Stereophile: Lisa Astor
Indy Dog
nor did I find her annoying (as some audiophiles do). I'm guessing
her "lifestyle change" was either a new baby (hopefully) or that she
and "her audiophile" are splitting. Just curious.
John Atkinson
audiophile" being an audiophile. She felt that it would not be right
to continue with column under the circumstances. This was very much
to my regret, as there's nothing more satisfying for an an editor to
be able to publish a writer as gifted as Lisa.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
MDHJWH
Dont know why she left - she may want to keep that to herself.
The WAF (sexist term I know) that she focused on should be of concern
to the audio industry. The economic viablility of the industry is
directly influenced by negative perceptions that most women (and some
men) have of high -end audio.
If (and I think it was Lisa who said something like this) the audio
'hobby' breeds equipment with all the charm of an oil rig dropped into
the lounge room we must expect negative reactions.
If anyone wants to suggest that we haven't alienated woman just do a
brief survey of the letters columns in audio magazines and
contributors to this little electronic boys club.
Ayn Marx
Stian G
news:ahvgbk$l5g$1...@bourbaki.localdomain...
This is quite an interesting subject. I invested in B&W Nautilus 805s and a
B&W Nautilus HTM2 last year. Now I am thinking of upgrading to 804s or 803s.
But my girlfriend would not let me upgrade those 805s before she had seen
the new speakers! Reason: she thought the 805s where so beautiful! And
several other females visiting has expressed their great passion for theese
speakers.
So, the moral of this little story; It _is_ possible to have both great WAF
and great sound. It just takes some research...
And you manufacturers: When do we get good looking speaker cables? Or
elegant power amplifiers? Is design only a Bang & Olufsen-thing?
Lisa was, in my opinion, a fresh breathe of air in every issue of
Stereophile she attended in. Let's hope she finds herself a new
audiophile...
--
Stian G
Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:
One could of course note that this 'hobby' is generally of a gearhead
nature, and most women appear to have better things to do with their
lives than drool over shiny alloy toys.
Having said this, there's no shortage of beutifully styled and
discreet hi-fi gear. The WAF problem generally has to do with speakers
rather than electronics, aside from the minority extremes of tubes ,
vinyl and huge 'industrial style' equipment racks.
It's hard to imagine anyone truly loving the looks of say Dunlavy or
Wilson speakers, but B&W and Avalon make some very stylish boxes,
while the 'see-through' Martin-Logan electrostats have a unique
elegance. These are still *big* boxes, however, so perhaps the sub/sat
solution is the way to go, for domestic harmony with acoustic
excellence?
OTOH, I have a loft-living friend who has managed to assemble a
visually startling but strangely elegant system, comprising a Meridian
588 front end, a Smart 845 power amp which she's fitted with a volume
control, and a pair of Avantgarde Trio horns finished in the hottest
pink you'll ever see! She's combined this with a generally 'high tech'
decor to make a 30x50 foot space with a 14 foot vaulted ceiling, into
one of the best sound systems I've ever heard - yes, with an SET amp,
even!
--
Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering
Bill
wrote:
<snip>
>The WAF (sexist term I know) that she focused on should be of concern
>to the audio industry. The economic viablility of the industry is
>directly influenced by negative perceptions that most women (and some
>men) have of high -end audio.
>If (and I think it was Lisa who said something like this) the audio
>'hobby' breeds equipment with all the charm of an oil rig dropped into
>the lounge room we must expect negative reactions.
>
>If anyone wants to suggest that we haven't alienated woman just do a
>brief survey of the letters columns in audio magazines and
>contributors to this little electronic boys club.
>
>Ayn Marx
At a glance, I don't see any female names listed here in our little
group. Although, I believe I've seen one or two on past posts.
I have to agree that much of the audio gear produced tends to have
that "oil rig dropped into the lounge room look". But, there is some
very nice "looking" gear out there as well. Unfortunately, gear that
is high quality, AND looks good, is usually VERY expensive. And I
believe many of us prefer to spend out budgets on sound and
performance as opposed to gear that looks like a piece of modern
sculpture sitting in the corner. It appears that adding rosewood
veneers, and artistic designs, really adds to the overall price. Of
course, on the other end of the spectrum, is gear that makes no effort
be visually pleasing at all. Such as amplifiers that have all of it's
"guts" exposed (transformers, vacuum tubes, filter capacitors, etc.).
Frankly, even I don't get that one. Yes, yes, vacuum tubes are the
supposed "holy-grail" of the audiophile world. But lets face it, you
can hardly blame your wife for not wanting exposed electrical
components sitting in the middle of the living room or den.
- Rutgar
MarkZimmerman
>group. Although, I believe I've seen one or two on past posts.
