Newbie in Classical Music

[milenium_Goethe995]

Hello everybody,

I will not lose to many words about my person in this introduction and
cut directly to the chase.

I have noticed that lately my taste in music is beginning to change. I
scroll through the radio stations, whenever I am in my car, and can
simply not listen to whatever it is they call music nowadays. It feels
like it is one and the same song. Like the same ware, in a different
package. It does not arouse much feeling in me. It feels like a kind of
aggression against my spirit. I want it turned off. On the other side,
listening to something like "Voi che sapete" from Mozart let's say... or
The ninth Simphony of Beethoven is a real experience. I get excited. By
the first one one feels the tendernes and naivity of being a stupid
young boy in love for the first time... my heart just feels that state
of being...

That was just a short introduction. I am nowhere near to being a fine
connoiseur of classical music.
This is why I took the effort, to reach this place. I have been
wondering through the "babylonical comercial jungle" of the mainstream
internet of today to reach you people. My heart longs for wisdom, for
knowledge and I shall walk the steep and narrow path for reaching it.
Please, take me, a son of philistines and teach me the ways of beauty
and art.

I shall begin with one first question>
What is the best setup for listening to classical music at my home?
Should I acquire a so called DAC and Ampliphier, Headphones or Speakers?
Could you please link a good resource for learning more about the
technical stuff so, that I can lay a solid base for my musical education?

Best Regards and thank you in advance for your answers!

[Martin Schöön]

Post by milenium_Goethe995
I shall begin with one first question>
What is the best setup for listening to classical music at my home?
Should I acquire a so called DAC and Ampliphier, Headphones or Speakers?
Could you please link a good resource for learning more about the
technical stuff so, that I can lay a solid base for my musical education?
Best Regards and thank you in advance for your answers!

For being an on-line forum I find Audio Science Reviews to have a decent
signal to noise ratio:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php

Warning: You are entering the proverbial rabbit hole :-)

Headphones vs. speakers could depend a lot on 'external factors' such as
neighbors, significant other, road noise, willingness to add acoustic
treatment to listening room, budget....

Then, how good does the kit need to be? One friend once said: "If you
keep playing record after record and enjoy it, it is good enough."

/Martin

[Todd M. McComb]

Post by Martin Schöön
Headphones vs. speakers could depend a lot on 'external factors'
such as neighbors, significant other, road noise, willingness to
add acoustic treatment to listening room, budget....

Yes, I think this is a "personal choice" kind of decision. I'm a
speakers person, much to my wife's dismay....

Particularly with high-def so common in newer recordings (& with
mixed results for reissues...), I'd also recommend being serious
about the DAC component.

Post by Martin Schöön
Then, how good does the kit need to be? One friend once said: "If
you keep playing record after record and enjoy it, it is good
enough."

It used to be possible to go to a stereo store, and sit and listen
to different equipment for a while. I'm not sure how possible that
is anymore, but I heartily recommend it if so....

[Raymond Hall]

Post by Todd M. McComb

Post by Martin Schöön
Headphones vs. speakers could depend a lot on 'external factors'
such as neighbors, significant other, road noise, willingness to
add acoustic treatment to listening room, budget....

Yes, I think this is a "personal choice" kind of decision. I'm a
speakers person, much to my wife's dismay....
Particularly with high-def so common in newer recordings (& with
mixed results for reissues...), I'd also recommend being serious
about the DAC component.

Post by Martin Schöön
Then, how good does the kit need to be? One friend once said: "If
you keep playing record after record and enjoy it, it is good
enough."

It used to be possible to go to a stereo store, and sit and listen
to different equipment for a while. I'm not sure how possible that
is anymore, but I heartily recommend it if so....

I echo the preference for listening through speakers.

Headphones or earbuds provide a pragmatic solution in lots of instances,
but you cannot beat the movement of realistic quantities of air to
provide a more satisfying audio experience.

