CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

Non-Audio Stuff => Random Thoughts => Topic started by: madaboutaudio on July 22, 2015, 06:08:32 PM

Title: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: madaboutaudio on July 22, 2015, 06:08:32 PM
Rare breed:  headbang


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxCht33vomw
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Dr Pan K on July 22, 2015, 07:26:40 PM
There is more, Kirsten Brodbeck Kenney makes some nice reviews and Harmony Hicks is also fun to read.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: madaboutaudio on July 22, 2015, 07:57:26 PM
I wonder how many % of the audiophiles are female?

Although there's definitely more females that love listening to music but don't consider themselves audiophiles.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: audiofrk on July 22, 2015, 08:06:23 PM
There is more, Kirsten Brodbeck Kenney makes some nice reviews and Harmony Hicks is also fun to read.

Doesn't Harmony Hicks write for headphone guru?  I try to avoided any reviews from those people. 

Have you guys noticed that after a headfier gets enough experience  they either becomes a diyer, pyrate, or a reviewer for headphone guru?
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: maverickronin on July 22, 2015, 08:20:21 PM
There's Romy aka MuppetFace, but she hasn't been active on here or HF for a while now.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Deep Funk on July 22, 2015, 08:49:34 PM
There's Romy aka MuppetFace, but she hasn't been active on here or HF for a while now.

Too bad, she has a sense of humour.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: audiofrk on July 23, 2015, 04:50:36 AM
hey just saw the video, she did a really good job honest and informative.  Someone should invite her to join here.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: No_One411 on July 23, 2015, 05:21:25 AM
Jana's pretty legit. I think she's a sales rep for Stereo Exchange now.

Also a pretty decent jazz pianist as well.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Colgin on July 24, 2015, 03:30:57 AM
Jana's pretty legit. I think she's a sales rep for Stereo Exchange now.

Also a pretty decent jazz pianist as well.

She is a sales associate at Stereo Exchange. Funny in that I saw this thread earlier today when there was like one post and watched the video which I thought was well done.  Happened to get out of work early so headed over to Stereo Exchange with a couple of my own cans to demo some of their head amps.

The guy who usually helps me was out so Jana set me up in the headphone lounge. She looked kind of familiar and then as I was leaving later she mentioned she also had a YouTube channel and it clicked that I had just seen her video earlier that morning. Odd synchronicity that. She is fairly knowledgeable, but was great as a sales associate in that she just left me with plenty of time in the lounge with my own cans and pretty much all of SE's TOTL headphones out for listening. Unfortunately I really wanted to compare amps more than cans, but the oly one that was set up at the time was the McIntosh MHA100. Still it was nice getting to run all those cans trough the MHA 100, which I think is a good all in one albeit overpriced (but hey it's McIntosh so what do you expect). I am hoping to go Back another time again when the store is not so crowded to hopefully demo some less expensive alternatives. In addition to a good lineup of cans, SE now has a decent line of amps throughout a broad price range. While emphasis is on high. End/expensive , they do have some more affordable options.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: anetode on July 24, 2015, 04:18:54 AM
I'm not sure that categorizing female audiophiles a "rare breed" is a good thing. Another way to put it would be to say that there may be aspects of the audiophile hobby that turn a lot of women off. The boothbabe dynamic may bring in a lot of north-middle-aged Diana Krall listeners and nouveau riche asians, but it's not doing any favors to the popular image of the audiophile. Neither does the Freudian obsession with thick cables and big shiny things  ::)
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: audiofrk on July 24, 2015, 04:37:30 AM
been to many shows haven't really seen bothbabes. Seen sale's reps that are pretty but they are about as knowledgeble as the male reps so don't think they're there for the looks.  But then again I hear bothbabe and think of E3.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: anetode on July 24, 2015, 04:46:49 AM
been to many shows haven't really seen bothbabes. Seen sale's reps that are pretty but they are about as knowledgeble as the male reps so don't think they're there for the looks.  But then again I hear bothbabe and think of E3.

