The audiophile's journey
The road to audio bliss has many potholes
The word 'audiophile' simply means a lover of music (i.e., music reproduction from an audio system). Based on the literal definition, the audio system is a means to an end (music) which is how it ought to be. However, the chase for ‘better’ sound oftentimes presents a welcome distraction for the audiophile instead of its primary goal. One may argue that the journey is way more exciting and satisfying than the destination itself. Suffice it to say, I believe a high-resolution audio system together with a high-quality recording will draw the listener closer to the music.
The Initiation
I believe the journey begins when a person is triggered either by inheritance, influence, peer pressure or has ended up at the wrong place and at the wrong time (e.g., exhibitions, in an audiophile’s home, in a high-end audio store without intention, etc.). A person may be triggered by a sheer fascination from an initial impression of listening to music from a high-resolution audio setup. This experience will lead to further discovery usually through the salesperson. This curiosity leads to exploration through magazines, the internet, forums, and audio saloons. If it is not influenced by a friend, it would soon lead the person to reach out and quickly develop friendships within the audiophile community to try and replicate the previous seminal listening experience.
The Buying
Then the buying begins, hastily the first but not the last system is played at home to the bewilderment of the family. Now family life would never be the same again. Space and time will be expected for the newfound creature and eventually, the buying becomes a secret venture, hidden but not to the glaring balance of the depressing monthly bank statements. The journey now if not navigated appropriately and cautiously, especially for those with deep pockets can be costly and for the average person even painful.
The ‘Guru’
The budding audiophile becomes intoxicated by the ministry of Sound and soon appoints a ‘guru’ which may be a salesperson that was inspiring or a particular reviewer in an audiophile magazine, a blogger, or a U-Tube presenter. This is perhaps an important phase for the audiophile to get off the beginner’s level and leap into the intermediate stage. This is where strict discipline is required to get the system calibrated just like the alignment of tires on a car. I am a strong believer in a mentor to provide a head-start; perhaps a shortcut instead of going down the rabbit hole. This will prevent costly mistakes along the way and keep you satisfied for a longer period until you start to itch again. Doing it right is more important than getting that branded or expensive stuff or playing into the flavor of the year game that will not hit the intended target. Therefore, selecting the right mentor is an important part of the journey. You should choose your mentor and not the other way around. The mentor must be a practicing audiophile; you should go listen to the subject’s system to evaluate if that is the right person for you to take advice from. I believe every audiophile should have a 'listening partner,' someone who shares your ideals about high-performance audio and hopefully listens to the same music genre. You should have a 'buddy' audiophile who will be your enabler, providing a second opinion, encouragement, and sometimes even restraint. You must find such a person to benefit from personal enrichment.
The Upgrading
The final step to audio bliss is tweaking and upgrading and more upgrading and tweaking if the wallet (or spouse) permits. There are a variety of reasons why people purchase high-end audio equipment. It may be due to the hobby (audiophile), peer pressure, ego, the love for music, aesthetic considerations, status, wealth (because I can afford it) or to fulfill a need for a sense of belonging (groupie). I remember a proprietor of a prominent audio salon who sold `branded’ high-end products who once told me that his market segment was not audiophiles, he claimed he had greater success selling to customers who didn't exactly know how to `listen' but instead appreciated the prestige of owning expensive equipment. So sad, don’t get into an obsession and spend indiscriminately without regard to your domestic responsibilities. I have heard a story of an audiophile in the US that has spent so much time on his audio system that his wife shot a hole into his expensive amplifier just to get his attention. Another was complaining that she needed a new refrigerator because it was not working well but was unable to get it but learned later that her husband had just purchased an interconnecting cable that cost more than the fridge. I digress, this is the stage where the budding audiophile gets lost in the upgrading game. Therefore, getting a mentor is a wise move to offer some perspective and balance.
