joelha

Audio: Listen to this article. It is the best of times . . . hands down. While it’s hard to know how many readers agree, I’ll first deal with the reasons to disagree: High-end audio stores are becoming a rarity in the U.S. and many stores now reside in store owners’ homes. As a result, we have fewer opportunities to audition equipment, leaving us with audio shows, friends who live nearby who might have the component we’re interested in, and audio reviews. Hardly ideal alternatives. Speaking of audio shows, they’re infrequent and, if you have to travel a long way, expensive. What’s more, the show’s rooms (typically hotel rooms) are rarely ideal for critical listening. Finally, it’s always frustrated me that there’s an acceptance of conversation during listening sessions. I know people want to share opinions and conduct business but the primary reason for an audio show should be to hear audio. Online trolls are a downside of the industry. For reasons that are hard to understand, some people delight in trying to make others miserable. I’ll offer a theory in spite of the fact that it doesn’t reflect well on our hobby. Ours is generally a hobby enjoyed alone. Unlike a group getting together to watch a televised football game, we usually don’t invite “the guys” over to listen to Mahler. Does that mean we audiophiles are a bunch of social misfits? No, and I have a number of dear friends in the industry who certainly don’t fit that description. But I wonder, because of the nature of our hobby, if we have more than our share of maladjusted hobbyists. You might be thinking that there’s nothing new about trolling. People have always raised their “issues”. While that’s true, the internet has brought us online forums and anonymity which allows for far more obnoxious behavior. Where there used to be disagreeable letters to magazines, now there can be tiresome exchanges which often substitute vitriol for substance. There’s also the economy. Many people are struggling to pay their bills. How can it be “the best of times” when people struggle to pay for gas, groceries, and rent? Probably the best objection to my “best of times” claim is that, at least in the U.S., the high-end audio industry is shrinking. This is an existential issue that has been well documented and frequently discussed. In general, the younger generations seem to care more about audio convenience than audio quality. It’s not only their loss but ours as well. As we lose hobbyists we lose the high-end industry. It’s disappointing to see the advancing age of the average U.S. audio show attendee. Furthermore, how many non-audiophiles know of even reasonably priced audio brands such as Magneplanar and NAD let alone the higher-priced brands such as Wilson Audio or D’Agostino? I’ll bet a pretty small percentage. At least I can dream of owning a Learjet because I know what it is. But how does one aspire to own a product they’ve never even heard of? After all of that, what could be good? Fortunately, quite a bit. Without a doubt, the most significant advancement in our industry is technology and the internet. When I was a teen, the only way to add to my audio system or music collection was to either buy mail order products or hope there was an audio or music store nearby. Today, we have easy access to products in almost any part of the world. We can quickly learn about and order products from China, Europe, and Australia. We can view various manufacturers’ information online and quickly make comparisons between products. Internet searches not only help us find product reviews but find forums which allows us to interact with listeners internationally. Forums can also be indispensable for problem-solving. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been helped by someone willing to sacrifice their time to solve my audio issue. How about music downloads? It’s not easy to list all the sources of downloadable music (Qobuz, Hdtracks, Bandcamp, etc.). And the selection is growing, not only in terms of variety but also in terms of high resolution and surround options. You’d rather buy cd’s and vinyl instead of downloads? Discogs, Amazon, Analog Productions, and so many other companies offer a tremendous variety of music in almost any genre, new and used. Here again, an internet search will produce purchase options from all over the world. How about the renaissance in tape playback? Some are not only going back to reel-to-reel tape but even cassette tape. At least to some listeners, sound can be upgraded using a variety of upsamplers and programs minimizing the processes employed by Windows. There are countless other programs and tweaks available at the click of a mouse tempting many audiophiles to continually explore the possibility of getting even better sound. Room correction software is yet another method many are using to improve the sound they get in their listening space. While not as simple as a music download, the software is easy to get and can be installed and operated by someone with average computer skills. The benefits of these technical advancements don’t stop with the end-user. The ability of manufacturers to measure their products and globally source components is greater than it’s ever been. Ultimately, we are the beneficiaries. And how could I leave out streaming? Literally millions and millions of tracks are available, not only in two-channels but in surround as well, delivered to our rooms (or phones) in seconds for a relatively modest monthly charge. As for prices, I never understood the complaints I’ve read so often about high-priced audio. Sure, there are many uber-priced components which roughly equate to the price of a nice home. But in what way do those products affect our ability to shop at the lower end of the market? With a laptop or PC, even $100 will get you a decent tiny USB dac and in-ear monitors. For $500 you can get a nice dac, deskop amplifier and desktop speakers. And $1,000 will you a surprisingly good system including stand mount speakers, integrated amplifier and dac. And that’s shopping for new product. Shopping on-line for used products offers even more possibilities. I realize almost everyone reading this article is well aware of most if not all of the points I’ve made. But I’m not sure how many audiophiles have taken the time to reflect on the great audiophile times in which we live. It is easy to take all that we have for granted and, given the frustrations we experience in our hobby and even in life, it’s important to reflect on what is right in our lives. The title of my article doesn’t say or even imply “perfect”. I’ve listed a number of reasons to be frustrated but I’ll take today to any time in the past . . . hands-down.