ReadMEOnline

Some cable denier friends of mine argue why don’t musicians and recording engineers use super-expensive hi-end cables if they are better than cheap ones.

My answer has always been that with played-back music you have to get the most out of the usually fck’d up recording quality and you don’t have too many options.

When playing back music, the equipment and the cables are your only tools to get the most out of something given while in a recording studio, you are in total control from mike types, mike placement, to all the tricks on your mixer console. And then the mastering engineer can use whatever compressor or reverb etc. they want. At home you’re at the mercy of the of the work done by those people mentioned above and it’s a known fact that recordings are mastered to be optimized for average listening circumstances.

So what can an audiophile do? Get the most out of what they’ve got. Using better gear and better cables.

At one point I became so disappointeed with mixing and mastering quality of commersially available recordings that I downloaded multitrack recordings and mixed it for myself and yes it made a hell a lot of difference. But unfortunately no one else would want to do that.

Most people are willing and happy to make huge compromises in most areas of life in exchange for some convenience. I have uber hi end audio but I couldn’t sell any of the components as the average Joe would never want speakers that weigh 150kg each and dominate their living room or an amp that weighs 100kg and uses more power than a small village in Wales. The new-gen doesn’t even understand what the point of hifi is. They are happy listening to music streamed online through their airpods connected to their iPhones. And to be honest, the music they listen to does not call for more.