Buying decisions are best done with your ears rather than your eyes. Don't be persuaded by specifications and hype of the parts inside, awards, the flavor of the year, or past reviews. Trust well-established high-end manufacturers and for lesser-known brands or products, do some research on the company first to understand its philosophy and its founder. The founder's or designer's background is a good indicator of the pedigree hence the quality of a product/brand. The designer's intent and technology use to get the most out of the music and their passion for quality music reproduction is perhaps key. Large companies or holdings may not have the interest of the audiophile at heart but instead may want to look at the bottom line and high-profit margins. Price should always be a factor and try to stick to my guide on the audiophile budget (read my article in these pages). The built quality is important which would be relative to price and if it's scalable or upgradable on relevant products. Shortlist the brands you may want to focus on so you won't waste your time and energy hunting. Always trust your instincts or sense, did they pass the smell test? You may want to consider looks as this may have a long-term psychological effect that may haunt you if you don't appreciate its looks at first glance.
Beware of self-proclaimed gurus
Audio salespeople are fine provided they are also audiophiles themselves, otherwise, they are just trying to push sales or meet quotas. And don’t be fooled if they tell you the reason that they don't have a system is that they can listen to all kinds of systems in their showroom. This is not the same as building your system from scratch which is rightly motivated by audiophilia passion. A person who had not spent money on a system or applied best practices, I believe at best is an “audiophile-in-name-only” (Ai-No).
The same could be said of some ‘audio reviewers' on YouTube if they are not appropriately scrutinized. They will have good talking points but lack substance if they don't have a properly set up high-end audio system. Many of them may be lobbyists for an interest group or advocates for an online retailer. The main giveaway can be seen by their ‘audio system’ set up in the background or none. Moreover, the content of their presentation at times may appear opposed to the audiophile values and principles. The conflict of interest is apparent in both cases. You should also be wary of self-proclaimed 'gurus' or experts out there who will debate endlessly about what's right and what's wrong. For all you know; you may have a better-sounding system than they have. If you want to take advice from someone, you should first go and listen to their system. If you feel that they have something there, you should then take heed because the proof is always in the pudding.
Ignore the tech-heads
I wanted to include the ‘Tech-Heads’ here but have changed my mind because I would devote an entire article to my ranting. Suffice it to say, they are the test bench geeks who believe in objective measurements and love to refute the audiophiles' subjective claims. Please refer to my other article - The Audiophile's Thorn where I argue in great length why they are misguided in their assumptions.
Do not surround yourself with audiophiles that exhibit cult-like tendencies
Stay away from the cult followers liking a particular brand that makes up an entire system. It is not that those branded components sound bad, but it is the ‘brand loyal’ attitude of the user that hamper their growth opportunities. Generally, audio system designers tend to specialize in specific technologies which are their forte. As the adage goes “Jack of all trades is a master of none”, we ought to be looking instead at the work of masters in a specific trade. Some audiophiles swear by horn or ribbon loudspeakers, or tubes or triodes (single-ended) only amplifiers. Nothing wrong with personal preference but the obsession if taken to the extreme is like blinders leading them down a solitary path or staying inside their little bubble when there could be better options and opportunities for growth.
There is nothing wrong with mixing and matching technologies and brands. However, we find most often these brand-loyal folks do not set up or listen to the system appropriately and discount the “Audiophile’s Experience” to the brand or design type that provides them with a false sense of belonging (groupies). I should also throw the rich and famous under the bus at this juncture who buys expensive systems because they can or desire to keep up with appearances. They are audiophiles in name only (Ai-No). Finally, we have boutique-type manufacturers that offer Avant Garde-styled hi-fi systems that are not built with audiophile principles or quality parts but may cost as much. They are designed for style and ergonomics catering to people who don’t want to fuss and fiddle with their system but want something to match their décor blending with the home environment to simply look elegant. You will soon discover who these people are as you journey along.
Conclusion
In the audiophile industry, there exists a swamp, and inside the swamp are creatures hoping to get a piece of you. So, tread carefully my friends, and stay on the boat until you reach your final destination. Don’t be distracted, and as you learn, things will become clearer with each passing year and you will soon discover what many of us had already learned.
