Nothing So Out of the Ordinary, Exactly

I met John DeVore at last year's Consumer Electronics Show. Wes Phillips directed me: "Have you been to the DeVore Fidelity room yet?"
"Nuh-uh," I shook my head.
"You should check it out. I think John'll have some stuff that'll interest you."
"Alright," I nodded.

Wes was right.

At CES, I found that there were some rooms dedicated to gear: brightly lit displays, shimmering faceplates and glowing tubes, long tables covered in press kits, cheese plates, and wine. Not that there's anything wrong with that; I love cheese plates and wine. But then there were rooms dedicated to music: simple systems put together in the most efficient manner with rows of seats filled by music-lovers shuffling through discs, waiting their turns to act as DJ, wanting to listen to and share their favorite tracks. These were the rooms I felt most comfortable in. I immediately felt comfortable in the DeVore Fidelity room. There was no sales pitch, no awkward divide. There was a handshake, a smile, and an invitation to enjoy some music. I could forget my press badge, and simply listen. John was demoing a track from a Cat Power LP, I believe, when I walked in.

I knew that Wes liked John DeVore's speakers. I mean, I knew that Wes thought they were good. But, to be honest, I didn't know what that meant, exactly. I was overwhelmed by ideas of what I should be doing, and how I should be doing, and why I should be doing. This was my first CES, and I wasn't sure what I should be listening for. I shake my head at myself now, as I type. There's nothing so out of the ordinary, exactly, to be listening for. I know what music sounds like, after all. I should be listening for music. But I liked John DeVore's approach, and I liked the way people gathered in his room with bundles of CDs. That was good, it seemed to me.

And so: I came back day after day.
And I listened.

COMMENTS
Monty's picture

There is a little Hi-Fi shop in town run by this really young guy that I enjoy popping in and out of from time to time. I always try to pick up something or another while i'm in just because I like the guy. Anyway," what makes it fun is how he seems to light up when I walk in and he says something like ""you gotta check out this new disc!"" Before I know it"," I'm plunked down in a chair listening to his latest jewel...all the while he's just standing there grinning ear to ear. He's what I call ""fun"" people. People like that attract other people like a bug-light. The only point i'm trying to make really is that there are two types of audiophiles. The ones that listen to gear and the ones that listen to music.

Stephen Mejias's picture

>There is a little Hi-Fi shop in town run by this really young guy that I enjoy popping in and out of from time to time...Exactly. Right on.
I'm gonna try to be the kind that listens to music.

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