@pingstonsmile Believe me I know about the AG change of Gaurd stuff…I was victim of their random censorship on numerous occasions. I honestly just couldn’t follow your rant…your response to me was easier to understand. We all should be talking about the music and what makes listening fun for each of us…sans politics and AG lore.
How do you judge audio components and speakers?
I would say - listening to music you're familiar with, and comparing. We can talk about tight/bloomy bass, midrange clarity, treble extension and things of that nature. We can also be very specific with regards to how a particular track is supposed to sound; based on high-performance gear that we were able to experience - but only if it purports to be accurate without sonic colorations. Therefore, I guess you could say we have a reference point. This part is what I would consider "objective performance."
Along with this, measurements go hand-in-hand.
On the other side of the coin - subjective performance is how we "want our systems to sound." If the vocals are too bright or sharp, if snares or unpleasant sounding instrumentals ruin an otherwise good song, it's usually because the system is too accurate. So high-end audio is about chasing an ideal that doesn't exist in reality - but in the minds of audiophiles who are seeking a very particular kind of sonic presentation that bodes well with their music library as a whole....giving you just enough detail to keep you interested, while at the same time having a sense of realism, presence, and imaging that makes the speakers dissapear. We are seeking the illusion of a live performance.
The above are just my points. Feel free to share what you think. If you think I'm wrong, I don't mind.
Cheers.
Jack
Showing 14 responses by dave_b
I have come to believe that the biggest scam that has been perpetrated upon the high end community is the removal/degradation of tone control/equalization. Currently, I am demoing a dbx 1231 equalizer in my system because I dared to wonder what my music would sound like when adjusted for room anomalies. Of course it requires 2 high quality interconnects to connect my CDP to my Integrated, but otherwise it’s simple and quite unsettling…in a good way. Not only can I adjust my favorite music to sound it’s best in my environment, but the dbx does something else I hadn’t even thought was possible…it improved the sound quality overall. In fact, the dbx lowered the noise floor and has unleashed a more fully fleshed out pallet of sonic colors and tone and with greater body and dimensionality! The results I’m getting are not unlike using a high powered tube amp with an exceptionally low noise floor. It is disconcerting to have realized this so late in my journey . So much money and time could have been saved…better late than never. |
@stuartk I have a dbx 1231 Dual Channel 31 band EQ. I can fine tune the frequencies that need to be addressed, unlike the Schiit. Also, the RF filtering and isolated transformer was a must for me to prevent EMF contamination in my installation. Kinda expected to ship it right back, but damn if it ain’t working some kinda magic that I’m finding hard to resist. Cable changes are rendered even more obvious when using the dbx as well, which kinda shocks me. Still could try a high end PC on the unit but it is fed through a decent power distribution outlet but maybe? Anyway, Sweetwater gives me 30 days no hassle returns so why not for $465 |
@stuartk No expertise needed…just plug it in between your source and amplifier or preamplifier. Any questions can be answered by rep from Sweetwater. |
@pingstonsmile Uh, what now? Hard to decipher an incoherent diatribe aimed at a generalized foe in order to justify your life choices. It’s like an anthropologist trying to decipher a newly discovered aboriginal language…which might be a whole lot easier. |
@cd318 My comments were taken from my autobiography, “Sometimes a Stereo is Just a Stereo!” |
@cd318 Sounds more like,”An Audiophile is Born!” |