>
>I have to agree that much of the audio gear produced tends to have
>that "oil rig dropped into the lounge room look". But, there is some
>very nice "looking" gear out there as well. Unfortunately, gear that
>is high quality, AND looks good, is usually VERY expensive. And I
>believe many of us prefer to spend out budgets on sound and
>performance as opposed to gear that looks like a piece of modern
>sculpture sitting in the corner. It appears that adding rosewood
>veneers, and artistic designs, really adds to the overall price. Of
>course, on the other end of the spectrum, is gear that makes no effort
>be visually pleasing at all. Such as amplifiers that have all of it's
>"guts" exposed (transformers, vacuum tubes, filter capacitors, etc.).
>Frankly, even I don't get that one. Yes, yes, vacuum tubes are the
>supposed "holy-grail" of the audiophile world. But lets face it, you
>can hardly blame your wife for not wanting exposed electrical
>components sitting in the middle of the living room or den.
>
>- Rutgar
Hey, let's not be too sexist here. Significant Others should be used instead
of Husband, Wife, Etc. Make's me feel left out for being a Gay Male! :)
Best,
Mark Allen Zimmerman * Chicago
Norman M. Schwartz
news:ai0uu...@enews3.newsguy.com...
> On Sun, 28 Jul 2002 01:12:20 GMT, mdh...@iprimus.com.au (MDHJWH)
> Frankly, even I don't get that one. Yes, yes, vacuum tubes are the
> supposed "holy-grail" of the audiophile world. But lets face it, you
> can hardly blame your wife for not wanting exposed electrical
> components sitting in the middle of the living room or den.
"Dear Abbey":
If I accept some of her crap, shouldn't she be accepting of some of mine?
Stewart Pinkerton
>On Sun, 28 Jul 2002 01:12:20 GMT, mdh...@iprimus.com.au (MDHJWH)
>wrote:
>>If anyone wants to suggest that we haven't alienated woman just do a
>>brief survey of the letters columns in audio magazines and
>>contributors to this little electronic boys club.
>>
>>Ayn Marx
>
>At a glance, I don't see any female names listed here in our little
>group. Although, I believe I've seen one or two on past posts.
You hadn't noticed that Ayn is a girl's name? :-)
Of course, it's always possible that MDHJWH is really Karl Rand, so
who knows how many of the 'Rex Savage' posters are really girls using
male pseudonyms to avoid conflict?
Mike Prager
(Stewart Pinkerton) wrote:
>She's combined this with a generally 'high tech'
>decor to make a 30x50 foot space with a 14 foot vaulted ceiling, into
>one of the best sound systems I've ever heard - yes, with an SET amp,
>even!
When I visit a larger space with a decent sound system, I am
always struck at how the space allows the sound to bloom.
Even the difference between a (U.S.) standard 8-foot ceiling
and a 9-foot ceiling seems noticeable (though no, I have not
done an ABX test!) Of course, solidity of construction makes
a difference, too, and lofts are often in solid old buildings.
Mike Prager
North Carolina, USA
MDHJWH
Good point (Will the moderators let me go a little off topic here?) I
suggest it is worth asking yourself,if you represent 90% of hetro
males,why do you allow your'significant other' to swamp you in all
that frill-frumpy floral muck she thinks as appropriate boudior decor?
How is it that this amazing division has deleveloped? She (sorry -
significant other) gets to decorate and he gets to choose the audio
gear.(within her strict limits).
Outside of feminist thoery we wont get any firm answers to these
questions. The industry , however, must learn to live with the reality
or suffer the ecomomic consequences. Bose (sorry for introducing an
obscenity onto a high-end news goup) is laughing all the way to the
bank.
Ayn Marx
Spongebob
never understood the reason for having it in "Stereophile". I
subscribed to "Stereophile" for two years, and read Lisa's column,
but found myself puzzled every time I finished it. Who subscirbes to
Stereophile to read about houseplants and decor? Not me. In fact, I
really thought Lisa's column demeaned serious women audiophiles. It
made it seem as if women couldn't take audio seriously, and were
only concerned with the visual aspects...I believe she even wrote one
colum about her pets.
--Leslie.
MDHJWH
And why is it you think conflict is subsumed with maleness?
Is it simply your experience, on this and other news groups, that has
taught you boys will be boys?
Ayn Marx
MDHJWH
> In fact, I really thought Lisa's column demeaned serious women audiophiles. It
> made it seem as if women couldn't take audio seriously, <
I don't quite understand how you can come to this conclusion. Lisa
obviously wasn't claiming to be an audiophile herself and I don't ever
recall her mentioning women audiophiles.Of course a miniscule minority
of woman can and do take audio seriously. The signifant aspect if this
is that so few women do. This wouldn't matter so much if it was simply
a matter of boys like toys and girls like music or some other
simplistic debate. What really matters is the economic effect on the
audio industry of all those lost customers who go with Bose beceause
they don't want oil rigs loaded with gear dominating their lounge
rooms.
