bifcake
bifcake's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Nov 27 2005 - 2:27am


Quote:

But there's another kind of listening you can do with friends -- not-so-serious listening, I suppose. When I get together with John DeVore and Michael Lavorgna, or with the guys from my old band, for instance, we have a grand ol' time. We're not all hush-hush and squeezed into the sweet spot. We bust out the fancy beer.

Did anyone notice that in order to become a Stereophile editor one has to be a failed something or other?

JA, JM, Stephen, Jon Iverson? - failed musicians
MF - Failed comedian
ST - Failed writer (If I'm not mistaken, I think he wanted to be a novel writer.)
AD - Failed revolutionary
JGH - Failed engineer

Wassup with that?

dbowker
dbowker's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 weeks 5 days ago
Joined: May 8 2007 - 6:37am

I gotta say Alex, I don't know if it's that I just don't get your humor or what, but you come off as having this huge axe to grind with pretty much anyone in the audio "establishment." How can you say all the writers in Stereophile are all "Failed" just because they had other jobs and careers? As I near the age of 40 I can count at least 3 distinct careers I've had, but I certainly don't count the first two as failures. I moved on when I saw new things to learn and new opportunities, and brought whatever experience I gained along with me to my new endeavors. I don't necessarily think sticking to one field or job is automatically a success, nor do you have to have a best seller to be a good writer or reviewer.

Calling someone a failure, even if they are a moderately "public" figure on an open forum is kind of a cheap shot in my book. If I had an issue with a particular writer I'd take the ISSUE up, but attacking the person won't get you very far (or much respect either).

I've disagreed with some of your posts, and agreed with others, but that doesnt mean I'd feel it within my right to attack who you are, or slap on a label that covers your entire professional life. Something to think about.

tomjtx
tomjtx's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 1 month ago
Joined: Nov 12 2006 - 2:53pm

very well said, dbowker.

I suspect JA, SM etc. still play their instruments , still make music. Just because they have other interests and ways to make money doesn't make them failures as musicians or other previous professions.

I think it's great that JA brings his musical background to his role as a recording engineer.
Many people in the arts wear a lot of hats in order to make a living.

People are allowed to change careers and are allowed to make mistakes( like banning DUP) and still be good at what they do. (sorry, couldn't resist)

I think you meant your post as humor but it does come across as quite harsh.

smejias
smejias's picture
Offline
Last seen: 13 years 4 months ago
Joined: Aug 25 2005 - 10:29am

Let's get back to the topic of this thread, please. It's a good and interesting thread. Thanks.

Buddha
Buddha's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 5 months ago
Joined: Sep 8 2005 - 10:24am

Speaking of listening parties...

Planning a listening party is the definitive way to know that some crucial element in your system is about to fail. The shorter the length of time until the party, the higher the odds ratio of system failure.

The most failure prone item during a listening party is that one special tube you have no replacement for.

The best way to find out what your system's weaknesses are is to listen in the presence of another audiophile. Even if the other audiophile remains silent, all your system's inadequacies will suddenly become glaringly obvious.

During a listening party, the effects of a given tweak are either universally perceived, or not. There are no 'mixed response' tweaks at listening parties.

Any other listening party truisms you've encountered?

tomjtx
tomjtx's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 1 month ago
Joined: Nov 12 2006 - 2:53pm

I had an impromptu party like that a few nights ago. A flamenco guitarist and his girlfriend had been wanting to come over for months . We of course listened more to the music than the system and it was a blast.

I have 0 interest in audiophile listening sessions.

I do enjoy music listening sessions with music lovers who happen to be audiophiles.
I think there is a big difference.

I don't mean to criticize anyone who does like an audiophile listening session, whatever floats your boat, but it's not for me.

I don't like talking about nails or the minutaie of technique with other guitarists either.
We usually talk about music, wine and good looking women

tomjtx
tomjtx's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 1 month ago
Joined: Nov 12 2006 - 2:53pm

AARRGGHHH!!!!!!

That's the kind of listening session I avoid like the plague

rvance
rvance's picture
Offline
Last seen: 10 years 7 months ago
Joined: Sep 8 2007 - 9:58am

Another Listening Party Truism(s):

You will all be so jazzed to be sharing new music that you will be enthusiastically talking over the music and switching titles with alarming speed, afraid that others are getting bored with your selections. But it will still be cool because you can turn the music up for "demo" purposes and the wife won't care. I also rotate my friends into the sweet spot as needed.

Elk
Elk's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 7 months ago
Joined: Dec 26 2006 - 6:32am


Quote:
The best way to find out what your system's weaknesses are is to listen in the presence of another audiophile. Even if the other audiophile remains silent, all your system's inadequacies will suddenly become glaringly obvious.


So true.

Although do you know a "silent audiophile", especially when it comes to perceived system weaknesses?

Pages

Log in or register to post comments
-->
  • X