When Music Hits You: Hi-Fi, Mid-Fi, Taxi,
I once found myself in a high-end audio shop while working away. The guy who ran the place was fantastic. I made sure to tell him straight off I was only tyre-kicking when I walked in, but he didn’t mind at all. He let me demo my own music on an £8,000 KEF Reference System—utterly out of budget, lol.
Don’t get me wrong—wow, it sounded good.
But honestly? My own system back home, built almost entirely from second hand Hi Fi—worth less than a tenth—wasn’t that far off to my heathen ears.
In fact, when I got home and sat down in front of my own humble setup, I actually felt grounded—almost relieved. Relieved that I wouldn’t have to forgo a house or a wife to enjoy incredible sound.
I’m pretty convinced that today, more so than ever, quality, satisfying sound is possible on virtually any budget.
It’s something I want to expand on here in the coming posts.
Because here’s the thing—when the right music hits at the right time, no system on earth can buy that feeling.
The Indonesia Taxi Moment I’ll Never Forget
I remember taking a taxi in Indonesia.
It was about a four-hour journey to the airport, and the cab had those old DVD/LCD screens in the headrests. Standard chart stuff was playing—Britney Spears, Aaliyah, Rihanna… I wasn’t really paying attention.
I was miles away, daydreaming, watching the humid countryside roll by—endless hills, gigantic cloud formations hanging low over the landscape.
Then Echosmith – Cool Kids came on.
Just another catchy pop song, or so I thought.
Right there and then, through rattly, low-quality taxi speakers, that little song started soundtracking the moment.
I felt it cementing itself in my memory.
I even remember noticing it happening—goosebumps out of nowhere.
It was that perfect mix of time, place, and sound. When music hits, its not about the gear.
That’s the real power of music.
And here’s the kicker—it didn’t take an £8,000 system.
It didn’t take an audiophile-approved Diana Krall 24-bit FLAC file.
It took a moment. A feeling.
One that’s still with me today. Every time I hear that song, I’m right back in that taxi.
I can close my eyes and relive it like it happened yesterday.
I even have a photo of the cab, with Britney Spears still blasting on the screens.
Something I Want to Explore More on This Blog
That moment taught me something I keep coming back to.
Yes—I love audio gear. I love getting lost in sound.
But what I really love is chasing the moments that stay with you.
That’s what I’ll be writing more about here on Wax Waves.
Not just gear, not just specs—but real listening experiences.
Because whether it’s £80 or £8,000, when the music hits right, that’s what matters most.
What About You?
Maybe you’ve had a moment like that too.
A song that hit just right when you least expected it.
Maybe it wasn’t through a fancy hi-fi at all—maybe it was on the radio, in the car, at a mate’s house, or somewhere you’ll never forget.
What’s your “taxi moment”?
I’d love to hear about it.
Feel free to leave a comment or drop me a message—because that’s what this blog’s really about.
Not just gear. Not just tech.
Real music moments that stick with you for life.
Feel free to check the weekly vibe for music discovery, hand picked tracks designed to help you escape the Spotify algorithm or for more discussion on audio and music check the listening room
