Thanks Atmasphere. Your amps speed is certainly remarkable. |
You're right Almarg (wish I had a great memory like yours :-)
It's great to be part of thic forum. |
Al; where the heck did you get this knowledge? |
Hi Al(marg). Your informed and considerate posts are "very" much appreciated. Your background provides a great platform for your insights. My Dad was a Civil Engineer so I appreciate how thorough and appropriate an Engineer can be on a topic of interest. (Dad was a woodworking craftsman and built the boat that so enhanced my youth). Your comments invite me to further research. On a non technical side, I've checked your system indicates stock power cords. Please don't be offended at my totally subjective suggestion that you at least try an MIT Oracle AC 3 (non-networked) power cord. In my Spectral based system these have proven to be extremely effective in all components,including digital,--batting much higher than their approx $600.00 cost via Joe Abrams,their online dealer/discounter for Audiogon. I hope you will sense increased speed and refinement :- ) |
It's interesting some don't feel you can hear speed : - ). That's ok; many don't think one can hear polarity );? Does anyone out there appreciate appropriate polarity for the recording? |
Hi Al(marg). Your informed and considerate posts are "very"
much appreciated. Your background provides a great platform for your
insights. My Dad was a Civil Engineer so I appreciate how thorough and
appropriate an Engineer can be on a topic of interest. (Dad was a
woodworking craftsman and built the boat that so enhanced my youth).
Your comments invite me to further research. On a non technical side, I've
checked your system indicates stock power cords. Please don't be
offended at my totally subjective suggestion that you at least try an MIT
Oracle AC 3 (non-networked) power cord. In my Spectral based system
these have proven to be extremely effective in all components,including
digital,--batting much higher than their approx $600.00 cost via Joe
Abrams,their online dealer/discounter for Audiogon. I hope you will sense
increased speed and refinement :- ) |
I'm with you Atmasphere. Soundstage is a far 'deeper'effect of speed. Even with just the Spectral gear I use (supposedly 'fast') I've had an education on speed with experimentation of AC isolation and conditioning. The cleaner the signal the faster my equipment sounds. My experience is the faster the end signal the better the clarity of the different instruments and their place in the mix. "Speed" provides a deeper experience of the 'timbre' and 'nuance'of the instruments and the sense of air around them, delicacy in spite of a complex orchestral piece. For smaller combos speed provides a greatly enhanced appreciation of the genius of the players. Without "speed" these emotionally exciting cues simply don't have time to be created. Speed is far more than that immediate crash of the cymbals; and it gives me a deeper pleasure in all types of music. Slow is simply far less involving. |
Well Atmasphere I think it's good you at least have the polarity switch for those of us who have systems refined enough to be desirous of the correct polarity for "every single orchestral piece" we sit down to enjoy (I say we assuming there are many others like me : ) . Same for our Jazz or even solo flute or violin recordings. How about solo guitar, anyone? I remember being bothered years ago by Jazz recordings by CTI recordings. Different instruments having different polarity. Only years later did I discover this was done purposely ; maybe something to do with the "big" 'wall of sound' popular with the people with crappy equipment and white metal zip cord of about 20 gauge for speaker wire. :( And yes i think it also isn't too important for those listening through iPhones either; just like the majority of old cassette decks. Oh dear. Thank goodness SPECTRAL and MIT, EQUITECH and SOUND APPLICATION gear is there for those of us who don't want to listen to "fuzz". This reminds me that now I'm retired I should go into "Consulting" ; setting up systems so the owners will be properly thrilled by their good quality equipment - from wall plugs to speaker placement and damping to seating positions. Heck I understand the average lack of sensitivity to these items. It's true that most won't hear - and won't care - ( until maybe it's pointed out to them). I have gone into a number of shops selling high end gear only to have to point out they have the channels reversed - and I think it's because countless "sound advisors" have never been to a live orchestral concert in a decent hall. Polarity comes up next when they or I put on a solo piano, played and recorded beautifully, only to have it sound like the artist is playing with gloves on. Yuck. I have always appreciated my dearly beloved hi-fi enthusiast HARRY PEARSON who had the ears and sensitivity that a good system "properly set up" should come close to achieving the sound of real instruments in real space. My hat remains doffed to his lofty goal. |