Interestingly you don't find a lack of women represented at concerts
or playing instruments - is not this telling us something about the
industry itself? By the way,changing the subject just slightly, how
have you, as a woman, been treated by sales staff in 'high-end'
retailers?
Ayn Marx
Todd Spangler
I personally couldn't stand her columns, and neither
could an audio dealer I know. However, I think the
fact that we're both single guys has a lot to do with
it. From my perspective, her columns were absolutely
inane. I could not focus on them.
Todd
Norman M. Schwartz
> I don't quite understand how you can come to this conclusion. Lisa
> obviously wasn't claiming to be an audiophile herself and I don't ever
> recall her mentioning women audiophiles.Of course a miniscule minority
> of woman can and do take audio seriously. The signifant aspect if this
> is that so few women do. This wouldn't matter so much if it was simply
> a matter of boys like toys and girls like music or some other
> simplistic debate. What really matters is the economic effect on the
> audio industry of all those lost customers who go with Bose beceause
> they don't want oil rigs loaded with gear dominating their lounge
> rooms.
Do you realize the consequences of what might happen if that
"significant other" shared a similar and serious interest in OUR
HOBBY? I can easily envisage quarrels and split-ups when preference
conflicts arise in areas such as solid state vs. tubes, box vs. panel
speakers, analog vs. digital, classical vs. pop, rock (hard and soft)
and on and on. Since most households can accommodate only a single
high end system, then debates could arise in areas such as; which
member is listening and using the system more than the other, whose
turn is it to use the system now, how loud should the system be
operated, etc. etc. IMO the industry that would benefit the most
would in fact be domestic law. Lisa's column was not to be taken too
seriously, "tongue in cheek", a bit facetious at times but did give
one of many possible views of a spouse's reaction to the other's
serious involvement with our hobby. I for one would rather have it
present than absent, those who found it annoying could very simple
skip it, obviously they chose not to since they often express their
discontent with both its presence and content.
MDHJWH
>
>
> Hey, let's not be too sexist here. Significant Others should be used instead
> of Husband, Wife, Etc. Make's me feel left out for being a Gay Male! :)
Mark dear, what the hell are you feeling left out of? I'm happy to be
left out of the juvenile boys club agro fights that infest audio news
groups. (E.I:- the interminable nonsense over on rec.audio.opinion
about a certain Mr Kruger.)
'Significant others' may be the politicaly correct term in certain
contexts but my suggestion is that is doesn't begin to allow us to
duscuss the hard economic fact of how little women spend on high-end,
middle-brow and low end audio.
Yes their are exceptions, but they are a very small minority just as
the percentage of gay males who take audio seriously is a minority of
a minority.
Just about every gay male I know (and that's lots honey!) aspires to
B&O when they can afford to update their Bose systems.
I was lucky, as a teenager, to be gently introduced to Hi/FI (that's
what they called it then) buy a gay friend who biult his own amps,
speakers,etc and had a wide and deep interest in music.I am eternally
greatfull for this. However he was an absolute exception - the likes
of which I seldom encounter. Same with my woman friends.They ALL think
my interest in audio a form of madness.I wish this wasn't the case but
it is and it negativly impacts on the audio industry in a big way.
Aym Marx
Bob Marcus
> "Spongebob" <stan...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message news:<ai3qk...@enews3.newsguy.com>...
> > In fact, I really thought Lisa's column demeaned serious women audiophiles. It
> > made it seem as if women couldn't take audio seriously, <
>
> I don't quite understand how you can come to this conclusion. Lisa
> obviously wasn't claiming to be an audiophile herself and I don't ever
> recall her mentioning women audiophiles.Of course a miniscule minority
> of woman can and do take audio seriously.
Actually, only a minuscule minority of men take audio seriously.
That's the high-end industry's real problem.
>The signifant aspect if this
> is that so few women do. This wouldn't matter so much if it was simply
> a matter of boys like toys and girls like music or some other
> simplistic debate. What really matters is the economic effect on the
> audio industry of all those lost customers who go with Bose beceause
> they don't want oil rigs loaded with gear dominating their lounge
> rooms.
And don't want speakers out in the middle of the floor, where we all
know they belong.
> Interestingly you don't find a lack of women represented at concerts
> or playing instruments - is not this telling us something about the
> industry itself?
Only that audio appreciation is not a necessary precondition for music
appreciation. I'm not sure there's much the industry can do about
that.
bob
L David Matheny
> subscribed to "Stereophile" for two years, and read Lisa's column,
> but found myself puzzled every time I finished it. Who subscirbes
> to Stereophile to read about houseplants and decor? Not me. In
> fact, I really thought Lisa's column demeaned serious women
> audiophiles. It made it seem as if women couldn't take audio
> seriously, and were only concerned with the visual aspects...I
> believe she even wrote one colum about her pets.
> --Leslie.
