Issue 98    April 2013
Play Music For The Sheer Fun Of Things
Editorial By Alan Sircom

  This month, as we stumble headlong toward both the Munich High End show and our 100th issue, I've temporarily taken more of a back seat in the review haul. This is in part to reacquaint myself with the passion of music. Getting paid to listen to music all day is not exactly the toughest job in the world, but if your music is constantly used to assess the performance of pieces of audio equipment, you run the risk of being unable to switch off ‘work mode' listening. By taking a short break from writing about products, I've already rediscovered my musical happy place.

It's something we rarely write about, but the importance of taking a musical break from time to time is a vital part of being a music lover, especially a music lover who's also fond of tinkering with bits of audio equipment. Spend too many hours listening to the same few test tracks over and over again can wipe out the enjoyment that is the reason why we all started buying bits of audio equipment.

The great advantage of audiophile single-mindedness is if you want to know which version of Ravel's Bolero is best (or which cartridge is best to play it on) that attention to detail is a good thing. But, the constant fidgeting and adjustment to a system that worked perfectly well before you started tinkering with it is a sure sign of audiophilia nervosa.

As such, I am currently deliberately limiting myself to one album a day. A rise and shine diet of music I've either not had a chance to listen to or haven't heard in years. None of it is 'work' music, either. None of it will be used in reviews (and no, that doesn't mean I'm listening to Sinetta or Max Bygraves albums). It's just ‘me' time. A chance to listen to music unencumbered by deadlines, note-taking, critical listening or fiddling with something.

And it's great. I think it's something every audiophile should do every few years. Turn off the big system and just play music simply, cheaply and for the sheer fun of things and discover new musical interests. Reset your listening levels. Try it for yourself.

Hi-Fi Plus is  fast approaching something of a landmark – its 100th issue. And we'd like you to be involved; we'd like you to tell us about your hi-fi high points of the last 14 years. Of course, if they happen to involve Hi-Fi Plus, all the better! Send your anecdotes and recollections to editor@hifiplus.com and we'll even print the ones that won't end up with court appearances!

Alan Sircom, Editor Hi-Fi+