2. misc-audio
  3. 191630-188932

analyzing sound

Some recordings may demonstrate better audiophile-related variables (e.g., soundstage, imaging, blackness, quickness, microdynamics, dynamic range, low/mid/high frequencies, sibilance, etc.) than others.  Playlists are therefore offered as examples of music to use when evaluating hifi components or systems.  I assume, for example, that it is necessary to have a recording that is able to demonstrate a wide soundstage in order to evaluate whether a system/component produces a wide soundstage.  However, I have not found a playlist that also identifies which specific recordings are good for evaluating which specific variable that an audiophile may be interested in.

 

For example, is there an annotated playlist that provides something like the following entirely fabricated example:  Bill Frisell's recording of Baba Drame on The Intercontinentals is a good track for evaluating imaging (but not microdynamics), whereas John Eliot Gardiner's Volume 3 recording of Bach Contatas is excellent for evaluating microdynamics (but not imagining), or Imogen Heap's recording of First Train Home on her Ellipse album is good to use for determining the degree of sibilance (but not low frequency definition) of your system. 

 

Or is any good recording capable of demonstrating all qualities of interest?

jrdavisphd

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,720 posts
 

@sunmoon 

+1 Excellent. Thank you… this is really cool. 
 

OP,

i’m 72. But have passionately pursued high end audio since college. Let me just recommend a couple things to accelerate your learning curve.

 

First get Robert Harley’s book. The Complete Guide to High-End Audio. This will add a framework and flesh it out with the basics.

 

You have time. Go listen to great systems. Go to some high end dealers and listen to,their best systems. Not because you will want to,buy them, but they will exemplify “kinds” of sound and make detecting sound characteristics like micro textures and the less obvious ones easier. 
 

A word of caution on having a list of tunes for evaluating sound. It better be highly varied. I used to take my three or four favorite albums with me when I auditioned equipment. I was going through an electronic music kick… to my disappointment, I optimized my system to electronic… and all other genre sounded much worse.

 

Finally. When you audition, spend most of the time listening to the music… not the system. Make sure you can tell which you are doing. As interesting as hearing the conductor move his foot… it is the overall gestalt of the music and its conveyance that will make you happy at home. You don’t want an instrument you want a musical reproduction system.

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