Fulfilment - A Beautiful Blend of Equipment AND Music

Yes great points . Sometimes I just feel that I wish the hifi could just say " hey have a listen to this special number ". Which does happen when listening to web radio and something turns up.

Give it a couple of years and recommendations will be perfectly matched to your listening profile.

Nicely summarised,  and absolutely right, but I suppose it's human nature to want to keep improving our system, whatever stage we are at....but as you say perhaps we can become a little stale with our music choices along the way....

As for the Music Room thread, yes a library of musical genres that provides numerous  suggestions that require investigation.....if only one had enough time to explore.....  Hopefully when I retire 

Indeed it is all about the music, though for some people the equipment is a hobby as well, and sometimes from these forums you'd be forgiven for thinking some things get too heavily bogged down in the equipment...

live music is best, but in reality, at least for me, that is not achievable very often, so recorded has to suffice - and a wonderful hifi system can make it a real pleasure and, sometimes at least, create the illusion of live.

And I, too, in the early years used to spend several hours in record shops, listening to different things and buying some (though That was in the days when you could ask to listen to anything, and I would simply browse and pull out albums that caught my eye - e.g Deep Purple because I loved the colour purple and their first album was that colour!

however, over the years I found I liked new music less and less, whileit became all but impossible to search for new stuff as I used to, and I fell out of the habit. Now I find with a collection of about 1200 albums I don't crave new music because I never have time to iisten to everything I already have (and of course having favourites to which I keep returning). So my record collection these days grows very slowly, only occasionally being moved to buy something new. Perhaps I'm unusual in having quite restricted musical tastes, which have widened only marginally over the decades, which means there is far more I don't like than do, though I know there is probably loads of music out there that I'd like if I heard it...

Innocent Bystander posted:

Indeed it is all about the music, though for some people the equipment is a hobby as well, and sometimes from these forums you'd be forgiven for thinking some things get too heavily bogged down in the equipment...

live music is best, but in reality, at least for me, that is not achievable very often, so recorded has to suffice - and a wonderful hifi system can make it a real pleasure and, sometimes at least, create the illusion of live.

And I, too, in the early years used to spend several hours in record shops, listening to different things and buying some (though That was in the days when you could ask to listen to anything, and I would simply browse and pull out albums that caught my eye - e.g Deep Purple because I loved the colour purple and their first album was that colour!

however, over the years I found I liked new music less and less, whileit became all but impossible to search for new stuff as I used to, and I fell out of the habit. Now I find with a collection of about 1200 albums I don't crave new music because I never have time to iisten to everything I already have (and of course having favourites to which I keep returning). So my record collection these days grows very slowly, only occasionally being moved to buy something new. Perhaps I'm unusual in having quite restricted musical tastes, which have widened only marginally over the decades, which means there is far more I don't like than do, though I know there is probably loads of music out there that I'd like if I heard it...

 

Yes, I get that entirely. You have spent years building a large catalogue of 'owned' music you love, and with restricted time to listen this must be your primary 'go to' source.

Me, I spent years building a vinyl collection (on limited funds I may add), and, having moved to CD, I made the disastrous decision to sell all my vinyl. I reconciled this momentous decision in my head my convincing myself that what I had in my record collection was old hat and I needed to move on, not only in my source (then vinyl), but in my appreciation of music.

Although I think this was partially a mistake, I have been mostly vindicated (well in my own mind anyway) in that my tastes in music have moved on, and indeed many new artists have arrived in my collection. Admittedly I have downloaded some hi res files of some old favourites (you know, people, times, occasions, places and associated music that are engrained in your memory). Tidal is also your friend here when you need a nostalgic 'fix'.

I guess all I am saying is I now have a nice balance between the money and time I spend on hi fi kit and the time and money I spend on selecting music to play on my wonderful hi fi.

For example I have discovered a great new (to me) artist - the wonderful Beth Hart. I love listening to her work. Furthermore, I would argue I get more pleasure from listening to Ms Hart and other wonderful new finds than I would listening via a 'slightly better' power supply for my NDS.

Each to his or her own, and balance is everything.

A very good summary Nigel. It's easy to loose sight of WHY we do this - it's the emusic.  

I enjoy the thread 'the patest vinyl I've bought' in particular. Some trully inspirational stuff there....

Nice write up Nigel. The Music Room has been fantastic for finding new artists i may have normally overlooked. I've reached a happy level system wise and have no compulsion to get on the upgrading ladder so discovering and listening (and enjoying my existing collection) floats my boat these days. I always enjoy reading about others exploits and looking at peoples setups in the System Pics thread,  but the Music Room is where i head to for inspiration to build my playlists if i need it. 

nigelb posted:

 

I more or less mirror your comments exactly. I have changed my system quite a bit in the last 6 months, but have bought more new music in that period than in the previous 5 years or more.