It was certainly not a meaty, heavy-hitting column, but it could be
entertaining. I don't think Lisa was making any attempt to speak
for female audiophiles, but just for women who have to deal with
male audiophiles while not suffering from the disease themselves.
Spongebob
>>>...What really matters is the economic effect on the
> audio industry of all those lost customers who go with Bose beceause
> they don't want oil rigs loaded with gear dominating their lounge
> rooms.
Yes~ Personally, I would love to have a beautifully colored SET gracing
our living room! I think they can be lovely.
> By the way,changing the subject just slightly, how
> have you, as a woman, been treated by sales staff in 'high-end'
> retailers?
Well, I've been teated better by audio dealers than by new car salespeople.
I went to a Toyota dealership once wanting a new car with a V6 engine. The
salesman didn't happen to have one in stock, so he told me I "didn't need a
six", and that I "should get a four". And he never even asked what the
vehicle would be used for. I don't like being patronized, so I left.
As for audio, I was working in Silicon Valley (before the bubble burst) when
I bought my last setup, and the retailers there knew that anyone coming in
the door could very well have enough money in their checkbook to cover just
about anything in the store. The salesperson plunked me down in front of
some huge Wilsons, powered by a pair of VTL monoblocks, and invited me to
listen to my heart's content. And he left me alone to do so. Can't
complain about that store!
But generally speaking, I am ignored. What have your experiences been?
--Leslie
MDHJWH
> "Dear Abbey":
> If I accept some of her crap, shouldn't she be accepting of some of mine?
Why should either of you accept crap?
Ayn Marx
MDHJWH
The salesperson plunked me down in front of
> some huge Wilsons, powered by a pair of VTL monoblocks, and invited me to
> listen to my heart's content. And he left me alone to do so. Can't
> complain about that store!
Bliss ! But that's solican vally, which we know to have nto been part
of planet earth at the time.
>
> But generally speaking, I am ignored. What have your experiences been?
> --Leslie
Mostly I'm ignored but if spoken to pressumed to be an idiot. At times
this has been revealing as the astonishing bullshit (I can't think of
a polite word to describe it) that spews out of thier mouths reveales
a great deal more than they know . Give em enough rope and they hang
themselves. ;-)
The most helpful salesperson I have delt with was gay, a musician with
qualifications in electrical engineering and digital hardware design
.A rare bird indeed! I have only ever come accross one woman selling
audio.She didn't last long as the majority of male customers refused
to deal with her.
I suspect that lack of audio advertising directed at women is another
factor in all of this. Contrast most adds for cars with those in audio
& audio/video mags and you will see what I mean.
Apple computers have a significantly higher female customer base than
IBM/microslop. I wonder why this is?
Ayn Marx
MDHJWH
>
> Do you realize the consequences of what might happen if that
> "significant other" shared a similar and serious interest in OUR
> HOBBY?
OUR HOBBY? Really ducky - you boys don't own all of it.
As to partners sharing the same 'hobby'- you end up with twice as much
cash to spend on audio.You get to enjoy a variety of 'toys' and if
he/she/it gets too pushy there's always the new home theatre rigg in
the basement. None of which would have worked if we hadn't bought a
solid brick (internal walls as well)house with massive concrete
floors. The occasional earthquake now rumbles up from the cellar but
it's not as bad as some of the trucks that pass by.
Ayn Marx
Norman M. Schwartz
I know that one-liners are inappropriate here but since you got away
with, I'll try my luck. Surely you must realize that what could
appear as one's life treasure might equally well appear as "crap" to
the significant other.
Norman M. Schwartz
> "Norman M. Schwartz" <nm...@att.net> wrote in message
news:<ai6ad...@enews4.newsguy.com>...
>
> >
> > Do you realize the consequences of what might happen if that
> > "significant other" shared a similar and serious interest in OUR
> > HOBBY?
>
> OUR HOBBY? Really ducky - you boys don't own all of it.
Well then we are back to "square one", that being the usual content of Ms.
Astor's column. Whatever the cause(s), significant numbers of ladies are not
interested in buying into the hobby, and it may in fact be a turn-off, so
ends up being what it in fact is, "our hobby".
> As to partners sharing the same 'hobby'- you end up with twice as much
> cash to spend on audio.You get to enjoy a variety of 'toys' and if
> he/she/it gets too pushy there's always the new home theatre rigg in
> the basement. None of which would have worked if we hadn't bought a
> solid brick (internal walls as well)house with massive concrete
> floors. The occasional earthquake now rumbles up from the cellar but
> it's not as bad as some of the trucks that pass by.
The numbers of individuals finding themselves in a position; financially,
physically and/or emotionally to undertake the above is even less than are
the number of women who are the least bit interested in audio to begin with!
Aren't we really going around in circles here? Additionally, since it
appears to be the fact that the Astors have gone their separate ways one is
left to wonder how much this audio hobby contributed to their problems.
