Audiophiles Versus Videophiles

[bobsticks]

I saw this quote on Head-Fi (A major headphone site, not a porn site so stop getting excited):



I thought it was funny as hell.... To many audiophiles, analog and tubes are perfect perfection, yet the same doesn't seem to apply to videophiles

(interestingly, the spell check on this site thinks 'videophile' should be spelled 'pedophile')...

Good post Ajani.

Here's how this argument plays out, some very nice young man will come along and point out that while analog may ultimately outdo digital in things audio a decent cdp and DAC can be had for far less money than a competitive vinyl rig...

...and then one of them fancy, schmancy, Eastern book-learnin' type cat is gonna come along with his chest all puffed out and claim that vinyl is making a resurgence and REGA will soon rule the world...

[Ajani]

I saw this quote on Head-Fi (A major headphone site, not a porn site so stop getting excited):

When was the last time you saw a videophile fussing over a 1950s black-and-white all tube television, trying to get an analog signal over the air?

I thought it was funny as hell.... To many audiophiles, analog and tubes are perfect perfection, yet the same doesn't seem to apply to videophiles

(interestingly, the spell check on this site thinks 'videophile' should be spelled 'pedophile')...

[E-Stat]

To many audiophiles, analog and tubes are perfect perfection, yet the same doesn't seem to apply to videophiles

Sorry, I think it is a bad analogy. Triodes continue to have more linear distortion spectra than most SS designs. You might find this article by Nelson Pass illuminating. As for the video comparison, I'll take a 50's 70mm Cinemascope film over a DVD any day for color saturation and lack of grain structure.

rw

[GMichael]

Funny you should post this. Just the other week, our geek... Oops, I mean, our computer guy was telling me how digital is killing picture quality and that it helped audio. When I tried to explain that many audiophiles feel that the CD was a step backwards from LP's ,he poo poo'd my comments and laughed at me.

[blackraven]

While I agree that a lot of LP's sound better than Cd's, it's only if you have a good TT, cartridge and phono preamp. I feel that well recorded Cd's sound as good if not better than most LP's when played on a good source or through a good DAC. For most people, a good CDP or DAC is more affordable than spending $3k for a TT, Cartridge and Phonopreamp.

[emesbee]

While I agree that a lot of LP's sound better than Cd's, it's only if you have a good TT, cartridge and phono preamp. I feel that well recorded Cd's sound as good if not better than most LP's when played on a good source or through a good DAC. For most people, a good CDP or DAC is more affordable than spending $3k for a TT, Cartridge and Phonopreamp.

I agree with that. Vinyl can sound very good indeed, and can surpass CDs, but to do so it requires very expensive equipment. And for me, vinyl is always hobbled by the problem of surface noise. Nothing detracts more from my enjoyment of music than snap, crackle and pop.

Anyway, that's probably getting slightly off track. It does seem today that a lot of people are more video than audio oriented. I know people who have happily spent thousands of dollars on expensive video projection systems, only to pair it with a cheap, low quality, sound system. Some people just don't seem to care what it sounds like, as long as the picture is good.

[Auricauricle]

You guys oughta take a gander at today's New York Times, where the reporter stated that LP sales are goin' up. Seems like the Nostalgia Bug is making a comeback and the people at Rega etc. are poised to attack.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/te...rntable&st=cse

[vlad008]

opened, and bob, please see my PM.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Off Topic:

So is sticks a new mod?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Interesting. Makes sense too.

[GMichael]

Off Topic:

So is sticks a new mod?

I'm betting that Bob saw that his post made it to the top spot and wanted to see if the system would let him delete a thread as the OP. (Even though he was not the OP)
It was just a test?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Interesting. Makes sense too.

What does?

What GM just said.

What did GM say?

That sticks became the OP and was testing to see if he could delete it.

Where did you read that?

Down there.

You mean "up there"

I'm so confused now.

[Ajani]

This site is so messed up right now... hopefully tech support (whoever that is) will manage to correct things soon...

[Rich-n-Texas]

This site is so messed up right now... hopefully tech support (whoever that is) will manage to correct things soon...

Ajani gets the "Most hilarious post of the day" award. Two cookies are on their way to St. Kitts. (May take a while)

Okay, back on topic....

[Ajani]

Ajani gets the "Most hilarious post of the day" award. Two cookies are on their way to St. Kitts. (May take a while)

Okay, back on topic....

Use UPS....

And yeah I sound like a newbie, dreaming about Tech Support... I think I need a beer...

[Auricauricle]

Videophiles...Audiophiles....! Always griping about the imaging!

[Doc Sage]

Good post Ajani.

Here's how this argument plays out, some very nice young man will come along and point out that while analog may ultimately outdo digital in things audio a decent cdp and DAC can be had for far less money than a competitive vinyl rig...

...and then one of them fancy, schmancy, Eastern book-learnin' type cat is gonna come along with his chest all puffed out and claim that vinyl is making a resurgence and REGA will soon rule the world...

As us gentlemen can not multi-task, being an "audiophile" requires the use of our ears but not so for "videophile"s. Our eyes, being more prominent than our ear, vision is the thing. Why should all these poor chaps pay big money for "blu-ray" players and HD screens?

Doc Sage