I bought a copy because I have under construction a dedicated room. It has been helpful to me because it addresses set-up and room treatment issues, I had read a lot about how to design wall structures and select optimum room dimensions but not the stuff Jim covers. I expect his detailed instructions on speaker/listner location to be very helpful.
I like his use of TIPS, it makes re look up of subject matter pretty easy.
BTW, if you have a question about one of Jim's TIPS, he has very kind and answered my several queries promptly and with detail.
A good read I think. |
Creml,
Thanks for the post. I was not aware of the book, but now have a copy on the way and am looking forward to receiving same.
IMO, the listening room is by far the most important component of any audio system. I am always interested in any tools, techniques, and so fourth that might help. |
I read Jim's book and had great results. While I knew a few of these ideas he wrote in his book, there were plenty for me to learn. |
I'm an audio journalist who gave this book a rave review because a) it contains an overwhelming amount of information in ONE SINGLE VOLUME, and b) Jim is the best set-up man in the business, and his advice should be treated as gospel. I'm a little concerned that someone found this book to be anything less than incredibly helpful.
Like I said in my review, this is the best $45 audio tweak money can buy. |
Have you seen what he charges to come to your houe to set up your system? Wowza!!! |
Towards the end of last year I made a modest investment in my 2-Channel and 5.1 Theater system. In my case I am fairly new to higher end audio and I don't have a dedicated listening room so I knew I had some room challenges.
I spent about 3 months educating myself and moving things around to the point that I thought I had things sounding pretty good. However, I knew I was probably missing out on some things and started looking for a good reference on audio fundamentals and proper system setup.
I stumbled upon Jim Smith's book in another forum where it had come highly recommended. After doing additional research I decided to purchase his book. What sold me is his straightforward approach to system setup and getting the most out of your current system prior to investing in additional upgrades. I figured this would be a good sanity check to make sure I was not overlooking the basics and determining my system "baseline".
Upon receiving the book I read it from front to back. Jim suggests this isn't necessarily the best approach but for me it was all very interesting and I was intrigued to keep reading. Even the sections that seemed trivial to me shed new light on the topics. It is a very easy read and provides helpful diagrams and recommendations for testing your system.
I spent about a week implementing Jim's recommendations all the way from making a grid, positioning my speakers and subs, checking polarities, rearranging my acoustic panels, etc. At the end of the week I had dramatically improved the musicality of my system using Jim's very simple steps. For me it was more than worth the cost of the book and it will continue to serve as my reference when making any changes.
In my case I may have realized larger benefits due to my "newbie" status and less than ideal room but this book really covers the fundamentals that all systems can benefit from. I continue to investigate some of the more advanced topics in the book and look forward to additional system improvements.
Highly recommended. |
I think if you read Jim's book cover to cover and didn't get ANYTHING valuable from it, you know way more than all of us!
I've been in the industry a long time and think that it's the best setup reference I've yet seen.
One of my friends on the MartinLogan forum recently hired Jim to come to his house after reading the book and was very pleased with the results.
Still my top suggestion to anyone before they start going crazy with cable and tweeks! |
I think its a good reference source. Lots to learn and experiment with for sure.
Kenobi |
I feel that Smith's book aids in getting a breath of reality into any room , no small feat. Highly recommended. |
Highly recommended book. Although I knew much of what he suggested, it was nice to have it all on paper and not just in my head. Plus, there were a few especially effective, yet simple ideas I hadn't heard before. |
Tgrisham writes " I learned a few things and saw a few things in a new light" That expression fits the bill quite nicely. |
I recommend it. As I stated in my review here, it brings together many aspects of music reproduction. If a person has been reading everything and experimenting for years, it may not be new information. But, I learned a few things and saw a few things in a new light. A bit pricey, though. |
Fsdaron, I re-read the book frequently . On the 3rd read I began to reflect that what Jim details is a frame-work for the illusion , the re-creation of a event long past captured in vinyl(analog) or in "o's" & "1's" (digital). Besides issues of space are issues of measurement that I had not given as much "weight" in my thinking. I have begun the re-evaluation , changing the placement of racks & speakers with a view towards becoming a master of the illusion , not to buying machines. Heady stuff but well intended ideals. Of course, should it work for me good ... If not , I'll start over. Cheers Charlie |
I bought it, read it, and was frankly disappointed. Didn't find anything new that others have already written about. Just my opinion. |
