TannyOz
New Member
TannyOz
Wife of Audiophile
Posts: 9
|
Post by TannyOz on Aug 23, 2019 9:13:33 GMT 10
Hi,
As the wife of an audiophile I have noticed that being an audiophile is predominantly a boy's club. I wonder why this is? I like to listen to music.
TannyOz
|
|
sandyk (RIP Alex, 1939 - 2021)
Global Moderator 
Posts: 226
About Me: Retired ex Principal Telecommunications Technical Officer with 43 years at Telstra (Australia)
I am also a Moderator in Hi Fi Critic Forum
Electronics hobbyist for >65 years with DIY projects including Loudspeakers, Stereo FM tuner, S/W Regen Receiver, Superhet AM ,
Synchrodyne PLL AM tuner (Phase Lock Loop),Stereo Tape Deck, Amplifiers including I.C. types, Class A, Class AB 100W/Ch. (ETI5000) 240W/Ch. Mosfet (AEM6000) ,several DACs , numerous PSUs including VERY low noise (<4uV) types etc.for myself and friends
Audio Industry Affiliation: NIL
|
Post by sandyk (RIP Alex, 1939 - 2021) on Aug 23, 2019 9:58:19 GMT 10
Hi, As the wife of an audiophile I have noticed that being an audiophile is predominantly a boy's club. I wonder why this is? I like to listen to music. TannyOz Perhaps wives have more pressing matters to attend to such as preparing and bringing refreshments to the lazy slob on the couch with the remote control ?  |
|
bdiament
Junior Member
Rebel
Posts: 11
Audio Industry Affiliation: Producer, Engineer
|
Post by bdiament on Aug 23, 2019 23:01:27 GMT 10
Hi, As the wife of an audiophile I have noticed that being an audiophile is predominantly a boy's club. I wonder why this is? I like to listen to music. TannyOz Hi Tania, My wife composes music and has played piano, clarinet, bassoon, and alto saxophone. She has wonderful ears and I often enlist her aid when assessing a change to the system in the listening room/studio. She does not know any "audiophile" terms but can still describe what she hears. An avid music listener, she appreciates the big system but is just as happy listening to a portable during her daily perambulations. Her take on audiophiles? Based on what she's seen on various audio fora where I used to participate, she considers the hobby dominated (or at least infested) with a certain type that seeks to engage in waving a certain appendage I'll not name here. ;-} She advises me to avoid all audio fora. We hold out hope that this new one will be the exception. |
|
TannyOz
New Member
TannyOz
Wife of Audiophile
Posts: 9
|
Post by TannyOz on Aug 25, 2019 21:47:36 GMT 10
Hi Barry,
How lovely of you to reach out to me. thank you.
I very much enjoy all kinds of music even if I can't always find words to describe it. Some things don't need explanation.
Your wife is obviously a very talented musician so together quite the musical pair. I would love to meet you both one day should you visit Australia. Our daughter is currently living in London so our travels take us in that direction.
Both our children have been exposed to great music from an early age. There was little choice in our household. Some of the best times were family vacation road trips listening to favourite tracks. When they were little they met James Taylor on stage and got his autograph. Great memories.
Thank you again and my regards to your wife.
Tania
|
|
TannyOz
New Member
TannyOz
Wife of Audiophile
Posts: 9
|
Post by TannyOz on Aug 25, 2019 21:52:10 GMT 10
Hi, As the wife of an audiophile I have noticed that being an audiophile is predominantly a boy's club. I wonder why this is? I like to listen to music. TannyOz Perhaps wives have more pressing matters to attend to such as preparing and bringing refreshments to the lazy slob on the couch with the remote control ? Hi Alex, he has his own listening chair. When he's in it he can't hear me ! You must visit again soon. Tania |
|
|
|
Post by ROWUK on Aug 26, 2019 2:59:35 GMT 10
What a great situation - a voice unfortunately seldom heard!
I do have some questions:
1) do you use the "big system" when you are alone?
2) are there functions on the big system that you avoid
3) do you ever listen at "live music" levels?