Armando Tores
>Additionally, since it
>appears to be the fact that the Astors have gone their separate ways one is
>left to wonder how much this audio hobby contributed to their problems.
"No, it wasn't the hobby that got them. It was Beauty killed the Beast."
(With apologies to King Kong)
When the male of a married couple is an audiophile,
statistically speaking, the marriage tends to endure longer than most
because:
1- He's rarely out drinking with the boys and she always knows
where to find him: In the damn hot-seat oooing and ahing over
his latest toy.
2- He spends so much money on audio that he couldn't
possibly afford a mistress.
Now THAT'S science!
Armando
Richard D Pierce
Armando Tores <armando...@aol.com> wrote:
>When the male of a married couple is an audiophile,
>statistically speaking, the marriage tends to endure longer than most
>because:
>1- He's rarely out drinking with the boys and she always knows
> where to find him: In the damn hot-seat oooing and ahing
> over his latest toy.
>2- He spends so much money on audio that he couldn't
> possibly afford a mistress.
Ah, these stereo types: always cooking up such imaginative
stereotypes
--
| Dick Pierce |
| Professional Audio Development |
| 1-781/826-4953 Voice and FAX |
| DPi...@world.std.com |
BEAR
I do not subscribe and only read it once in a while, usually at
someone else's house or (gasp!) at the library.
But, to the best of my knowlege, Lisa Astor is/was Myles Astor's
wife. Myles is/was the editor and publisher of a "competing"
magazine. So, wazzup with that??
There are/were a number of members of a certain audio club that
are/were also writers/reviewers for Stereophile, Myles is/was amongst
them.
Could she have been any worse than Corey was?? Nah.
_-_-bear
--
_-_-bearlabs
http://www.bearlabsUSA.com
- Silver Lightning Interconnects -
gavalencia
> entertaining. I don't think Lisa was making any attempt to speak
> for female audiophiles, but just for women who have to deal with
> male audiophiles while not suffering from the disease themselves.
Isn't the real reason there are few female audiophiles is that sensitivity
to high frequencies persists longer in women (compared to men)?
Don't manufacturers intentionally take this into account in designing
systems that appeal to male frequency response?
(please ignore all double meanings to this post)
- Rootboy
Spongebob
> Isn't the real reason there are few female audiophiles is that sensitivity
> to high frequencies persists longer in women (compared to men)?
> Don't manufacturers intentionally take this into account in designing
> systems that appeal to male frequency response?
Rootboy,
I'm a woman audiophile, and that's certainly true in my case. I
bought a pair of Spendor SP1/2s, and am aware that most audiophiles
think them a little dowdy, or "polite". I was surprised to find the
highs harsh and overly detailed.! I draped towels over the tweeters
for a while. Now I've dulled the highs by using a tube pre-amp, so
am enjoying the sound.
--Leslie
Mkuller
>But, to the best of my knowlege, Lisa Astor is/was Myles Astor's
>wife. Myles is/was the editor and publisher of a "competing"
>magazine. So, wazzup with that??
I knew Myles and he was truly a nice guy. I never had the pleasure
of meeting Lisa. Myles had "Ultimate Audio" until it failed
recently. Prior to that he wrote for TAS and the Audiophile Voice.
>There are/were a number of members of a certain audio club that
>are/were also writers/reviewers for Stereophile, Myles is/was amongst
>them.
That would be the Audiophile Society of Westchester County, NY, where
the "Audiophile Voice" publication originated. Myles was involved in
this publication before it was sold to Eugene Pitts, former editor of
"Audio" magazine.
>Could she have been any worse than Corey was?? Nah.
>
Both were entertaining and offered a different perspective on High
End audio in an attempt to appeal to a different audience than
usually reads these publications.
Regards,
Mike
vivin
> > "significant other" shared a similar and serious interest in OUR
> > HOBBY?
>
> OUR HOBBY? Really ducky - you boys don't own all of it.
>
> As to partners sharing the same 'hobby'- you end up with twice as much
> cash to spend on audio.You get to enjoy a variety of 'toys' and if
> he/she/it gets too pushy there's always the new home theatre rigg in
> the basement. None of which would have worked if we hadn't bought a
> solid brick (internal walls as well)house with massive concrete
> floors. The occasional earthquake now rumbles up from the cellar but
> it's not as bad as some of the trucks that pass by.
>
> Ayn Marx
Ayn, you are right on the money. This hobby is NOT just for the boys.