I was talking more about the social dynamic I've witnessed rather than the reps themselves. Nonetheless, as a tech-gadget hobby, there are still plenty of headphone boothbabes out there: http://hifisenses.com/event-report/astell-kern-ak380-launch-event-raffles-hotel-singapore.html
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: n3rdling on July 24, 2015, 04:52:47 AM
The few females I've known and talked to in the hobby have all had one thing in common: they receive PMs from creepy guys trying to hit on them.  The average audiophile is probably considered a little weird by social standards, but these guys were a skip away from the institution based on some of the short exchanges I've glimpsed. 
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 24, 2015, 05:11:27 AM
A lot of us just silently let everyone think we're dudes by default because we don't think it matters until it becomes too much of a hassle to clarify so we stew for a few days and someone posts a thread like this and we yell THANK ****.

I am not male. I'm vaginabled.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 24, 2015, 05:14:20 AM
I'm not sure that categorizing female audiophiles a "rare breed" is a good thing. Another way to put it would be to say that there may be aspects of the audiophile hobby that turn a lot of women off. The boothbabe dynamic may bring in a lot of north-middle-aged Diana Krall listeners and nouveau riche asians, but it's not doing any favors to the popular image of the audiophile. Neither does the Freudian obsession with thick cables and big shiny things  ::)

Will never understand how men are more obsessed with phalluses than we are. It doesn't even make sense.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 24, 2015, 05:16:48 AM
A lot of us just silently let everyone think we're dudes by default because we don't think it matters until it becomes too much of a hassle to clarify so we stew for a few days and someone posts a thread like this and we yell THANK ****.

I am not male. I'm vaginabled.


I hit edit not quote!!
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: audiofrk on July 24, 2015, 05:52:13 AM
oh oh pelpix shouldn't have revealed yourself now your gonna get weird pms.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: audiofrk on July 24, 2015, 05:53:25 AM
this weird enough I want to be memorable

(http://i.imgur.com/ljOT5.jpg)
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Armaegis on July 24, 2015, 06:53:37 AM
I am not male. I'm vaginabled.

I can't figure out if I'm supposed to read this as:
1) vagina bled - like some weird variant on dragon-born (blooded?) or somesuch
2) vagin abled - so the opposite of disvaginated?
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Armaegis on July 24, 2015, 06:59:21 AM
The few females I've known and talked to in the hobby have all had one thing in common: they receive PMs from creepy guys trying to hit on them.  The average audiophile is probably considered a little weird by social standards, but these guys were a skip away from the institution based on some of the short exchanges I've glimpsed. 

Could be worse. Could be the stereotypical unwashed basement dwelling anime/comic nerd heathen.

I've been the game-room organizer at anime conventions, and have also run panels at gaming/fantasy cons. There's plenty of nice normal folks, but plenty of... neither. Watching the crowds swarm around the womenfolk is interesting too. Look down from a balcony and you'll see the social microcosms. There's the few close by within touching range, the meandering excited types, and the creepers that hang back just far enough but their body posturing is all pointed towards their girl of focus.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: anetode on July 24, 2015, 07:01:13 AM
I can't figure out if I'm supposed to read this as:
1) vagina bled - like some weird variant on dragon-born (blooded?) or somesuch
2) vagin abled - so the opposite of disvaginated?


That's a rather invaginated parsing of the term.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Sorrodje on July 24, 2015, 07:01:40 AM
The few females I've known and talked to in the hobby have all had one thing in common: they receive PMs from creepy guys trying to hit on them.  The average audiophile is probably considered a little weird by social standards, but these guys were a skip away from the institution based on some of the short exchanges I've glimpsed. 


Jeez... is that true in the US as well ? thought it was a bad habit in Mediterranean Cultures.

