Home | Audio Reviews | Audio Show Reports | Partner Magazines | News     

 

Enjoy the Music.com

December 2021

 

Hi-Fi+ Annual Awards Celebration
Let's look to the positive things.
Editorial By Alan Sircom

Hi-Fi+ Issue December 2021

 

  As is tradition when looking at an annual awards celebration, it's time to look back at changes in the audio world and then apply a little bit of crystall ball gazing skills to try to work out precisely what shape the business is in and where it's going. Except it doesn't work like that this year. Looking back on 2021 is impossible without taking one or two things into account; not so much talking about 'elephants in the room' more 'what are we doing in the elephant house?'.

Instead, let's look to the positive things we need to do to rebuild and restart; and one of the first is perhaps counter-intuitive for a magazine about staying at home and listening to music; get out more! While reproduced music is wonderful, music in general relies on the shared experience. Artists often try things out on their audiences, later writing those up as the next album of greats. You get to hear it first in that small venue across town. Except, we've all lost the habit. We simply don't go to concerts and gigs to the same degree at the moment. 

This is in part understandable; the pandemic isn't 'over' yet, and the joy of being in a live audience is quickly tempered by 10 days of quarantine... or worse. But the absence of live music ultimately undermines your home listening in two key ways.

 

Hi-Fi+ Issue December 2021

 

First, live, unamplified music played in a natural acoustic is one of the best benchmarks against which all audio should be evaluated. Granted, it also means all audio falls short of that benchmark, but without a periodic 'level check' of unamplified music, your evaluative standards can slip.

Next, and more importantly, there is a good correlation between a healthy live music scene and a healthy recorded music chart, filled with new recordings from artists old and new. If they don't tour, they either don't record (because their creativity is stuck in 'Park') or can't record (because they can't afford it). The problem quickly multiplies if you are dealing with orchestras (a year without rehearsals and shuttered concert halls means rusty musicians) and jazz combos (no chance to write new material and test it on a live audience).

While we are not being prevented from attending concerts and gigs any more, whether it's the additional 'faff' of vaccine passports or test-to-admit rules, concerns about catching or spreading COVID-19 or that we've simply forgot what a good gig is like... get out there more, so you can enjoy staying at home and listening to music!

 

 


Alan Sircom, Editor Hi-Fi+

 

 

 

 


Subscribe To Hi-Fi+ Magazine
Click here to subscribe to hi-fi+ magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
 

Quick Links


Audiophile Review Magazine
High-End Audio Equipment Reviews

 

Equipment Review Archives
Turntables, Cartridges, Etc
Digital Source
Do It Yourself (DIY)
Preamplifiers
Amplifiers
Cables, Wires, Etc
Loudspeakers/ Monitors
Headphones, IEMs, Tweaks, Etc
Superior Audio Gear Reviews

 

Videos
Enjoy the Music.TV

 

Columns
Viewpoint By Roger Skoff
Viewpoint By Steven R. Rochlin
Various Think Pieces
Manufacturer Articles
10 Questions For Manufacturers


Show Reports
Capital Audiofest 2023 Report
Toronto Audiofest 2023 Report
UK Audio Show 2023 Report
Pacific Audio Fest 2023 Report
T.H.E. Show 2023 Report
HIGH END Munich 2023
Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 Report
AXPONA 2023 Show Report
Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023
CanJam Singapore 2023 Report
Florida Intl. Audio Expo 2023
...More Show Reports

 

Other
Audiophile Contests
Cool Free Stuff For You
Tweaks For Your System
Vinyl Logos For LP Lovers
Lust Pages Visual Beauty

 

Resources & Information
Music Definitions
Hi-Fi Definitions

 


Industry & Music News

High-End Premium Audio & Music News

 

Partner Print Magazines
audioXpress
Australian Hi-Fi Magazine
hi-fi+ Magazine
HiFi Media
Sound Practices
The Absolute Sound
VALVE Magazine

 

For The Press & Industry
About Us
Press Releases
Official Site Graphics

 

Contests & Our Mailing List

Our free newsletter for monthly updates & enter our contests!

 

 

    

Home   |   News   |   Equipment Reviews   |   Press Releases   |   About Us   |   Contact Us

 

All contents copyright©  1995 - 2023  HighEndAudio.com and Enjoy the Music.com®
May not be copied or reproduced without permission.  All rights reserved.