4) how often do you get goosebumps when seriously listening?
|
|
nombe
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by nombe on Aug 26, 2019 3:48:07 GMT 10
I think the answer to OP’s question rests somewhere in the male brain. Many audio enthusiasts listen with their eyes. Cars, Wristwatches, bicycles, big silver boxes, all boy’s toys. Just the way it is. (Always exceptions)
|
|
sandyk (RIP Alex, 1939 - 2021)
Global Moderator
Posts: 226
About Me: Retired ex Principal Telecommunications Technical Officer with 43 years at Telstra (Australia)
I am also a Moderator in Hi Fi Critic Forum
Electronics hobbyist for >65 years with DIY projects including Loudspeakers, Stereo FM tuner, S/W Regen Receiver, Superhet AM ,
Synchrodyne PLL AM tuner (Phase Lock Loop),Stereo Tape Deck, Amplifiers including I.C. types, Class A, Class AB 100W/Ch. (ETI5000) 240W/Ch. Mosfet (AEM6000) ,several DACs , numerous PSUs including VERY low noise (<4uV) types etc.for myself and friends
Audio Industry Affiliation: NIL
|
Post by sandyk (RIP Alex, 1939 - 2021) on Aug 26, 2019 10:50:32 GMT 10
Perhaps wives have more pressing matters to attend to such as preparing and bringing refreshments to the lazy slob on the couch with the remote control ? Hi Alex, he has his own listening chair. When he's in it he can't hear me ! You must visit again soon. Tania Hi Tania I would love to, but no wheels these days.
I loved your freshly cooked bread too ! 
Kind Regards Alex
|
|
bdiament
Junior Member
Rebel
Posts: 11
Audio Industry Affiliation: Producer, Engineer
|
Post by bdiament on Aug 27, 2019 3:16:00 GMT 10
Hi Barry, How lovely of you to reach out to me. thank you. I very much enjoy all kinds of music even if I can't always find words to describe it. Some things don't need explanation. Your wife is obviously a very talented musician so together quite the musical pair. I would love to meet you both one day should you visit Australia. Our daughter is currently living in London so our travels take us in that direction. Both our children have been exposed to great music from an early age. There was little choice in our household. Some of the best times were family vacation road trips listening to favourite tracks. When they were little they met James Taylor on stage and got his autograph. Great memories. Thank you again and my regards to your wife. Tania Hi Tania, How nice it would be to meet you and David (and Alex) and my other friends on the other side of the world. Isn't the Internet a marvelous thing? I know folks I'd never have met otherwise. Mary and I have had music in common since the first night we met -- going to a musical performance in New York City. Of late, she has become interested in learning to play Celtic music on recorder. Your children are lucky to have been exposed to music early on. May it bring them a lifetime of joy. |
|
bdiament
Junior Member
Rebel
Posts: 11
Audio Industry Affiliation: Producer, Engineer
|
Post by bdiament on Aug 27, 2019 3:35:06 GMT 10
What a great situation - a voice unfortunately seldom heard! I do have some questions: 1) do you use the "big system" when you are alone? 2) are there functions on the big system that you avoid 3) do you ever listen at "live music" levels? 4) how often do you get goosebumps when seriously listening? Hi ROWUK,
Not sure if your post was addressed to me but since my post is the only one I've found in this thread that mentions a "big system" I'll respond. (My apologies if I'm mistaken.)
1. Yes, I use the "big system" when I'm alone, as well as with company, or with clients. There are two "small" systems in the house as well but not in the same league as the Maggie-based system.
2. The main system (aka the big one ;-}) is very simple in design, so there are no functions I avoid. (That said, the Metric Halo ULN-8 computer interface, used here as D-A converters and "preamp," has capabilities far beyond what I employ when using it to make recordings or master them.)
3. I forgot who said it but I recall reading once where someone suggested that every recording has a single "best" playback level. I would tend to agree insomuch as I find each recording does seem to offer its best at a particular playback level, which varies with different recordings. Unfortunately, to my ears, most recordings do not allow "live music" levels -- I find the all-too-liberal use of dynamic compression more than a little fatiguing. Combine this with a popular tendency to exaggerate the treble and I can do nothing other than turn it *down* if I'm to enjoy the music. At least this is true among the "non-classical" musics I enjoy, even with jazz. Classical music is often (but not always) less futzed with and so allows more of a realistic level to be set. I have long observed that the recordings that sound the best to me (i.e. the most convincingly like music) all have in common the ability to let me turn them up without listener fatigue.