@anetode : yea audio is like cars or guns... Kind of pissing constest for boys. Big and shiny expensive stuff probably helps men to feel better.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Armaegis on July 24, 2015, 08:03:32 AM
That's a rather invaginated parsing of the term.
That's something a provaginator would say.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Hroðulf on July 24, 2015, 09:52:42 AM
I've met many women with listening setups worthy of being considered audiophile, however none of them used "audiophile" as a defining term for what they are.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 24, 2015, 05:00:07 PM
I can't figure out if I'm supposed to read this as:
1) vagina bled - like some weird variant on dragon-born (blooded?) or somesuch
2) vagin abled - so the opposite of disvaginated?


HAHAHAHAHA I'M LOSING IT.

I got it from:
https://youtu.be/2m-e4PgiVfM?t=2m40s

One of my favorite YT videos. Also relevant because I was born a little intersex.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: anetode on July 24, 2015, 05:48:06 PM
That's something a provaginator would say.

Thanks but I wouldn't exactly call myself a pro yet, maybe a talented journeyman.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Armaegis on July 24, 2015, 06:52:38 PM
HAHAHAHAHA I'M LOSING IT.

I got it from:
https://youtu.be/2m-e4PgiVfM?t=2m40s

One of my favorite YT videos. Also relevant because I was born a little intersex.

Oh jebus Tumblr... some of the worst dredges of social media... I'm sure that there are good healthy supportive communities out there, but there's so much badness out there, and they're the loudest ones. I hate the words trigger or privilege, like they're used as an excuse for their behaviour or questionable morality or lack thereof. I've gotten into arguments with anti-vaxxers in person. All the "acceptance" movements for very unhealthy/destructive behaviour. Then there's doxxing: Cyberbullying fueled by tumblr-rage that results in ruining people's lives.

So. Much. Ugh.


Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Marvey on July 24, 2015, 06:59:08 PM
I've met many women with listening setups worthy of being considered audiophile, however none of them used "audiophile" as a defining term for what they are.

Guys don't even like to use the term audiophile. I believe "music appreciator" is what's in vogue.  Can't blame them since most audiophiles look like old dudes with grey hair, big bellies, and Hawaii shirts. Some of the more advanced audiophiles are so old that they can barely walk. At least this was my experience at T.H.E. SHOW.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Tari on July 24, 2015, 07:14:02 PM
Hey, he doesn't always wear hawaiian shirts:


(http://cdn.head-fi.org/f/ff/350x700px-LL-ffc9650c_WHITE20BUFFALO2070-M.jpeg)
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: DaveBSC on July 24, 2015, 07:32:52 PM
Guys don't even like to use the term audiophile. I believe "music appreciator" is what's in vogue.  Can't blame them since most audiophiles look like old dudes with grey hair, big bellies, and Hawaii shirts. Some of the more advanced audiophiles are so old that they can barely walk. At least this was my experience at T.H.E. SHOW.

Yes. Most look like some variation of Nelson Pass, no offense to Nelson lol. I often wonder how much hearing they have left. 13kHz? 12?
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: OJneg on July 24, 2015, 07:41:34 PM
The Internet:

Where the men are men, the women are men, and the children are FBI agents.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Griffon on July 24, 2015, 07:42:48 PM
Guys don't even like to use the term audiophile. I believe "music appreciator" is what's in vogue.  Can't blame them since most audiophiles look like old dudes with grey hair, big bellies, and Hawaii shirts. Some of the more advanced audiophiles are so old that they can barely walk. At least this was my experience at T.H.E. SHOW.

Lots of self-proclaimed audiophiles that I've met have some common traits. They're easy to get onto the hype train/FOTM. They brag about their new equipment for a month or two then whine about alas there is no perfect equipment in the audiophlia, they have to make another purchase. They seem to buy myths and snake oils a lot (i.e. claiming they can 100% distinguish between flac and 320 mp3). It appears to me that they're not enjoying music, thus actually disqualifying them from being audiophile.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: mikoss on July 24, 2015, 07:44:08 PM
Lots of self-proclaimed audiophiles that I've met have some common traits. They're easy to get onto the hype train/FOTM. They brag about their new equipment for a month or two then whine about alas there is no perfect equipment in the audiophlia, they have to make another purchase. They seem to buy myths and snake oils a lot (i.e. claiming they can 100% distinguish between flac and 320 mp3). It appears to me that they're not enjoying music, thus actually disqualifying them from being audiophile.
They may also have a large collection of DSD material...