The "music room" is great, I have bought quite a few from there. Only criticism is that I wish people would at least type the title and band on their threads, they assume by showing the cover picture that one knows the band an title - not always the case !

al9315 posted:.

The "music room" is great, I have bought quite a few from there. Only criticism is that I wish people would at least type the title and band on their threads, they assume by showing the cover picture that one knows the band an title - not always the case !

I have also found a few thoughts for things to try, though the "what are you listening to..." thread is so voluminous and fast growing that it is only possible to dip in occasionally, and following it generates more notifications than I would have time to follow. However, for when I do look at it,, al9315's request makes sense, but also it would be very nice to know something about the style, whether descriptive, or referencing some similar music etc

A a couple of years ago, after seeing several things that told me nothing, I responded on that thread, suggesting it would be helpful to others if people followed the title of the thread and gave a few words about why others might be interested (which of course unless someone was moved to say more need only be something like "great folk album", which would answer my above question). I got thoroughly lambasted for posting that, and in effect told I had no right to say anything unless I posted music there myself. It was an age before I bothered looking at that thread again.

I have bought lots of things from recommendations in the Music Room, and there are a few people I can generally rely on in their choices. It can be hard though to explain why others might be interested - which is in the title of the topic - but far more people try than don't these days, and I try to do it whenever possible.

Hungryhalibut posted:

It can be hard though to explain why others might be interested - which is in the title of the topic - but far more people try than don't these days.....

After that day Richard (rightly) stamped his feet!  :-)

C.

Steady on Chris, don't to you mean "led by example"..?

Nigel, I'll keep this topic in the Hifi Corner for now.

Richard Dane posted:

Steady on Chris, don't to you mean "led by example"..?

C.

Frank F posted:

The Music Room is a valuable source of advice, it is a pity there are no links to sample the music reported. I also reminisce about the old listening booths used by record stores but a You Tube search can provide some excerpts of Music room recommendations. 

The one thing I do use extensively is the radio. Given the advice not to switch off the system, unless there is a storm, I leave the radio selected at a lowish volume and it is remarkable how much new music I have discovered that I would have missed entirely.  Generally I have Radia Classica going 24/7 and this has been a very useful source of recorded material and live concerts and many of my classical purchases have been influenced by this. 

FF

It's something of a hassle posting the picture, let along having to add a link as well, though some do do that.

It may interest classical listeners (many of whom will doubtless know this already) that if you sign up to the Hyperion Records newsletter you get 15% off their record of the month. The newsletter also highlights their latest releases. It really is an excellent label.

Since gaining access to Tidal, I find myself visiting the thread much more these days, either to look for other folks recommendations, or to post my own, and I do feel the value of the thread has been greatly enhanced by so many folks now using Tidal, or any of the other streaming services.

This two way exchange has led to new discoveries for me, and, from the feedback received, interesting new stuff for others.

The Music Room forum appears first on the list, for good reason, since as others have pointed out, it's first and foremost "about the music." 

, 

Music Room + Tidal are perfect for new music, i also fallow new releases very closely, now the trouble is too much too listen and listen with the time they deserve....

are we consuming too fast now? 

Nigel - agreed and I'd make 2 points:

• First couldn't agree more about the record shop.  Saturday mornings were fantastic but Alan Freeman used to do this show on Radio 1 on Saturday afternoon and it was so good that I stopped going to football so I could listen to all that stuff he played.  And then bought the albums.  Also Nicky Horne used to do a great show on Capital late evening - Your Mother Wouldn't Like it. 
• Second a point about the equipment or perhaps more the technology.  From time to time I hear folks bemoaning the state of the industry.  I don't get it.  I see a vast array of products some really innovative that just open up music 24/7.   Although I don't stream (yet) it really is fantastic that on a Sunday afternoon I can post a picture of a CD I'm listening to and almost immediately you're listening to it on your system.  We have moved on for the better!!

It's all good.

Regards,

Lindsay

Now that brings back some memories, Saturday morning record shop visits, in my case it was afternoon visits, all LPs were either £2.49 or  £ 2.99.... Always used to head for the reduced section as money was a bit tight.....

Wenger posted about having more time "... when I retire ..." .... ..... ....

sorry I had to lift myself off from the floor with laughing there ... what time

I must agree with the post about putting in title and artist in your posts - it would be much appreciated - I very rarely visit the music room now as it seems to primarily consist of images of album covers

... I'm blind and am only reading this via a screenreader that only does text

New music is a relative term and therefore absolutely meaningless to anyone else since they don't know the music I already know.

