audiophilia and ecstasy

PROJECT

DATE BYJULY 9TH 2009 ALF REHN

AUDIOPHILIA & ECSTASYBRIDGING FAITH, HETEROGENEOUS TECHNOLOGIES & UNOBTAINIUM

torsdag, 2009 juli 09

Martin Parker and objet trouvé as method

Damian O’Doherty hearing “angles in the sound”

The Pink Machine-project

An interest in luxury and excess

Groovin’ on materiality

A theology of the market?

Oh, and getting to use the word “unobtainium”


Audiophilia and the audiophiles


AUDIO CONSULTING’S $2,900-5,300 VOLUME CONTROL torsdag, 2009 juli 09

“My attention was immediately drawn to the incredibly low noise floor, at

least relative to the tube-based line stages I’m familiar with. In addition to

being quiet, its sound was also free of any audible distortions. High-

frequency glare, solid-state dissonance, electronic glaze, inter-modulation

smearing of textures, edgy transients – the sort of gremlins we have been

complaining about for years – were totally absent. As a result, the ebb and

flow of harmonic textures was supremely pristine. This brings to mind the

vision of a crisp and clear Alpine lake unadulterated by the encroachment

of civilization. The SR’s purity of expression made a lasting impression.”

FROM DICK OLSHER’S REVIEW FOR ENJOYTHEMUSIC.COM


“There was, however, incremental improvement in this area, especially

after the first 20 hours or so. And then one afternoon I settled down for

another audition and discovered to my amazement that the fledgling had

finally taken to full flight. Microdynamics were given complete scope of

expression. The emotional intensity of the music pent up in the dynamic

nuances of the signal was allowed to explode within a wide and deep

soundstage. The sense of speed and control was also very much in

evidence, as transients unfolded with laser like speed and focus.”

FROM DICK OLSHER’S REVIEW FOR ENJOYTHEMUSIC.COM


GENESIS 1.1 POWER CABLE – $13,000torsdag, 2009 juli 09

“These cables are crazy. It sounds like listening to a completely new audio

system, I didn’t know that improvements this big were possible in audio.

Normally when upgrading audio components you just make little side

steps into different flavors but there aren’t any real improvements.

[…]

I’m surprised how open this cable sounds like, I was expecting it to be

very closed in and fatiguing, but the higher resolution reveals all the

subtlest ambient decay sounds which makes it sound more open. The

Genesis gives true openness to the sound! I no longer need to color the

sound with other tweaks to get enough openness and realism to the

sound, the Genesis does this better than anything else because it doesn’t

add any weaknesses.”

FROM VALHALLAPC’S REVIEW FOR AVSFORUM.COM


THE OPUS MM2 SPEAKER CABLE – UP TO $30,000 torsdag, 2009 juli 09

“To keep resonance from obscuring the nuances of the music signal as it

travels through the cable and network, a mass of epoxy damping material

encapsulates the OPUS MM2 network, which is then encased with carbon

fiber.

[…]

And of course, we will build your OPUS MM2 interconnects to exactly

match the impedance of your associated components: making a match

this precise unleashes thrilling levels of performance in low level

information retrieval and dynamics, and creates a wide-open conduit

through which your favorite music flows effortlessly.”

FROM PRODUCT DESCRIPTION


Faith in techno-progress – the hunt for “null”


Heterogenous technologies and “Unobtainium”


“I noted hearing greater levels of dynamics, quicker transients and better attack, a darker background and increased musical articulation allowing for a more expressive performance.”


ON MARKET ECSTASY


RATIONALITY IRRATIONALITY


RATIONALITY IRRATIONALITY

ECSTASY?


Ecstatic states

Total involvement, transcending the mundane

Often invoked through a set of techniques that sets the individual apart from her surroundings

Euphoric, altered state of consciousness

Moving “outside oneself”


Reclaiming meaning in the market


an

alfrehnproduction


audiophilia and ecstasy

Documents