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I met a female audiophile in 1977 when I first got married. God was she wierd. Dave
Reader Sharon Churchill is curious about whether or not <I>Stereophile</I>'s readers have much contact with female audiophiles.
Unfortunately, only one . . . my wife. But even here there is a catch: she's totally deaf in her left ear (nerve damage), so accuses me of spending twice as much as she would on gear. Mono would be just fine for her. Joking aside, her good ear is truly golden . . .
It's a shame, but I have yet to meet a female who was really into high -end audio. Sure, the majority of women love music just as much as men, but to see a woman who can talk tubes and power amps is a rare sight. A lot of women don't care about how things "sound." To them the meaning of the music carries more weight. Trust me. Men wouldn't sing love songs if women didn't like hearing them so much! LOL!
I don't even know more than a few MALE audiophiles. One question I've always had is, Why are most musicians, conductors, and composers male? Is music a guy thing? The reason might be due to that old adage, "men's work is from dawn to dusk, but women's work is never done." I.e., men have had leisure time that women traditionally haven't.
My girlfriend hears things that I don't, and reminds me that it's about the music above all. I have learned to respect her ears. She is unencumbered with "knowledge" about what "should" sound better, and her perceptions frustrate me sometimes, but I always listen again with a more open mind after hearing her commentary.