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Straight wire with gain????

I should start this with a big, fat IMFO. Here goes. After reading tons of great thinking in this forum, it seems that we all want a sound as close to a live perfomance as possible. But ... First, live performances vary dramatically based on the venue. In fact, different types of music, like classical, have different kinds of concert halls build for them to provide the "right" acoustic environment. Second, from what I've read, different volume levels exhibit different perceived frequency responses, all else equal. Given those two points, how can a single system really provide the "live experience" at different volume levels for different kinds of music? Add to that the inherent problems with room acoustics. Help! Is a "straight wire with gain" analogy the correct way of thinking about audiophile design? I honestly hesitate to suggest this, but don't we need the ability to switch among "multiple wires with gain"? Can we ever be happy if we can't? In turn, does that suggest the need for acoustic adjustments (e.g., Tact, SigTech) as the ideal rather than the aberration? (By the way, I don't own any of these nor do I work in the industry). What am I missing? I'm honestly confused. Thanks.
ozfly
ozfly OP
887 posts
 
I'm sorry. I mistyped. I mean a big fat "IMHO".
doug28450
199 posts
 
If any one of us can answer the question of what the "live performance" sounded like when it was recorded then we are on the way to the "perfect" audio system. Let me attempt to provide and example. I was not in the hall when Fritz Reiner conducted the Chicago Symphony Orch. in the recording of "Pictures at an Exhibition" (LSC-2201). I suspect that none of any of the others of us were either. For that reason each of has an impression in our mind of what that recording "should" sound like. We base this "percieved sound" on our experiences. Over time, we tweek and adjust our system in the attempt to get it to produce the the sonic qualities that each of us thinks is "true and realistic"(see the Kublakhan Poop theory thread). But...we can never get there. Let's face it, the LA Phil. sounds different than the Boston Pops and the Atlanta Symphony. Then we throw in Rock, Jazz, Big Band, different producers, engineers and agents, the eighteen year old pimply faced high school dropout (not meaning to offend anyone) making AES/EBU cables in the corner. Is it any wonder that we are chasing the "perfect system". Ultimately, our individual systems end up being a balance, a delicate balance, of what we percieve as "accurate reproduction" covering all of the different possibilities. That, I believe, is why none of has a right or wrong system. The system that Albertporter has is right for him. It may not be right for Dekay or Cornfedboy, but their system is not right for Sean or Sedond.

So,....after all of that is a straight wire with gain right? Yes, I think it is, because we cannot have a "universal system" that reproduces that actual performance in that particular venue with that particular performer and that particular enigneer and producer on that particular day.

Unless, of course, you buy a Bose WaveRadio with CD. Sorry, just had to throw that in. Cheers, Doug
doug28450
199 posts
 
I apologize for any grammatical and spelling errors. I know there are some. I already found one in the second line. Thanks, Doug
cornfedboy
1,645 posts
 
bravo ozfly! bravo doug28450! you've both expressed, eloquently, why there ain't no such thing as "the absolute sound." -kelly
liguy
228 posts
 
Cornfedboy, glad to see you decided to stick around. Catch ya in the forums.
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