Do you play the music you love or the stuff that makes the Naim system sound good?

Adam, i warn you theres a lot of 80's pop/rock in there.... Format is not the only reason they don't get played anymore! 

One other serious point about the 3x rule is that it might be a moving target perhaps : Naim equipment gets constantly more expensive, CDs seem to get ever cheaper...

I will take my chances You'd be surprised to see my album collection

Haim Ronen posted

Perhaps sound counts only up to a point and beyond that lies la-la land with its fancy toys ownership pride and infinite upgrades. In my mind, anyone who spends three times (or more) on his gear than the cost of his music resides in that land. 

I don't see the logic of this: firstly the relatove values will vary according to where you are in music system building, and some people may prefer to get a system that sounds good to them as soon as possible, while others may be content to wait. Secondly, what is the point of having a collection of such value, = so large, that you will never play much of it more than possibly the first time you add tomyour collection? Or thirdly, what if your musical taste is quite narrow and you are satisfied witha relatively small collection of music?

I play what I like, little point in well played stuff you dislike.

Mark J,

I appreciate your honesty.  I play the music I loike.  On occasion, I demo my HiFi to visitors - and I will play music that I like which is also well-recorded (depending upon their musical taste).

My good friend Jim was visiting about 12 or so years ago (before I had an all Naim system), and I was wanting him to hear my system its best.  So I played a cut from "Electric Blues Doctor" by Drink Small, from Mapleshade.  His gentle response was "this must be an audiophile recording?"  For me it was an instant realization that I was playing uninspiring music (for me or my friend -  maybe others find it inspiring) just because it made my HiFi sound better.  I have not played that album since.  But I have since not bought any "audiophile" music, and  I have prioritized my interest in music over my interest in HiFi.  Thank you Jim!   Fortunately my HiFi is much better now, and almost all my music sounds good.  

Charlie

Haim Ronen posted:

Florestan posted:

Let me state this another way.  What professional musician plays on the poorest quality of instrument by choice?  A top violinist will usually end up playing on a Stradivarius (or similar) despite the fact that you could say his 'interpretation' is the same whether he plays on a cardboard instrument that sounds like gravel or a rare miracle of workmanship that brings heaven a little closer to earth.  It seems that this is what many people believe when they say sound does not matter.  

 

Doug,

It is surprising how many musicians 'confess' of having very elementary music systems despite the fact that the sound plays a major role in their art. I wonder why? The one exception I know is Charlie Haden. I had to rush to the Chicago Naim Dealer to hear the first 555 player in North America before it was being taken to Haden who couldn't wait for his to arrive from the UK.

Perhaps sound counts only up to a point and beyond that lies la-la land with its fancy toys ownership pride and infinite upgrades. In my mind, anyone who spends three times (or more) on his gear than the cost of his music resides in that land. 

Regards,

Haim

Haim,

On the first point, I used to wonder the same thing.  Now, I have come to the conclusion that a big expensive system is not a priority of most musician since they would obviously pour all their money first and foremost in to the instrument they need.  Besides talent, their public persona/reputation depends on the quality of the instrument.   Most musicians probably also do not listen to a lot of music either (as they would have during their youth and during university / training etc.. ) Maybe they check things out here and there as a professional but that is all.  If you spend 8 or 10 hours per day practicing and teaching do you think you would come home and sit and listen to more music ?  Maybe not ?  Just like the donut maker (professional baker) probably wouldn't go home after a long day and pull out his consumer level mixer and make more donuts just for fun.  

I also think professional musicians have to have a very high opinion about themselves.  In other words, most believe that they are not inferior to any recording artist and the living ones today probably view the others as competition in a way.  Do you ever notice that when you read the response of most superstar musicians who when asked who their favourite musicians are they tend to mention the dead ones as this helps them avoid naming others which they don't want to do and there is not much competition from dead colleagues.

One thing I have seen is that despite musicians have no real need to pursue hi-fi they mostly all invariably are quite good at telling you honestly about the sound quality and character of the system.  Is it fat and bloated?  Is it quick and lean?  And especially, does it present a true and real rendering as it would in real life?

On the second point, maybe it could also be a question of quality vs. quantity.  At some point one has to decide where they want to be with a system.  If you make a big investment there may be an in-balance initially but eventually you catch up.  I am a living example of this.  Years ago I would have been heavy on equipment.  Today with the same equipment I would say my gear and software are pretty evenly balanced.

When it comes to my piano though it is no contest.  Gear is the priority.  Music scores may be at around 10-15% the value of the instrument.  If I had a lesser instrument it may be 50-50.  I have a lot of music scores by the way and am always adding but personally if I had the opportunity I would get a second or third or fourth piano and knock the value of scores in comparison down to 0.0000025% compared to the instruments.  That is how important the instrument(s) are and the ratios / logic is completely opposite to your formula for replay equipment.

Regards,

Doug