£650K Audio Note all-analog hi-fi sound system @ Sonisphere.

Definitely.

 

Exactly.

 

I find it a little weird that there is a need for events like this where sitting and listening to a record without distractions is presented as some kind of groundbreaking approach ?
It's like a scene from some post apocalyptic movie where music has been outlawed and the last survivors gather together in some secret location to listen to what they used to call "music".
Sure they get to hear a great set-up and all ..... but really ??

 

Hmm? I don't believe it's presented that way...

 

Maybe I've misinterpreted it then, but that's what I got out that interview with her on the site. She got the idea from listening to a Brian Eno record with a friend of hers ? Maybe she's coming at it from a communal type gathering or something ?

 

No worries. I would agree with you, that isn't particularly groundbreaking, but as you know, it's a lost art, so to speak. I can't say for sure, but it does appear to be a gathering of sorts. It certainly great advertising for the audio companies...it can possibly plant the seed as well. Get them thinking that one day they'll have a system like this too. Providing they're that enthralled by it, which probably wouldn't be the majority anyway due to the price and other things. Exposure is the key. I think it's pretty cool myself regardless if I can or can't afford it. I would definitely check it out if it hits my area.

 

Yeah, I guess if they just encourage more kids to actually sit in front of a stereo and listen to music, realise how it can encompass their listening space and be the centre of their attention rather than just being secondary background noise as they post pictures of what they had for lunch on Facebook. Demonstrating this on a $650K system may work with the environment at the time of the event, but they could also have on display starter systems for say under $3K - simple ... turntable / amp / speaker combos .... that would at least give newcomers a realistic benchmark of half decent quality to kick off their interest.

 

What don't you get exactly?

These events are about attracting serious music lovers/audiophiles, not about attracting noobs, or demonstrating entry-level systems. If you read the post on their website, linked in the OP, it's quite clear:

"Each session will feature the story behind the album presented by an artist or journalist followed by an immersive and uninterrupted vinyl playback of the album on our exquisite £650K Audio Note all-analog hi-fi sound system. You will experience the album like never before."

"Interested parties will be able to sign up to attend these exclusive events at the Sonisphere Information Point during the festival. You will then get escorted from the Information Point to our room in Rock Royalty 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled session. But get there early as seating is limited."

Nothing there about having anything to do with getting a bunch of "kids to actually sit in front of a stereo and listen to music," it's about particular LPs historical/social/cultural context being discussed by knowledgeable journalists/artists and serious listening sessions with serious, audiophile hi fi gear.

 

Who gets the sweet spot?

 

I'm just going by what she talks about here ....... http://classicalbumsundays.com/about/
They can make it sound as exclusive and pretentious as they like ..... immersive and uninterrupted vinyl playback of the album on our exquisite £650K Audio Note all-analog hi-fi sound system ....... it's still a bunch of people listening to a record, not exactly a new concept.

 

Exactly.

 

No one said it was a new concept. Nor is it "exclusive and pretentious."
It's about sharing music.
Not sure why anyone on this forum would be down on listening to LPs on a beautiful, thoughtfully-matched $650,000 system though.
I also don't understand who wouldn't want to be involved in a serious – and I would imagine highly-entertaining – discussion about a particular album (or albums) and then listening to them on a killer set-up without interruption.
Colleen has been hosting and organizing these events for years.
I wish Vancouver had something like this, it would be fantastic to be able to attend Classic Album Sundays once a month.

 

I don´t get the negativity!!! It´s a great opportunity to reach people has not been exposed to high quality music reproduction. It might even recruit some new audiophiles.

 

Exactly! Which is why I started this thread in the first place!

 

I see your point. And that's not a bad idea to have a much less costly system around too just for kicks.

 

Haha, I would imagine there's gonna be big signs saying "do not touch" and "no moshing."

 

I saw Slayer at a small club two weeks ago, it was kind of messy (and the band was brilliant)

 

The point I was focusing on is that it's pretty much dressing up the age old concept of sitting there listening to a record un-interrupted, that's all she talks about in her interview and how she got the idea for these events in the first place. The way she speaks of it is like she's somehow re-introducing people to this ? I would hazard a guess that the majority of the people on this forum do this quite often, granted not in front of a $650K system.

And I agree with you, listening to an intelligent discussion regarding the album would be great !

Where I get confused is you state " These events are about attracting serious music lovers/audiophiles, not about attracting noobs, or demonstrating entry-level systems. "
But you then like “Mad Shadows” post suggesting that it would be a great way to attract new audiophiles ? So which is it ?

I agree, it would be a great way to attract new audiophiles but if it is as you say, " an event for serious music/lovers and audiophiles, not noobs", then that to me suggests it could be construed as "exclusive" and a wasted opportunity.

 

It sounds like fun but I would not want to bring novices to something like this. Ya got a million dollar system and there's no way it's going to sound close to good under these conditions. I can't think of a better way to kill high end cred in the eyes of non audiophiles.

 

Either you get it or you don't. I'm done trying to explain. Good luck.

 

No worries, me too.

 

I would hope they would do something to address that. I don't think it will kill any cred. It seems to be an experiment more than anything else.

 

That's cool. I've seen them many times over the years. Glad you had a good time.

 

I would hope so too but I would think it impractical. A room full of people does not lend itself towards proper listening. Listening to a high end system in a room full of people from a position away from the sweet spot is like taking a formula one car out on the race track with one wheel missing. It won't leave the right impression.