I miss being an audiophile

[swampdragon]

Indulge me for a minute

In my early twenties to early thirties I was a music snob (kind of like the high fidelity movie guy). I had the cheapest stereo that one could buy at the exclusive store
NAD equipment with Bowers and Wilkins speakers. I couldnt afford the crazy expensive so I bought the models of the little brothers. I actually still have it but with Klipsch speakers (my wife killed those BandW speakers listening to music too loud)
In my early 40s I worked professionally as an audio/video engineer designing conference rooms - tv studios - and fire safety systems
Since my late teens I have always kept up with indie type music and still do today
But it all sounds like compressed files to me - highs and lows sound stripped away from FM and Sirius radio in the car or even decent computer speakers. I do think that the recorded quality of MP3s is garbage
I really want to grab a great CD and just go into the audiophile store and listen to some great B and W speakers again - and see if at 52 I can still hear that beauty

What CDs have exceptional recorded clarity and mixed quality that I might like in rock/indie music to test out?

[Steve]

Your 52. If your like me, your hearing is shot anyway you listen to the music.

I blame the 1970's hard rock I listened to (much too loud) for the hearing issues.

[onejayhawk]

Back in the day, that was what Chip Davis was hired to do. He made sample tracks for audio stores. All of his Mannheim Steamroller music on vinyl is audiophile grade. Van Morrison also comes to mind. digital has dumbed down analog.

J

[johnnya24]

Have you read Neil Young's autobio yet? He's another audiophile ... I think you'd get a kick out of it. I think his POMO player is out, or coming out soon.

[swampdragon]

Have you read Neil Young's autobio yet? He's another audiophile ... I think you'd get a kick out of it. I think his POMO player is out, or coming out soon.

My roommate in college had many "dates" after he played Neil Young's music on his guitar at coffeehouse - so yes I am big follower of Youngs

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/20...uly-hear-music

[Papa Deuce]

Yeah, I don't know if it is age or not Swamp. I am also 52, and always bought great gear. I still have some in use, but I can not for the life of me tell the difference between a CD and MP3 recorded at the highest bitrate. I have Dark Side of the Moon is SACD format, and honestly, I really can't say that I can tell the difference versus the original. Maybe it is my old ears.

[chancellor]

See if you can track down Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" on SACD. An audiophile shop ought to have a player capable of reading SACDs, and this cd is awesome.

[Erik]

My hearing is shot, audiophilia is wasted on me.

[Fresno Bob]

my wife worked at Velodyne, a subwoofer company, for a while. I was pretty sad when we finally blew out that subwoofer that we got for 90% off.

[Kevin Seitzer]

My hearing is shot, audiophilia is wasted on me.

Autophilia, on the other hand...

[onejayhawk]

Autophilia, on the other hand...

Tell Rosie Palmer "Hi."

J

[bryanbutler]

Your 52. If your like me, your hearing is shot anyway you listen to the music.

I blame the 1970's hard rock I listened to (much too loud) for the hearing issues.

^this.

too many loud rock concerts, and too much music played really loud on headphones (real cover-the-ear ones) or on the rare occasion that i could, on my klipsch speakers (KG4s - as much as i could afford in '87 when i bought them).

[Gregg]

Your 52. If your like me, your hearing is shot anyway you listen to the music.

I blame the 1970's hard rock I listened to (much too loud) for the hearing issues.

Didn't your parents warn you?

And stop running with the scissors.

[bryanbutler]

Didn't your parents warn you?

And stop running with the scissors.

and stop going into the bathroom and locking the door. you'll go blind.