This is why I am still buying a lot of music from the late 60s and 70s since I didn't have the money to buy it myself then. It is new to me now.

Similarly jazz was not a genre I appreciated at all but am now getting into the groove with the Jazz at 33 vinyl series ... although Ornette Coleman still leaves me icily cold !

Let's face it a Beethoven symphony is not new music either ...

Recommendations from Music Room, radio, family etc vastly overwhelm my time resources to follow-up; different from 40 years ago when it was the funds that were the constraining factor

I make it a rule not to buy anything that I can't listen to over the next day, otherwise I would have a huge pile of albums that I just wouldn't get through.

I also appreciate that this is a rather old-fashioned approach where the album, not the track, is the listening unit,

Allan

Allan Milne posted:

 

Wenger posted about having more time "... when I retire ..." .... ..... ....

sorry I had to lift myself off from the floor with laughing there ... what time

 

I must agree with the post about putting in title and artist in your posts - it would be much appreciated - I very rarely visit the music room now as it seems to primarily consist of images of album covers

... I'm blind and am only reading this via a screenreader that only does text

 

New music is a relative term and therefore absolutely meaningless to anyone else since they don't know the music I already know.

This is why I am still buying a lot of music from the late 60s and 70s since I didn't have the money to buy it myself then. It is new to me now.

Similarly jazz was not a genre I appreciated at all but am now getting into the groove with the Jazz at 33 vinyl series ... although Ornette Coleman still leaves me icily cold !

Let's face it a Beethoven symphony is not new music either ...

 

Recommendations from Music Room, radio, family etc vastly overwhelm my time resources to follow-up; different from 40 years ago when it was the funds that were the constraining factor

I make it a rule not to buy anything that I can't listen to over the next day, otherwise I would have a huge pile of albums that I just wouldn't get through.

I also appreciate that this is a rather old-fashioned approach where the album, not the track, is the listening unit,

 

Allan

 

Allan, if you have no time, after you have retired, how did you ever find the time to work....

This news is very depressing......maybe it's best not to retire....

Wenger,

... oh yes do retire, best thing I ever did, wish I could have done this when I was 30!

No pressure now so everything takes much longer since there is always tomorrow

I now have time to contribute to this forum when my dear lady is watching the TV and I can't listen to my music - when I was working there was always something else either work or home related that I had to do.

Music is also now for listening to without doing anything else at the same time, and if I am truthful, yes I do listen to more music than I used to.

Its definetly something to look forward to,

Allan

Allan, thank you for the reassurance,  it's much appreciated....and to listen to music without multitasking,  now that is something to look forward to...

Building on your point Allan re buying music from the 60-70-80s. A lot of it is new to me. 
Being born on a wrong side of the Iron Curtain, meant that flow of music was rather restricted. Believe it or not the first time I properly heard Deep Purple was when I moved to the UK in 1990. 
Things of course went down-hill from there.... 

One of my recent 'mission statements' is: if it was originally issued on vinyl, I will try to get an original. This way I have one of the first pressings of Deep Purple 'Machine Head' - issued in the same month and year as I was born. Most of my Genesis collection is now original vinyls. And so it goes on....
Only if I cannot find it on vinyl, I will then try a high-res download.

And the best thing is - it's a lot of fun

Hi Adam,

It certainly is fun ...

I don't worry about original vinyl since when I have bought 2nd hand originals the surface noise just annoys me ... so I tend to buy new reissues.

Have just bought a new vinyl of Deep Purple In Rock since my original was just a tad too noisy and I had a scratch across Child In Time

Actually I'm always absolutely amazed that my original albums are listenable to at all given the equipment they were played on, ... although I was rather anal about handling them and didn't let anyone else touch them.

Allan

Spot on, Nigel. A good post.  I've broadened my collection of music significantly thanks to others on the Music Room.  I've also been grateful for steers towards versions of albums with better reproduction quality. An excellent source of knowledge.

Mike

Allan Milne posted:

 

Hi Adam,

It certainly is fun ...

 

I don't worry about original vinyl since when I have bought 2nd hand originals the surface noise just annoys me ... so I tend to buy new reissues.

Have just bought a new vinyl of Deep Purple In Rock since my original was just a tad too noisy and I had a scratch across Child In Time

 

Actually I'm always absolutely amazed that my original albums are listenable to at all given the equipment they were played on, ... although I was rather anal about handling them and didn't let anyone else touch them.

 

Allan

 

I actually have a second-hand dealer, who knows that's I'm on a look out for Near Mint originals still affordable...