Sound Quality on a Budget

I'm as interested in the lack of response to this article as I am in the mention of the new technology. It's a testament to how (IMO, of course) audiophiles, as a species are either endangered, are practically extinct. I can't recommend an "economy" speaker. I'm a "cured" audiophile dinosaur -- meaning, in my youth I was attracted to reading "Hi Fidelity and Stereo Review" magazine, as well as other, then current, audio mags. I even bought what I thought were audiophile stereo components. The as I got older, my hearing wasn't so good and I began to lose my zeal for being an "audiophile." I still have the components I purchased in my youth, but due to events in my life I just don't have the drive I once did for audio fidelity. Still, I'm appalled at the lack of interest in good sound by, the current "average" young person. Fascination with technology has overtaken whether or not that technology has led to preserving audio quality. Electronic reproduction has become an instrument of its own. To me its sad. I really wish technology was secondary to substance, but it doesn't feel that way to me.

Another example of this lack of "caring" is the problem of audio synchronization with video in TV/Satellite broadcasting. I find it hard to watch any broadcast that isn't in sync. And very few are in sync. to my sensibilities. I've called and complained to DirecTV AND to the local stations that seem to exhibit the problem. I really don't think anyone cares anymore. And picture pixelation? That is so annoying, too. I just don't remember having so much annoyance with analog TV. And I came in with TV. Being born in the early '50s, I've seen TV develop. Analog had noise problems, but at least when you watched a program in English it didn't look like a Japanese dubbed movie. I can't say the same today.

What has me somewhat puzzled, is, I know there are quite a few CR4ers that aren't spring chickens, by any means. Surely, some of you must have been audiophilers in younger years... no?

A good blog, and a good response. Pray tell...why AP? and why self-inflicted OT?

Born in the protectionist age of India, i and my friends, (genuine audiophiles with great desires not commensurate with depth of pocket), not having access to those goodies of USA and Japan, devoured American HiFi magazines and boned ourselves on the best brands, S/N ratio, watched with awe as Dolby did his noise reduction bit, were somewhat patriotically proud of Bose as he did his magic, went a couple of hundred miles to listen to a Nakamichi cassette deck playing through Phase-linear preamp, Marantz power amp and BO speakers capable of 1000 watts apiece playing pianissimo....ahhh those magical, idyllic days of summer wine

i don't think any of us was a true audiophile, simply because we just didn't have the access to those large concert halls with hundreds of instruments playing with awesome true fidelity. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the beaty of excellent acoustics in the new concert halls here, even playing a string quartet.

i am not that much against mp3 for example, since it allows me to carry all my music with me. A small mp3 player does its bit and my Sennheiser or Audio Technica phones give me enough enjoyment.

i also admire greatly Rolls Royce, Ferrari etc, but drive around in a car which probably costs the same as a hubcap of one of those C'st la vie !