I'm sure you've heard the joke.
"Audiophiles buy music to hear their HiFi systems."
And sure, there's an element of truth to this: that great recording that drops jaws, the thunderous bass track that lifts the hairs on the back of one's neck.
But while we've all to some extent been down that road, I would argue that for most of us, music and its enjoyment are the end goals.
The night before Day One at Axpona, after a long day of setup, a hasty meal, and a glass of house red, Terri and I went back to the display room where the FR30s were waiting to be played. It was quiet and we had the entire place to ourselves. We put on a Joni Mitchel track and within moments tears were streaming down our faces. Before we knew it an hour had past and we reluctantly shut it down and headed upstairs to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day and we were tired.
Music is at the heart of everything we do and love. HiFi is just a way to make sure we get it all in a way that brings the most pleasure and connection.
And that's no joke.