Me and my wife share this hobby equally. We are avid music lovers and
love to go to live concerts (maybe 2 dozen a year). We now have a
decent 2 channel system in the middle of the living room (that it
dominates, btw). The space behind the speakers is covered up with
acoustic tiles (yes, we would rather spend the money on good tiles
than other flim flam). And yes, we ended up spending a lot more than
otherwise would be possible if just I were pursuing this hobby. Our
relationship added a new dimension to it when we started listening to
music at home (this seriously) and started investing in hardware and
software. We both have slightly different preferences music wise that
brings a great deal of variety of music to our home. I would suggest
you encourage your significant other to get involved rather than cut
them out of the wonderful pursuit that we are all engaged in. How is
sharing this different than sharing everything else in life?????
vivin
Ray Garrison
> My observation is:
>
> I do not subscribe and only read it once in a while, usually at
> someone else's house or (gasp!) at the library.
>
> But, to the best of my knowlege, Lisa Astor is/was Myles Astor's
> wife. Myles is/was the editor and publisher of a "competing"
> magazine. So, wazzup with that??
That was always made clear in both Ultimate Audio and Stereophile. The
two mags had several points of cross-pollination. For example, the "Lars"
[R.I.P. :( ] that Sam Tellig refered to frequently over the past several
years was a columnist for Ultimate Audio. UA sometimes posted quotes that
Lars attributed to Sam. Both magazines were, IMHO, and excellent example
of "coopitition", a friendly competition between mutually respectful
businesses that recognize that a rising tide floats all boats.
>
> There are/were a number of members of a certain audio club that
> are/were also writers/reviewers for Stereophile, Myles is/was amongst
> them.
>
> Could she have been any worse than Corey was?? Nah.
>
I'm 47 years old, married, enthusiastic audio nut, with speakers (Klipsch
La Scalas) that most folks would find difficult to artfully integrate
into a typical family room, with a wife who enjoys listening to music
as much as I do. I really, really enjoyed Lisa's column - I thought it
captured some of the more obsessive and humorous aspects of this
hobby in a unique, perceptive and fun-to-read way. I'm really going
to miss reading her. My wife isn't into the equipment end of things
the way I am, though she does find it interesting to hear how the sound
of the system can change when I try something new, but she enjoyed Lisa's
column as much as I did.
MDHJWH
> Rootboy,
> I'm a woman audiophile, and that's certainly true in my case. I
> bought a pair of Spendor SP1/2s, and am aware that most audiophiles
> think them a little dowdy, or "polite". I was surprised to find the
> highs harsh and overly detailed.! I draped towels over the tweeters
> for a while. Now I've dulled the highs by using a tube pre-amp, so
> am enjoying the sound.
> --Leslie
Leslie,
I couldn't aggree more with the above. The implications are HUGE. What
effect on recording balance is male engineers treble (IN)sensitivity
having on the end product? Is this one of the reasons that women
usually can't live with most JBL /Paradigm Studio 20 type speakers?
I think it was Wilmer Cozart-Fine (Spelling?) who remarked in one of
her rare interviews that she found the balance set by male colleagues
often tilted up in the treble. In the the days when we were permitted
to have tone controls (remember them?) I noticed the settings chosen
by woman friends invariably rolled off in the treble. Biologicly based
perception differences can render objective/subjective debates
pointless. Maybe we could bring out a line of his & hers amps? ;-)
Speaking of amps I have noticed that woman usually like the sound of
SETs (until they read the price sticker and realise that these things
can burn children and kill cats)
Ayn Marx
John Atkinson
> I do not subscribe and only read [Stereophile] once in a while, usually
> at someone else's house or (gasp!) at the library.
> But, to the best of my knowlege, Lisa Astor is/was Myles Astor's
> wife. Myles is/was the editor and publisher of a "competing"
> magazine. So, wazzup with that??
did a lot of the production and admin work for Ultimate Audio. She
satisfied her need to write with her Stereophile column.
> There are/were a number of members of a certain audio club that
> are/were also writers/reviewers for Stereophile, Myles is/was amongst
> them.
never a Stereophile writer. Currently Larry Greenhill is the only
Audiophile Society member who also writes for Stereophile. The other
writer/members contribute to The Audiophile VOice.
> Could she have been any worse than Corey was?? Nah.
Funny you say that. Corey was/is a supremely gifted writer. While
not yet in Corey's class, Lisa was still a superb craftsperson. Both
were wildly popular contributors yet both generated bags of hatemail.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Norman M. Schwartz
news:aia9t9$r58$1...@bourbaki.localdomain...
> Don't manufacturers intentionally take this into account in designing
> systems that appeal to male frequency response?
>
Not if they ultimately rely on what 'scopes and frequency response
analyzers tell them.
Spongebob
>...I noticed the settings chosen
> by woman friends invariably rolled off in the treble. Biologicly based
> perception differences can render objective/subjective debates
> pointless. Maybe we could bring out a line of his & hers amps? ;-)
LOL. Yes, or maybe append warning stickers to amps, recommending
that women only listen with appropriate earplugs! :)
> Speaking of amps I have noticed that woman usually like the sound of
> SETs (until they read the price sticker and realise that these things
> can burn children and kill cats)
I would like to try a SET. I believe my Spendors are efficient
enough to be driven with one. Can you recommend any brands or
models?
