The great gig in the sky
Vintage Dog, Rtsyrtsy, Detubo, Stereophile, Arnoldc, M_shoe_maker, Jackd201, Oldfoggey, Ttommy, Hyperion, Dogears, Bb3, KD, Jadis, Botching, Audiostar — these are the guys tasked to moderate an online audiophile forum that has grown remarkably from a few brave souls in 2002 to more than 3,000 wacky but intelligent members to date, and still growing.
Some of them exchange views online using funny monikers, while others choose to use their real names. Those who prefer using aliases certainly do not wish to hide behind sinister deeds; they are driven mainly by a passion for good music. Simply put, they just want to have fun while sharing audio notes and learning from one another. Each one’s singular aspiration is, of course, to get high with music.
Wiredstate (www.wiredstate.com) members are an assembly of doctors, spin doctors, politicians, engineers, bankers, businessmen, singers and students, among others, who are glued to their computers at different times of the day: to chat, horse around, solicit help from audiophile gurus regarding their respective audio needs, talk about the country’s current political and economic problems, post pictures of their children and loved ones, sell or buy audio and non-audio items, or just talk about anything under the sun. A few months back, I became a member and discovered one big, happy bunch of audio enthusiasts with the usual, quite sufferable “few bad eggs” thrown in.
Who would’ve thought that what started as a man’s lonely quest for other Filipino audiophiles would turn out to be the success that is Wiredstate today? According to Arnold Cruz (arnoldc), Russell Sy (rtsyrtsy) started it all.
From his earlier posts about Wiredstate’s early beginnings, Russell says he hopped from one audio forum to another until he started Pinoydiophiles in 2002. With more and more members signing up not long afterward, Francis Sogono (vintage dog) took over from Russell, and the rest, as they say, is history. The community has expanded into what its founding members envisioned: a venue for one big party that aims to reach the sky using music as its ladder. Says Francis, United Laboratories’ vice president for Information Technology and the WS administrator, who is single-handedly footing the website bill: “What sets us apart from other forums (both here and abroad) is that we are all here to learn and have fun in the process. Everyone comes with his own set of biases, beliefs, differences and preferences. We respect each other’s views and differences with the same consideration we expect for ourselves. We can disagree with an idea or with someone without being disagreeable. In the forums, we have music lovers, do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts, designers, engineers, tweakers, vendors, newbies, and musicians, young and old. We all come here for several reasons — to learn, to teach, to share, to sell, to buy, but above all, to have fun! We have created a unique community that thrives on three basic values: honesty, trust and respect.”
Bonding among members is further strengthened by jam sessions held occasionally at one member’s house or another’s. More often, however, “sessions” are made in the guise of enjoying good music, but are actually mere excuses to pig out on good food. And what would Wiredstate be without the yearly Hi-Fi Show (now on its third year) to be held from Dec.1 to 2 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel? The must-attend show, partly sponsored by the The Philippine STAR, is the penultimate year-ender for all audiophiles and music lovers. Even non-WS members are invited, especially if they are searching for the latest audio equipment, which will be on display at discounted prices.
According to Tony de Leon (detubo), Hi-Fi Show’s organizer, “The event provides a platform for WS members, the general public and audio dealers to interact with one another. Dealers can showcase their latest and finest professional and consumer audio wares, presented as a total lifestyle package. Also, a dedicated room has been allotted to local DIYers because we believe that locally made audio products can compete head-on with imported brands. For select builders whose products we consider to be world-class, we subsidize their display in the hopes of finding an international demand for their products.”
Audiophiles may differ in their music preferences and have different takes on politics, the economy and society, but the quest for musical nirvana is what unites them. The steadfast fellowship among audiophiles may even rival that among members of some religious and lay organizations. The sense of camaraderie and well being forged among members of the audio community is a gold ticket to experiencing that great gig in the sky, and so much more.
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For comments or questions, e-mail me at audioglow@yahoo.com or at vphl@hotmail.com. You can also visit www.wiredstate.com for quick answers to audio concerns.
