Is it the re-creation of a live performance? To live up to some abstract ideal? Faithfully reproduce a recording of an event that in many cases never happened?
It’s always puzzling when people offer the most reductive answer possible to a question that doesn’t need to be asked.
What’s the point of hifi is a question that needn’t be asked for the same reason we don’t have to wonder why someone buys a TV or a camera—the answer is self evident.
We’ve been buying and using hifi in one form or other for more than a century and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s looked at one and asked—what’s that for? The reason being we all know hifi’s play music which is, if we want to be absolutely reductive, THE answer.
What’s the point of hifi?
To play music.
I know what you’re thinking—the real question is why do some people spend more than others on hifi which is why we need an answer that goes beyond “to play music” in order to justify the time and money some people devote to and spend on listening to music. Right?
Why buy a camera?
To take pictures.
Why buy a TV?
To watch movies. (that’s my reason)
Hell, phones play music and they also have a camera and a screen so why spend Wilson, Leica, or Sony Bravia projector money when we already have these things covered. Is it dumb to want more? Are people who have desires beyond basic utility suckers? Do people who spend lots of money on a camera or projector have golden eyes? Do they think they’re some kind of special seers? Have they taken a test to prove it?
As you can see, I can’t even pretend to make a decent argument in defense of those who think we need to defend our choices when we buy stuff like hifi so I’ll give you the complete answer to a question that doesn’t need to be asked:
What’s the point of hifi?
To listen to music.
Why do some people spend more?
To enjoy more.
Hold on! What about science! The truth! Faithfully re-creating a live event with Living Presence! What about measurements and an objective ideal so we know our enjoyment is real? How else do I know if mine is better than yours! I might get tricked into enjoying something someone else thinks isn’t worth it! We can’t just buy what we like! That’s crazy! Think of the ramifications!
Please—think about the ramifications of buying things we enjoy. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
The way I decide what hifi to buy is by listening to music through it, looking at it, using it, touching it, and learning about the company and people who make it. Sometimes I even smell it and here’s a deeper peek into my priorities—I spent more on my DAC than I did on my car. And I enjoy both well beyond utility.