Thanks,
--Leslie
Norman M. Schwartz
news:aic0vj$3h0$1...@bourbaki.localdomain...
How is
> sharing this different than sharing everything else in life?????
>
Could it possibly be because of differences in our hearing?
Norman M. Schwartz
earlier, that being a heterosexual audiophile couple cannot sit down
*together* in front of one audio and enjoy the music. Will in fact men and
women have different preferences in speakers, pre-amps, room treatments,
etc. as a consequence of the differences in the composition of our sex
chromosomes?
"MDHJWH" <mdh...@iprimus.com.au> wrote in message
news:aickd3$1of$1...@bourbaki.localdomain...
> "Spongebob" <stan...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:<aibm4...@enews4.newsguy.com>...
>
> > Rootboy,
> > I'm a woman audiophile, and that's certainly true in my case. I
> > bought a pair of Spendor SP1/2s, and am aware that most audiophiles
> > think them a little dowdy, or "polite". I was surprised to find the
> > highs harsh and overly detailed.! I draped towels over the tweeters
> > for a while. Now I've dulled the highs by using a tube pre-amp, so
> > am enjoying the sound.
> > --Leslie
>
> Leslie,
> I couldn't aggree more with the above. The implications are HUGE. What
> effect on recording balance is male engineers treble (IN)sensitivity
> having on the end product? Is this one of the reasons that women
> usually can't live with most JBL /Paradigm Studio 20 type speakers?
>
(Snip)
.. In the the days when we were permitted
> to have tone controls (remember them?) I noticed the settings chosen
> by woman friends invariably rolled off in the treble. Biologicly based
> perception differences can render objective/subjective debates
> pointless. Maybe we could bring out a line of his & hers amps? ;-)
> Speaking of amps I have noticed that woman usually like the sound of
> SETs (until they read the price sticker and realise that these things
> can burn children and kill cats)
So you are saying there could be *less* rather than more funds available for
audio equipment when both partners share an interest in "our" hobby?
MDHJWH
> "Now wait a minute", are you posting in favor or against what I had written
> earlier, that being a heterosexual audiophile couple cannot sit down
> *together* in front of one audio and enjoy the music.
Sorry I'm confused as to what you are asking me in the above quote.
> Will in fact men and
> women have different preferences in speakers, pre-amps, room treatments,
> etc. as a consequence of the differences in the composition of our sex
> chromosomes?
Yes. It's often the case.This is not just a subjective assertion on my
part but is backed by long standing research into male & female
hearing sensitivies. The differneces in perception become greater with
aging as well.
> So you are saying there could be *less* rather than more funds available for
> audio equipment when both partners share an interest in "our" hobby?
Only if you want to devote a large percentage of your audio budget on
SET amps with all the over the top cosmetics that many of them come
encumbered with.
Ayn Marx
Mike Prager
(MDHJWH) wrote:
>Speaking of amps I have noticed that woman usually like the sound of
>SETs (until they read the price sticker and realise that these things
>can burn children and kill cats)
Try listening to some of the new Bryston amps (SST series).
These are reportedly based on the 14B ST, which has
astoundingly clean and non-annoying treble.
I am a male music lover with unusually keen HF hearing, and
much high-end equipment sends me screaming from the room. The
Bryston 14B ST is an notable exception, and if the new stuff
sounds much like it, it should appeal to other folks (male or
female) who are critical of high-frequency reproduction.
Mike Prager
North Carolina, USA
Arthur Shapiro
>Funny you say that. Corey was/is a supremely gifted writer.
Hmmm...without trying to clutter RAHE with matters of stylistic
interpretation, this one raises my proverbial eyebrows.
My recollection of the writing style was that it what we
euphemistically term "colored", meaning sprinkled with the sorts of
invective that I personally emit at earsplitting volume at traffic
signals (where I have an uncanny ability to turn them red). As far as
painting a vivid mental picture with the words, or any sort of
idiosyncratic use of the language that might be lauded, I can't say
this was a feature of his writing.
Maybe I'm just a bit bitter because his reviewing largely consisted
of telling us how loudly something could or couldn't play on (IMHO)
usually questionable musical material.
In fairness, I remain grateful to Mr. Greenberg for two things:
a). his recommendation of the Fairfield Four's "Standing in the
Safety Zone", this being a genre of music I wouldn't normally have
been likely to purchase;
b). his recommendation of a specific low-priced assemble-it-yourself
MDF cabinet found in home improvement stores which was perfect for
LPs. Appropriately painted, it sits in my audio room to this day.
Art
MDHJWH
> I would like to try a SET. I believe my Spendors are efficient
> enough to be driven with one. Can you recommend any brands or
> models?
> Thanks,
> --Leslie
I haven't used them but am told by those who do that the Cary line is
reliable and not priced to silly levels in the US.