Ray Hall, Taree

[Todd M. McComb]

Post by Raymond Hall
Headphones or earbuds provide a pragmatic solution in lots of
instances, but you cannot beat the movement of realistic quantities
of air to provide a more satisfying audio experience.

There are, of course, very different qualities of headphones
available, as there are speakers.... Some professionals insist on
headphones for hearing details, but I prefer to be listening out
in space....

[Raymond Hall]

Post by Todd M. McComb

Post by Raymond Hall
Headphones or earbuds provide a pragmatic solution in lots of
instances, but you cannot beat the movement of realistic quantities
of air to provide a more satisfying audio experience.

There are, of course, very different qualities of headphones
available, as there are speakers.... Some professionals insist on
headphones for hearing details, but I prefer to be listening out
in space....

I find that headphones are too clinical an experience, often providing
detail that one doesn't normally hear in a concert hall.

This is fine if that is what you prefer.

For headphones I always found Sennheisers more natural. For speakers I
have a pair of bookshelf Denon speakers, which when driven give a very
satisfying sound. All speakers need to be driven at the right levels to
get the best out of them.

Ray Hall, Taree

[Owen Hartnett]

Post by Martin Schöön

Post by milenium_Goethe995
I shall begin with one first question>
What is the best setup for listening to classical music at my home?
Should I acquire a so called DAC and Ampliphier, Headphones or Speakers?
Could you please link a good resource for learning more about the
technical stuff so, that I can lay a solid base for my musical education?
Best Regards and thank you in advance for your answers!

For being an on-line forum I find Audio Science Reviews to have a decent
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php
Warning: You are entering the proverbial rabbit hole :-)
Headphones vs. speakers could depend a lot on 'external factors' such as
neighbors, significant other, road noise, willingness to add acoustic
treatment to listening room, budget....
Then, how good does the kit need to be? One friend once said: "If you
keep playing record after record and enjoy it, it is good enough."
/Martin

If you're going to be listening by yourself, I'd say to table the audiophile
stuff, just get a subscription to Spotify (cost == 1 CD per month or so), and
a good pair of bluetooth headphones (BOSE still has the best noise cancelling)
and just listen. Alternatively, a subscription to YouTube. Both of these
venues have more music than you could ever collect, and lots of
recommendations on what to try next.

What to listen to? Wherever your journey takes you. There's lots to explore
and different opinions on all of it. Spotify will recommend works to you on a
weekly basis, there are tons of websites that will point you to highly
regarded performances of anything that catches your fancy.

-Owen

[milenium_Goethe995]

Post by Owen Hartnett

Post by Martin Schöön

Post by milenium_Goethe995
I shall begin with one first question>
What is the best setup for listening to classical music at my home?
Should I acquire a so called DAC and Ampliphier, Headphones or Speakers?
Could you please link a good resource for learning more about the
technical stuff so, that I can lay a solid base for my musical education?
Best Regards and thank you in advance for your answers!

For being an on-line forum I find Audio Science Reviews to have a decent
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php
Warning: You are entering the proverbial rabbit hole :-)
Headphones vs. speakers could depend a lot on 'external factors' such as
neighbors, significant other, road noise, willingness to add acoustic
treatment to listening room, budget....
Then, how good does the kit need to be? One friend once said: "If you
keep playing record after record and enjoy it, it is good enough."
/Martin

If you're going to be listening by yourself, I'd say to table the audiophile
stuff, just get a subscription to Spotify (cost == 1 CD per month or so), and
a good pair of bluetooth headphones (BOSE still has the best noise cancelling)
and just listen. Alternatively, a subscription to YouTube. Both of these
venues have more music than you could ever collect, and lots of
recommendations on what to try next.
What to listen to? Wherever your journey takes you. There's lots to explore
and different opinions on all of it. Spotify will recommend works to you on a
weekly basis, there are tons of websites that will point you to highly
regarded performances of anything that catches your fancy.
-Owen

Thank you all for the suggestions. I got myself a good pair of
headphones (Meze Aer 105). They are quite nice.
Looking forward to seeing nice posts around here.

Peace!