2. misc-audio
  3. 186655-129831

Real or Surreal. Do you throw accuracy out the window for "better" sound?

I visited a friend recently who has an estimated $150,000 system. At first listen it sounded wonderful, airy, hyper detailed, with an excellent well delineated image, an audiophile's dream. Then we put on a jazz quartet album I am extremely familiar with, an excellent recording from the analog days. There was something wrong. On closing my eyes it stood out immediately. The cymbals were way out in front of everything. The drummer would have needed at least 10 foot arms to get to them. I had him put on a female vocalist I know and sure enough there was sibilance with her voice, same with violins. These are all signs that the systems frequency response is sloped upwards as the frequency rises resulting in more air and detail.  This is a system that sounds right at low volumes except my friend listens with gusto. This is like someone who watches TV with the color controls all the way up. 

I have always tried to recreate the live performance. Admittedly, this might not result in the most attractive sound. Most systems are seriously compromised in terms of bass power and output. Maybe this is a way of compensating. 

There is no right or wrong. This is purely a matter of preference accuracy be damn.  What would you rather, real or surreal?

128x128mijostyn

Showing 1 response by tvrgeek

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

Recordings are terrible.

Speakers are terrible.

Rooms are terrible. 

Electronics are fantastic relative to recording and speakers. Different, but relatively fantastic. 

Everyone has different sensitivities, preferences, and goals. 

Such is life on this planet. Laws of physics, being human etc. 

So, do we want the cleanest most accurate? Do we want various, unfortunately not quantified, added distortions to mask the above imperfections?  Do we want to impress our friends with what it costs?  You decide. 

Most of my music is older. Lots analog mastered, some early horrible digitally mastered, some very good, some new that is the worst I have heard.  Source is source, we have to deal wit it. 

My room is only as well tuned as "domestic distortion" allows.  It is our living room, not some dedicated uber-ego perfect listening room. A little too bright but my Lokius deals with that very well.  Even if I had the bucks, I would not want to shut myself up in a hole to listen to music. Personal choice. Others will disagree.  But in any case, a limit. 

My speakers are very articulate; very good IMHO.  I have hauled them around and really surprised shop owners as a lot of DIY they have heard is pretty bad. It did take me about 30 years to get here. A significant step up costs more than I am willing to pay. I have heard some in the 5 to 8K range I would like, but won't pay for them.   I have heard ones for a lot more that I would pull my Elac's out of the workshop first! Again, choice.

So, clean or euphonic?   Choice.  I think the biggest mistake is thinking things like cables or feet will make that last huge difference when the differences are tiny relative to everything else. In order:  Source ( fixed, stuck with it). Room (we can do within limits) Speakers ( pay to play), Electronics, small differences, even ss to tube is small in relation. Tweaks, tiny tiny tiny.  Fine when you get the above as far as you can but a big pit of squeaky snakes awaits. 

I go first to make sure nothing bothers me, or my wife with really sensitive hearing.  Do no harm first.  That has actually been very hard.  After that, it is easy to ignore most things and just enjoy music. Your brain will adjust really quickly if there is nothing "bad" going on.  Only when I am looking to do a change to I switch hats and pick apart details that may make a tiny difference.  

Of all the DAC's I have heard, of the ones that "do no wrong" from $100 to $15K, heard in quick A/B yes there are differences. Some good, some bad and they don't track price!   But if heard in isolation, those differences are so small, I could be happy with any of them.  Still looking for that one I can afford that is clearly better.  The last audition /comparison was through Hegel on Watts of 24 bit streaming so don't give me any "not good enough" system excuse.  Example, which makes a bigger difference?  Listening to the original D-G VonKarjan Beethoven through a Holo DAC, or the later Ozawa with my JDS?   I'll take the latter any day.  If anyone wants to give me a Holo, well I'll take it. Or a Hugo. 

I am leaving out all the lies your brain tells you. Sound is real, hearing is mental.  If you believe, consciously or not does not matter. If it is better to YOU for the price, then well, it is better.  Maybe not for me, but for you. Go ahead and buy a $400 power cord to bring out those micro details.  I'll go buy another box of CD's. For us, more music matters most.  

More to discover