Griffon, remember hearing "Call Me Maybe" about 100 times at the last meet? I thought that was cute, but also hilarious at the same time.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: aufmerksam on July 24, 2015, 07:56:56 PM
It appears to me that they're not enjoying music, thus actually disqualifying them from being audiophile.

This is the fundamental qualification.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: audiofrk on July 24, 2015, 09:28:30 PM
Guys don't even like to use the term audiophile. I believe "music appreciator" is what's in vogue.  Can't blame them since most audiophiles look like old dudes with grey hair, big bellies, and Hawaii shirts. Some of the more advanced audiophiles are so old that they can barely walk. At least this was my experience at T.H.E. SHOW.

"music appreciator"  is too many words to type or say, I just use audiophile.  In fact I slur -phile.  If anyone questions me I just look at them and say they will never understand the awesomeness of DSD256.

The Internet:

Where the men are men, the women are men, and the children are FBI agents.

 :)p13 :)p13 :)p13 :)p13 :)p13
I couldn't stop laughing. 
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 24, 2015, 09:43:16 PM
I always read "audiophile" as hilariously sexual in my head, like a bunch of old dudes talking about "The curves on that sine wave" God, this DAC performs so well at -90db. Look at the curves.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: DaveBSC on July 24, 2015, 10:07:48 PM
I always read "audiophile" as hilariously sexual in my head, like a bunch of old dudes talking about "The curves on that sine wave" God, this DAC performs so well at -90db. Look at the curves.

HA. Look how little the wiggle is in my square wave baby. This amp is the best.

(http://www.audiomasterclass.com/i2/square-wave-on-oscilloscope.jpg)
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: sfoclt on July 24, 2015, 10:15:13 PM
I should know what site I'm on, but I still thought the thread title was female alcoholics.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 25, 2015, 03:26:53 PM

HA. Look how little the wiggle is in my square wave baby. This amp is the best.

(http://www.audiomasterclass.com/i2/square-wave-on-oscilloscope.jpg)
Your girl ain't no flapper.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: RexAeterna on July 25, 2015, 07:20:16 PM
I don't like the term audiophile personally. Doesn't bother me but, I find it just another unnecessary label or title one gives oneself.

I just tell people I'm picky bout sound and just love music.

Females naturally have better hearing than men in general(but of course there is exceptions) and you be surprised how many females like good audio just as much. Girls liking good sound reproduction is more common then people think. Doesn't seem that way cause they take completely different approach to it on avg than men.



Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: firev1 on July 26, 2015, 08:01:00 AM
Oh god PelPix, that was too hilarious and somewhat true /ninjas
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: maverickronin on July 26, 2015, 05:25:05 PM
The boothbabe dynamic may bring in a lot of north-middle-aged Diana Krall listeners and nouveau riche asians, but it's not doing any favors to the popular image of the audiophile.

I think the booth babe thing started in the first place because those kind of hobbies were already male dominated to begin with.  Then as it becomes entrenched it becomes a positive feedback loop and serves to keeps females out.

Will never understand how men are more obsessed with phalluses than we are. It doesn't even make sense.

Apparently we're all just insecure little boys at heart...

Guys don't even like to use the term audiophile. I believe "music appreciator" is what's in vogue.  Can't blame them since most audiophiles look like old dudes with grey hair, big bellies, and Hawaii shirts. Some of the more advanced audiophiles are so old that they can barely walk. At least this was my experience at T.H.E. SHOW.

I think it's more because a the cynical definition of an audiophile is someone who uses music to listen to the equipment rather than using the equipment to listen to the music.

Could be worse. Could be the stereotypical unwashed basement dwelling anime/comic nerd heathen.

That must mean I'm in trouble...

OTOH, you do see a lot more females at anime cons than at audio shows.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: SeaBupter on July 26, 2015, 05:26:27 PM
Will never understand how men are more obsessed with phalluses than we are. It doesn't even make sense.