4. I frequently get goose bumps when listening -- regardless of the system but definitely to a greater degree with the Maggie system. Just the other day, I was listening to an old favorite and found myself wiping tears from my eyes during my favorite songs. (Tears count as goose bumps, don't they? It is when the music really touches you, to the core. It is music's great power -- and, I believe, why Jeff Buckley referred to it as not merely an art form but a force of nature.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ROWUK on Aug 28, 2019 4:35:59 GMT 10
Thank you for the answer Barry. It is very interesting to hear what those that do audio for a living do on their time off. Actually though, my intention was to hear from TannyOz the "wife of audiophile" how seriously she has been bit by the audiophile bug... My own wife does use the big system (horn based) but generally just the low danger digital side.
I agree with each album having a "just right" volume and actually, I set the volume for the album and leave it until the work is finished. The actual volume is plausible - as is the presentation. I have often thought about having a volume control that does not decrease the volume primarily, rather moves me acoustically away from the source. For acoustic music this is easy by reducing the L+R signal - space increases and volume goes down.
Tears count as goosebumps and those capable certainly have something special going for their hobby. Maybe the true hi end is the capablity to cause tears.
|
|
TannyOz
New Member
TannyOz
Wife of Audiophile
Posts: 9
|
Post by TannyOz on Aug 28, 2019 11:00:57 GMT 10
I think the answer to OP’s question rests somewhere in the male brain. Many audio enthusiasts listen with their eyes. Cars, Wristwatches, bicycles, big silver boxes, all boy’s toys. Just the way it is. (Always exceptions) I quite like the look of the audio gear plus all of the boy's toys you listed......"Cars, Wristwatches, bicycles, big silver boxes". Must say I do prefer little Blue boxes from Tiffany's instead. |
|
TannyOz
New Member
TannyOz
Wife of Audiophile
Posts: 9
|
Post by TannyOz on Aug 28, 2019 12:18:28 GMT 10
Hi Barry, How lovely of you to reach out to me. thank you. I very much enjoy all kinds of music even if I can't always find words to describe it. Some things don't need explanation. Your wife is obviously a very talented musician so together quite the musical pair. I would love to meet you both one day should you visit Australia. Our daughter is currently living in London so our travels take us in that direction. Both our children have been exposed to great music from an early age. There was little choice in our household. Some of the best times were family vacation road trips listening to favourite tracks. When they were little they met James Taylor on stage and got his autograph. Great memories. Thank you again and my regards to your wife. Tania Hi Tania, How nice it would be to meet you and David (and Alex) and my other friends on the other side of the world. Isn't the Internet a marvelous thing? I know folks I'd never have met otherwise. Mary and I have had music in common since the first night we met -- going to a musical performance in New York City. Of late, she has become interested in learning to play Celtic music on recorder. Your children are lucky to have been exposed to music early on. May it bring them a lifetime of joy. Hi Barry. Yes... our children have been extremely lucky to have this opportunity. They just love listening to such a glorious range of music and often get questioned by others as to why their tastes are so varied and.... how do they appreciate and comprehend all the technical stuff Two short stories. Our son in Event Logistics often cannot resist providing his opinion to the sound engineers when setting up for a gig/concert. They "listen" but don't "hear". Our daughter, worked in London on a gap year behind the cocktail bar at the Princess Theatre (Les Miserables). She often served a relaxing drink to her employer's Cameron Macintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Over time they were quite amazed how a confident, petite, attractive, young (19 yrs old at time) Aussie girl knew so much about music (besides other things).  Yes... we are very proud parents loving their stories and guiding them to a "lifetime of joy" in music. |
|
|
|
Post by Audiophile Neuroscience on Aug 28, 2019 14:10:10 GMT 10
Our son in Event Logistics often cannot resist providing his opinion to the sound engineers when setting up for a gig/concert. They "listen" but don't "hear". maybe "sound guys" not engineers ? One of my all time favourite bdiament quotes/paraphrases ...."after the sound guy weaponizes the sound" at Rock concerts !
David ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing a song." - - Louis Armstrong |
|
|
|
Post by ROWUK on Aug 29, 2019 5:17:36 GMT 10
A sound guy told me that the stage was not a chamber concert when I complained about excessive SPL from the monitors on stage. Me moving the mikes to create excessive feedback did change his mind however...
There is no solution for stupid and earplugs on stage are stupid.
|
|