Why not post the question on rec.audio.valve? I'm sure you will be
overwhealmed with SET evangelists more than willing to guide you into
the land of the glowing 300b. Hope you haven't got cats running around
the place though - especially tom cats! ;-)
Ayn Marx
MDHJWH
I know that one liners arn't correct protocol around these parts but
considering the above - will you marry me?
Ayn Marx
mike quinn
> "Spongebob" <stan...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message news:<aie9e...@enews1.newsguy.com>...
>
> > I would like to try a SET. I believe my Spendors are efficient
> > enough to be driven with one. Can you recommend any brands or
> > models?
> > Thanks,
> > --Leslie
>
> I haven't used them but am told by those who do that the Cary line is
> reliable and not priced to silly levels in the US.
no no no no
look at Art Audio, Wavelength, maybe Antique Sound Lab, Midwest
Audio...Carys are not reliable...cheap parts, generally...prone to
failure. i know from my UPS bills back to NC...
Mike Prager
Alan Dana
<mdh...@iprimus.com.au> wrote:
> "Norman M. Schwartz" <nm...@att.net> wrote in message
> news:<ai1e4d$7ll$1...@bourbaki.localdomain>...
>
>> "Dear Abbey":
>> If I accept some of her crap, shouldn't she be accepting of some of mine?
>
> Why should either of you accept crap?
Sometimes there are legitimate reasons. Years ago my wife
and I came to a basic understanding on our main hobbies
& interests. Things that are of great interest to the
other needed some accommodation. My #1 hobby being audio,
I stressed that our primary listening room needed to be
designed around the audio system and that equipment choices
were only going to be lighted weighted on appearances. In
turn I made certain concessions on other things - and did
so gladly given that the "wins" on audio were worth it.
So my speakers are placed out into the room, they do not
match our décor & my equipment rack sticks out like a
sore thumb in the room. My wife is not thrilled with
the look of the room, but she loves the way it sounds.
OTOH, she's very pleased with having more than equal
say on a few other items.
If she insisted upon exerting more say into my
audio system, and likewise, I insisted upon more
control on her interests, my take is that both of
us would be less happy with the outcomes.
As to Lisa Astor's column, I usually read it but
didn't always make a it point to do so. I enjoyed
some of her perspectives, and had some sympathy
for her as her husband is a serious contender for
the title of "King of the Wild Tweaks." My wife
has never had to put up with the level of audiophile
crazyness that Lisa was subjected to.
While never overly enamored of either her or
Greenberg's columns, I would rather read 10 of each
than anything written by Jonathan Scull. At least
there was a chance of their columns containing
a tidbit of valuable information or perspective.
Or at least a chuckle ... something positive of
some sort.
Alan
MDHJWH
Don't some of them respond to what the market place tells them as well
-despite what their scopes tell them?
Ayn Marx
Norman M. Schwartz
should have been obvious that neither spouse's goodies were actually
crap, (certainly not my audio gear or recording collection!) but
perhaps my "stuff" might have represented crap in my spouse's eyes
and naturally it follows the other way around.
"Alan Dana" <alan...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:aijlc...@enews3.newsguy.com...
There was/is a lass, named Enid Lumley once writing for TAS and
expressed her opinion that the direction of the kitchen water faucet
influenced the sound. That's what I call "audiophile craziness".
> While never overly enamored of either her or
> Greenberg's columns, I would rather read 10 of each
> than anything written by Jonathan Scull. At least
> there was a chance of their columns containing
> a tidbit of valuable information or perspective.
> Or at least a chuckle ... something positive of
> some sort.
IMO both of the latter equally satisfied both purposes.
Andre Jean Quintal
> > not the equipment.
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/iiforty.htm
This weblink will get you to QUAD UK. Consider their product
as it is very well made, with top notch support. Available in the USA.
Also, if you intend to allocate a substantial budget for your
electronics, why not consider Audio Research components,
new or pre-owned ?
Andre Quintal
Webmarketing
be? They are opinons. The fact that his opinions didn't match yours
doesn't make them right or wrong.
Fred
"normanstrong" <norman...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:aj161...@enews2.newsguy.com...
> "Webmarketing" <webmar...@kconline.com> wrote in message
> news:aiu27...@enews4.newsguy.com...
> > I think Corey Greenburg was the most talented writer ever to have
> > appeared in Stereophile. I used to look forward to his articles. It
> > made the magazine for me. His current employers apparently don't
> > allow him free reign in his writing style because he isn't as
> > entertaining as he was at Stereophile. You deserve credit for
> > letting him do his thing while he was there. It was a very
> > entertaining thing indeed.
> >
> > Fred
> > http://www.thegoodgourmet.com
>
> You're right. He was an excellent writer, and very entertaining. He
> was also usually wrong.
>
> Norm Strong
>