ZD, it's the very fact it's a 50/50 split that it is essential to have a polarity switch on the preamp. Don't forget the engineer is operating with / and listening to the system he's using and all may sound fine - in that set up. |
ZD, I appreciated a post you made about I/C's or speaker cables and mentioned that if one can't hear a difference they shouldn't claim there IS no difference - only state "they" don't hear a difference. Correct polarity and absolute phase are the same. However, the whole system has to be refined enough-- and set-up well enough - for one to be able to clearly notice the difference. |
I also believe most natural instrument music lovers will learn to appreciate the difference very easily when they have some coaching by a knowledgeable person who is not simply interested in selling a piece of equipment. Maybe there is an opportunity for me to establish a consulting service for those who really want their system properly set up-- not sell gear? Now I'm single and son is grown and on his own consulting and travelling may be quite enjoyable. Hmm. Any thoughts? Ideas? Would that service be of value to anyone? |
ZD. I'm with you when you say it's a timing issue. |
Almarg. I feel I should have stated my comments applied to Spectral Audio gear as that is what I researched, bought and continue to own and follow. Their website will clarify their designs. Regarding subtlety, I certainly acknowledge that the more refined your system the clearer the difference exhibits. If your system is not well set up you won't hear or care about polarity, just like if you were listening with ear muffs on : - ) |
ZD. Again, perhaps for you to easily appreciate the difference you should invite me to tune up your system. |
Also. I don't dispute That the recording process isn't often flawed; but I find the majority of classical and jazz very good. The people doing the recordings are serious about doing a good job. |
ZD, nicely put, I agree completely and appreciate you taking the time to elucidate. I think you are one who really contributes to this forum. |
Hello friends.
Our differing perceptions are addressed,circumspectly, in an interesting way, way out of our field, in these BBC news articles. I hope you find them interesting. I include the one on memory so you understand me better. I had a head injury in 1989,and, 26 years later, am still learning about it's effects and how to work with them. Suffice to say that I live in the present-(with no choice in the matter) :-)
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150225-secrets-of-alice-in-wonderland
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120719-awoken-from-a-2d-world
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120209-do-we-all-see-the-same-colours
I will submit more; however, do not think polarity or absolute phase is non-existant or irrelevant; as I've said, it's something you may not see until someone points it out; but, after that you will be aware and will appreciate it "can" or 'may" add to your listening pleasure- your appreciation of the composer or player---and your equipment!!! (and electricity conditioning--who will put regular gas in a Ferrari??? Hint; no one who pays for one.)
Cheers, I've survived my 3rd heart surgery--yahoo!! |
Zd. " we can only focus on so much". Couldn't agree more. One simply has to look Much Music videos to confirm visually. I think music alone can be just as busy. |
I appreciate your comments Audiolabrinth. Interesting how some can make offhand comments about gear with information that "just comes to them" or have a bias for or against different manufacturers -- that they feel just 'has to be announced'. Perhaps more music would relax and refresh :-). I'll toast that idea. |
I concur with you Jm about tastes and choice. I don't see the relevence of his equip tastes. However, on that side "if" I were to win the lottery I would love to buy the big JBL DD6700 music makers :-). Cheers ( and I'm a classical/jazz guy) |
Omsed. Hope you feel better now. There,there. |
Psag. Our departed Harry Pearson gave them all the guide. Be part of a system reproducing the sound of orchestral instruments as heard live. |
@Mapman ... I seem to recall Ralph (Atmasphere) posted comments some years back about the impact and import of high damping factors (DF) on woofer control. DF, of course is simply speaker impedance at a particular frequency (usually in the bass range), divided by the amp's output impedance at the same frequency.
I'm just enjoying warm brandy and reviewing this old thread--and this statement confuses me. If it's correct how can an amplifier have a DF in its specs? |
As I continue to refine my system with isolation and conditioning--I find correct polarity ever more enjoyable. Wishing all listeners get to that level of refinement...
|
Without question Spectral amps and preamps that I use get 'faster' with improved AC conditioning and isolation. I was amazed at the improvement a separate isolation transformer for my digital yielded. I would call it jaw dropping--and I already had a very good setup. It just shows you can't evaluate gear in a vacumn. Comparisons are truly edifying. |
