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referencing vs plug & play

This last couple of months more of you have been getting ahold of me, it's cool don't stop. I enjoy working on your systems and especially enjoy some listening together. Something though is coming up often and it's making me wonder if somewhere along the way someone has dropped the ball when it comes to comparing components. In talking with a few of you I've learned that a lot of you are dropping components into your systems and comparing without dialing your system into the new set of conditions. Back in the early days of referencing, before plug & play, when we made changes to a system we treated the system as if everything was starting from scratch. We knew that if making a component swap took place that we were going to need to make the rest of the audio chain suitable to accommodate the new signal path. "make a change anywhere in the flow and you've made a new flow"

When the plug & play audio clubs started popping up my friends looked at me as if these folks were off their rockers. I just figured they were doing something interesting but weren't really serious about club night, more than a chance to mingle. It's kind of the same thought as a trade show. You don't really take them serious, but it gives a chance to meet and greet. Saying this, I'm starting to think possibly I was wrong and plug & play has become the norm over actually referencing systems. My mind tells me this is nuts, right, but I'm hearing more and more that HEA folks are actually simply dropping components in mid chain and that's it. So I have to ask.

You do realize plug & play is different from referencing a system change don't you?

please be respectful to each other, thanks

Michael Green

michaelgreenaudio

Showing 3 responses by tjbhuler

tjbhuler's avatar
tjbhuler
55 posts
 
Oh wow this so cool discussing on tuning those outlet screws. Its great that Elizabeth tried it, I did mine 3 years ago just a tad and it opened up the sound along with a bigger sound stage and bass extensions was more too. I had to turn down the volume on my pre, its like i gained some extra dB. But one must becareful not to over do it there is a sweet spot getting them tuned in perfectly.

Maybe once you get the hang of it then can work on your equipments side. Turning those screws doesn't take long at all but getting them tuned in and reap those benefits can take a while at the beginning. But once you get the hang of it then it will be pretty fast to work on them. Tapping on the equipment chasis and hearing that resonance gives a good clue on how would they sound. 
tjbhuler's avatar
tjbhuler
55 posts
 
If tapping on a component or shelf hurts the sound don’t tap on them while the music is playing. So I disagree that tapping gives you much of a clue about what’s going on.

I never said tap the chasis while the system is playing and nothing about shelves (this is another story) thats what Geoff is thinking which is way off then what im saying.

Its about tapping the chasis "without any music on" and hearing that resonance from the chasis itself. When you tap that resonance tells a story, what i will do is start to unscrew some of them just by a tad the idea is to get them to resonate at the same level or should i say hear that sound when you tap and get them sounding more or less the same. That will relieve the stress on certain areas of that chasis from your equipment.
tjbhuler's avatar
tjbhuler
55 posts
 
Hi Michael its great to hear you are working on the Whites I will definately need more of them especially on my equipment side :). 

On to the screwing topic lol, its a real treat to tune them I guess most people here do understand what is it all about. In my experience working on those equipment chassis and outlets has truly brought out a different level of tuning experience. The effect is big and best part its tottaly free to work on all you need is an appropriate screwdriver size that's all. 

Now on to Elizabeth's infection, I had that upgraditis and it was a big one lol!! but once Michael introduced me to his tuning world all I can think now is where is my next tuning challenge ;). 
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