Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 23rd May 2008 13:02 UTC
Many of us grew up with the idea of the component audio system. A receiver (or a separate preamplifier and amplifier), tuner (radio), record player, tape deck, and later on a CD player. If you were into more fancy stuff, you had a DAT or MiniDisc deck as well. While some of us cling on to this mindset like there's no tomorrow, the real world seems to favour a different method of consuming music. According to Erica Ogg (what's in a name), the component audio system is on its way out - thanks to the iPod and the commoditisation of music.
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Member since:2005-07-08
Audiophiles are still going strong, they have just become more of a niche community than they used to be.
Exactly. Portable and digital music players give consumers new extra toys to choose from but they don't automatically kill old solutions, especially if the old solutions still work well too. Some people may prefer the old toys some the newer ones. Some even use old C-cassettes still too.
There will always be audiophiles and music lovers who are ready to invest in good quality sound and equipment because they want the best audio quality they can afford. For them MP3 may be a step backwards and they may not be huge lovers of portable music players in general either.
Personally, I have never had a portable MP3 player and I'm in no hurry to get one. I just rather listen to my favorite music in the peace of my home using good equipment than on some noisy train using lousy tiny headphones... Really, the analogue sound of old vinyls listened with good equipment at home beats the audio quality of MP3s listened in noisy traffic any time..
Besides, if I can choose, I also prefer to get my digital music in some better quality format than MP3. The quality of MP3 files can vary a lot. Too often MP3 producers (and consumers?) seem to care more for small file size than audio quality. I suppose crappy quality may be ok if the goal is just to consume latest hits for a short moment like you would consume candies. However, to lots of people good music is still more than just factory made candies to be chewed for a minute and then forgotten. Unfortunately major part of the music industry seems to care less and less for lasting musical quality and more for easy money only.
Maybe it is just that most current "music" from commercial entertainment factories does not even deserve anything better than to be consumed as short-lived MP3 background muzak for some other more important activities and then forgotten. Portable MP3 players may serve that purpose very well.
Member since:
2007-01-03
...when your equipment smells vintage.
). Audiophiles are still going strong, they have just become more of a niche communit than they used to be.
I collect vintage equipment as well as records. Theres nothing better than playing some vinyl after coming home. The equipment is a hobby in and of itself. Taking care of it takes quite a lot of time between recapping speakers and troubleshooting component issues (one of my receivers is currently burning out its fuses