Chasing rainbows

I admit it. I am obsessed with high-end audio. How about you? Is yours a passion for music? Perhaps live sounding performances in your home at the touch of a finger or the drop of a needle? What floats your boat about high-end audio? And why am I asking all these questions? No, I am not starting a version of AA for audiophiles, but I am always curious about what drives us to spend time and money on bringing quality music into our homes. For me, it's the sheer joy of being immersed in the music, of digging deeper into the performance, of wrangling greater detail and insights into recorded performances of familiar tracks, or the thrill of discovering new and exciting experiences. Plus, I am a new toy freak. I love new kit, new designs, new gear. If you're curious, I put together another short video on the subject, here. Some criticize audiophiles for chasing those uncatchable heavenly prisms, rainbows—but I would not be one of them. Catching a rainbow is an impossible task. The goal we audiophiles seek is totally attainable. We can (and do) build systems—both meager and exotic—that bring a sense of magic into our homes. I've had a number of these systems, you probably have as well. Often, we're treated to sound quality that exceeds that of a live performance. (I was reminded of this by one of my readers who mentioned that after sometimes suffering through some particularly poor sound reinforcement at a live event he found his listening room a haven of purity). That's not an uncommon feeling. We may be a restless bunch, searching for the next bit of kit that brings us closer to the musical truth, but nearly every one of us should be able to go home and revel in sound few others on the planet enjoy. I think I'll head into Music Room One right now and close my eyes, and dream of rainbows.