make, in red!

 

[mitch65]

I know how women think about such things, Mrs DDC taught me with this simple lesson, it went like this......

Mrs DDC was buying a new car, a coupe. Dutifully she told me what she fancied and asked me what I thought. Equally dutifully, I did the research then showed her my findings and after a short discussion it was decided.

She went to the showroom and told them exactly what she wanted, no problem until, close to sealing the deal, the choice of colour came up. She said that she rather liked the silver grey or the rather nice blue (my favourite). They said she would have to wait 'several' months for either but they could supply the car in red or some sort of green in a matter of days.

No she said, she offered to take the silver grey demonstrator, saying that they could replace it with either the green or the red one, but they said they did not want a demonstrator in either of those colours. She said neither did she, and walked out.

Down the road to another dealership where she bought an alternative make, in red!

That sounds like what Mrs.M would do :rofl: