re: Audiophile/Vinyl Thread - Post Pics, Advice, Questions, Setups, etc.

Depends...

If I get a new album, I will sit and listen to it casually to see if the music is something I like—listening for the music itself. If it doesn’t pass the music test, it gets shelved (I usually give 2-3 listens before scrapping a record). I have a couple hundred LP’s that will probably never see the needle again.

There are albums I like for music and recording, which I will sit and listen to for the great writing, talent in playing, and engineering execution. Usually sitting on the couch in the center. I usually enjoy it as a whole, and not focus on minute details—if they are present, they will all come together and add to the total presentation, sort of a “sum of all the parts” done well.

When listening to old Blue Note originals, I am usually impressed with the quality that was laid down 60+ years ago—the sheer dynamics of trumpets and sax, the timbre of cymbals, and the clarity that is obtained from a 60 year old piece of plastic. It’s more of a “damn, this is fantastic!—and it was done in 1958!”.

Phish—about 25% of all music played on the rig...listen more for the music than the “audio quality”, although it is pretty well done—24/96 digital recordings, not to mention that they have just about perfected the live recording thing after 1800 shows and 30+ years.

Some modern jazz stuff I like—Diana Krall, Patricia Barber, etc.—they are all over the top Audio perfection. These actually allow you to gauge what your system is capeable of regarding nuances in timbre, speed, accuracy, timing, and black backgrounds.

Then there is Iron Maiden. There is only one way to listen—Frigging LOUD . These are just average recordings done in the early ‘80’s, not bad at all, bit not audio masterpieces either—but it doesn’t matter. Sometimes I will listen in center, and sometimes I will be in the back of the room with the meters pushing past 1000 watts and over 120dB of SPL! This type of listening does 2 things...first, it makes me think I can whip anyone’s arse, and second, it validates the muscle of my rig. It will show off the amps ability to easily push 2400 watt peaks, and do it effortlessly, and also reveal the speakers ability to play at extreme SPLs and not break up. This type of listening is what makes it hard for me to ever leave Focal speakers—they just don’t peter-out at high volumes—ever.

Sometimes on a Saturday afternoon I will put the rig on a moderate volume and play something that the wife likes as well—it can easily be heard in the kitchen and den If I leave the door open. I am usually doing “house stuff” going from inside to outside often, so it becomes background music.

Over the last 5 years, I have hit the point of contention with the main rig—I no longer have the want to “keep climbing up the ladder” for that last bit of resolution, air, extension, etc. I have found lots of enjoyment in restoring older gear, and also acquiring gear from the ‘80’s. Why the ‘80’s? Because that was the Japanese heyday for gear, and it was the stuff I would see in the audio stores, but couldn’t afford as a 12-17 year old kid

It is also neat to swap out amps, preamps, CD players, tables, carts, and speakers in and out of the main rig to listen for differences in the gear over the decades. And I will say, some of the higher end stuff made in the ‘80’s is still phenomenal today.

Doing this also makes me realize just how good the McIntosh ref level gear is too. It is my “reference” by which to judge all other gear.

...and no, I don’t light candles and incense while listening to The Strawberry Alarm Clock, however, I do have full individual control, via Control4, of all can lights and rail lights, which is nice depending on time of day or night.

On nice days, I open the shades and let the sunlight fill the room while listening.



Hope this answers your questions...