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Talk but not walk?

Hi Guys

This isn't meant to start a fight, but it is important to on lookers. As a qualifier, I have my own audio forum where we report on audio issues as we empirically test them. It helps us short cut on theories and developing methods of listening. We have a wide range of systems and they are all over the world adding their experiences to the mix. Some are engineers, some are artist and others are audiophiles both new and old. One question I am almost always asked while I am visiting other forums, from some of my members and also members of the forum I am visiting is, why do so many HEA hobbyist talk theory without any, or very limited, empirical testing or experience?

I have been around empirical testing labs since I was a kid, and one thing that is certain is, you can always tell if someone is talking without walking. Right now on this forum there are easily 20 threads going on where folks are talking theory and there is absolutely no doubt to any of us who have actually done the testing needed, that the guy talking has never done the actual empirical testing themselves. I've seen this happen with HEA reviewers and designers and a ton of hobbyist. My question is this, why?

You would think that this hobby would be about listening and experience, so why are there so many myths created and why, in this hobby in particular, do people claim they know something without ever experimenting or being part of a team of empirical science folks. It's not that hard to setup a real empirical testing ground, so why don't we see this happen?

I'm not asking for peoples credentials, and I'm not asking to be trolled, I'm simply asking why talk and not walk? In many ways HEA is on pause while the rest of audio innovation is moving forward. I'm also not asking you guys to defend HEA, we've all heard it been there done it. What I'm asking is a very simple question in a hobby that is suppose to be based on "doing", why fake it?

thanks, be polite

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net


michaelgreenaudio

Showing 2 responses by aalenik

aalenik
67 posts
 

Michael, I know that your intent is virtuous.  But some recordings simply ARE better-sounding than others.  It's true that a well-tuned system will present MORE recordings well, but never ALL of them. And tuning a system to optimize a poor recording will very likely compromise its presentation of better ones... and that's simply crazy.  OTOH, if you tune your system to optimize the very best recordings, many of the poorer ones will sound better.  Yes, a more revealing presentation may reveal flaws as well.  But do you want to tune to mask those flaws.  What else may you be masking?

BTW, a poor recording is one that doesn't sound as well as others on my system, your system, and most every system we play it on.

aalenik
67 posts
 

Michael - First, you are correct that TJ is vastly more articulate than you are. He also doesn’t make insulting assumptions about anyone who disagrees with him. I have many years of experience in acoustics and ’room tuning’, using many techniques... including some similar to yours.

I have to agree with Prof that you have been purposely vague here, and mostly off-topic.

I’m no troll & not interested in a debate; Just going to state a few things I believe, and then I’ll go away...

1. In general, all recordings sound better on a better system than they do on a lesser one.

2. All recording also sound better in a better acoustic environment.

3. There is no system or room that will make a poor recording sound as good as a better one.

4. While measurements are instructive, what you hear is always more important than what you measure. There are excellent sounding products that do not measure well (Maggies for example), and I have yet to hear a speaker which measures ’flat’ and still sounds decent.

Lastly, I’m sorry to have to say it, but... you’re really here to sell, aren’t you? Telling people that you can make even the shittiest recordings sound as wonderful as the best (because everyone, even those with great systems & great rooms, has recordings they love and WISH sounded better) is simply dishonest.

You’re probably a good guy, and what you do probably has great benefits, especially for those who have not addressed room acoustics. But you insult us by claiming the ridiculous and pooh-poohing anyone who questions you. Maybe it’s just a communication problem...

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