I feel the same way about women's obsession with shoes - it's just another one of life's little mysteries.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: PelPix on July 26, 2015, 06:32:17 PM
I feel the same way about women's obsession with shoes - it's just another one of life's little mysteries.

It's not about the shoes, it's the level of ass enhancement. The higher the heels, the more your ass is enhanced, so you need like 5 gradient pairs to cover the various levels of ass enhancement you need, and then you need them in your different color schemes and different styles to match your outfits. You have 5 gradient levels, 3 colors, and 4 styles, which works out to about 60 pairs of shoes, but you can't afford 60 pairs of shoes, so you cut out the ones that are the least different until you have the largest possible variation between shoes, which leaves you with about 12 pairs of shoes.

It really is a simple mathematical problem and I've never seen any woman explain it to a man before, even though he'd probably get it. A lot of men think we're just obsessed with shoes at random. They don't think about the actually quite elaborate math behind it all.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: ultrabike on July 26, 2015, 06:36:05 PM
I feel the same way about women's obsession with shoes - it's just another one of life's little mysteries.

And handbags, and cosmetics, and jewelry, and scented candles, and designer clothes, and so on.

Men typically go for cars, audio, cameras, shaving, bikes, fishing, sports, guns, and so on.

Shoes can be an obsession for some men too. My brother has a collection of Jordan Nike shoes. Friends at work collect suit designer shoes and talk about saving shit loads of money when they bought a $800 pair for $200.

LOL! going to Vegas for the first time long time ago, I remember some stores providing huge discounts on dresses that were originally something like $10k down to about $1.5k.
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Claritas on July 26, 2015, 07:03:56 PM
It's not about the shoes, it's the level of ass enhancement.

I thought it was to stretch the calves as an indication of coital readiness (for real).
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: SeaBupter on July 26, 2015, 07:13:09 PM
t's not about the shoes, it's the level of ass enhancement. The higher the heels, the more your ass is enhanced, so you need like 5 gradient pairs to cover the various levels of ass enhancement you need, and then you need them in your different color schemes and different styles to match your outfits. You have 5 gradient levels, 3 colors, and 4 styles, which works out to about 60 pairs of shoes, but you can't afford 60 pairs of shoes, so you cut out the ones that are the least different until you have the largest possible variation between shoes, which leaves you with about 12 pairs of shoes.

It really is a simple mathematical problem and I've never seen any woman explain it to a man before, even though he'd probably get it. A lot of men think we're just obsessed with shoes at random. They don't think about the actually quite elaborate math behind it all.

That's ass-tonishing!
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Armaegis on July 26, 2015, 08:34:47 PM
but you can't afford 60 pairs of shoes, so you cut out the ones that are the least different until you have the largest possible variation between shoes, which leaves you with about 12 pairs of shoes.

A friend of mine when she had her house built specifically got a walk-in closet just for her shoes. The last time I asked (maybe 5 years ago), she was at over 200 pairs...
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Julian67 on July 27, 2015, 02:08:46 AM
....old dudes with grey hair, big bellies, and Hawaii shirts.

So basically you're hating on me and Tyll?

OK I admit I have very little hair outside of the shoulder, back, arse, nostril and ear departments and you are more likely to sight me in paisley patterned pyjamas than in a Hawaiian shirt (or Hawaiian friggin' anything) but still, I am claiming my right to be offended as a (fully paid up AKA taxed almost to death) member of the white community! Oh yeah, the fightback starts here!
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: jacal01 on July 30, 2015, 02:53:57 PM
I thought it was to stretch the calves as an indication of coital readiness (for real).

My ex told me that it was strapped high heels that was the giveaway.  She called them "Come f**k me shoes".
Title: Re: Female Audiophiles?!
Post by: Armaegis on July 30, 2015, 05:38:59 PM
My ex told me that it was strapped high heels that was the giveaway.  She called them "Come f**k me shoes".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVaqQe3V498