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I just bought a Steinway which sounds like a banjo.

I have a question: I’ve seen a lot of terms in audiophile jargon: laid back, top end, low end, harsh, soft, smooth, etc.
I don’t understand them. I only listen to recorded music, almost nothing synthesized. So the adjectives I know are: pitch, timbre, dynamics and spatiality. I cannot think of sound characteristics that are not inscribed within these four adjectives.
I believe that a sound reproduction device must first of all take care to satisfy these 4 characteristics.

When I read that a loudspeaker sounds harsh to me it means that the timbre is wrong because nobody would describe as harsh the reproduction of an instrument that has a harsh timbre. That would be a speaker that has a correct timbre. It can only be described as harsh the reproduction of an instrument that does not have a harsh timbre. The same goes for the other terms listed at the beginning. For spatiality it is even simpler because it is a geometric, spatial question. An ensable of which occupies 5 meters must sound like an ensambe that occupies 5 meters, not as one that occupies 2 meters nor as one that occupies 20 meters. Then the dynamics is linear so it is the simplest of all.

When Steinway puts a Steinway on the market it does so by taking care of a certain amount of objective characteristics, i would say 96-98% and 2-4% are probably left to the "character" of the instrument.

In the audiophile field, judging by the immense difference between one reproduction technology and another, it seems that the opposite meter is used, that is 4% of objectivity and 96% of character.
As if a Steinway sounded like a forgotten Pleyel in a basement, and a Pleyel sounded like a Boesendorfer. The whole is defended with sword drawn by the audiophile community as and cleared as subjective perceptions or eventually as an incompatibility between the elements in play (source, amplifier, speakers, cables) Hahah! Obviously, if all the products that follow the 4% objectivity meter and 96% "character", it takes a lot of luck to have a system in your hands that allows you to recognize a Pleyel from a Steinway.

When will sound reproduction become serious?
128x128daros71

Showing 1 response by bigkidz

bigkidz
3,408 posts
 
"it takes a lot of luck to have a system in your hands that allows you to recognize a Pleyel from a Steinway"

Interesting but I don't agree with this statement.  IMO it comes down to the equipment you use.  I will agree that it is hard to get there for most people who typically purchase a standard manufactured product and then try to match it to their speakers, etc.  Trial and error is sure a hard way to get the results you mention above.

I have said this hundreds of times, you have to know what makes the sound you are looking for to start off with or know someone who can assist you with this.  This is the reason why so many are spending time buying and selling gear and also why you get two different opinions on a piece of equipment.  Plus you have people who follow reviews.  Good luck with that.

If you want to hear the difference between piano types or violins you need to purchase a source that will allow you to hear that feature.  Without that, you probably won't get there any time soon.

Happy Listening.
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