to match better components?

Here's what I mean- I'm a 'Pop' kinda guy. I make no bones about the fact that the music I enjoy the most is late 60s - early 70s pop. Yep, all those overplayed tunes you hear constantly on 'classic rock' radio stations.

Yes, I liberally sprinkle in some blues, lots of modern country, a bit of disco, but generally hits are what I crave. But NOT on my 'good' systems :no:

No, I only want to play the 'good stuff', the well recorded and mastered stuff. The best recordings make the majority of my CDs and records sound like poo. My friends come by (OK, family....don't have any local friends), look at my selection of music, and ask me to play a specific song. Do I agree? Oh, no. I tell them that is not a very good recording, let's listen to this, it may not be your preferred genre but it is an awesome recording. Even family no longer wants to come by for tunes.

Does this sound familiar to any of you? Have you 'special' recordings that show off your system but musically they just aren't your cuppa?

I think I've fallen into a typical audiophool trap, buying recordings that sound good but don't have the tunes that move me. Listening to the sound rather than the music. In fact, really not listening to much at all.

Time for me to change. Have a 60s mix on now, will follow it up with some CDs I've not listened to for far too long.

Screw the audiophile qualities, time to go back to what I like. And you're invited to stop by- if I have some tunes you want to hear, I'll be happy to play them for ya.

Right after you hear just how fine 'St James Infirmary' sounds, of course :)

Ever since I ditched my Pioneer receiver for a Yammi tuner and amp, I'm finding that I enjoy discovering jazz, and bringing my Dual out of retirement has rekindled my interest in listening to my 70's LP's. So I'd say, "yes", because I'm now listening to less 80's pop stuff, which has so far been my favorite.
Tom

With the Jolida ana AX2s I listen to quieter stuff,the singer-songwriter as opposed to the rawkin' blues of past.This combo is just so suited for quiet music.

Good thread Ray,your first?

Alan

Been there, done that, but have pretty well gotten over it. I have had systems over the years that seemed to shape what I wanted to hear, and also went through the "play something audiophile" phase. I listen to a very wide variety of stuff - classic rock, prog rock, classical, jazz, a little country - and have finally settled on a system that makes the well-recorded stuff sound great but is not too merciless on the older stuff.

Ray I'm nowhere near the quality displayed in, say, your avatar :) but have found the same thing - beloved tunes (mostly the classic rock too) sitting on the shelf while strange notes pour forth sweetly from my speakers.

Outside of most Opera I now go to the good recordings regardless of style. It's warping my mind!

Pete

There's another alternative, of course, and it's one made possible by the collector in most of us...

When your idiot brother-in-law drops by with his ill mannered swarm and wants to go for a ride to get ice cream in your 327 Split Window Corvette, don't suggest a trip to the steakhouse instead. Load'em up in your K-car station wagon and head for Baskin-Robbins!

In other words, fire up that Bose system you have secreted away in the corners, behind the potted plants and pictures of Unca Billy & Aunt Sara. That's what Dr. Amar designed that stuff for. :thmbsp:

Well for me, my music did change. But not because of the equipment. I just got so sick and tired of "radio tunes", esp. classic rock. I don't care if I ever hear "Stairway to Heaven" or "Honky Tonk Women" again (and add about 100 other overplayed songs). So I started looking for more. I started with b-sides and deep cuts of all those rock bands that I already liked. For example, there are so many great Allman Bros. songs that a radio listener will never, ever hear.

Then thanks to some kind folks here and over at Rave Recs, I've been introduced to literally hundreds of artists in the mainly alt-country/Americana genres that literally just blew me away musically. I lean more toward singer/songwriter stuff. But dang - there are so many good artists and so much great music out there, that I'll never touch even 1% of.

Now I will say that getting back into vinyl 3 or 4 years ago was one of the most fun musical journeys I've been on. I just love the sound of vinyl, love the hunt for vinyl, and just love holding/reading an LP cover while the album is playing (as opposed to reading a cd liner).

Good thread.

JD

Great Thread,

I don't only play the well recorded and mastered stuff but I do tend to naturally gravitate towards it. But, if the sound is at a minimum threshold of acceptability and I like the music I'll listen to it. There is some stuff that doesn't meet that criteria and I either need to get a better copy or designate it a 2nd system (warm, lazy push/pull) piece.

Luckily a lot of what I like , Fleetwood Mac , Dire Straits , Dylan , Mark Knofler , Stevie Ray Vaughn , Eagles etc is being either released on SACD/ DVD Audio , remastered CD or in the case of Mark Knofler well recorded in the first place. :banana:

Long may this remastering last as long as its done well.

Dave