Mr. Green, I have been involved with high end audio for close to half a century now and I have discovered several interesting things over the years. For instance, on a quality electrostatic headphone system listening to a live FM Radio broadcast, that the announcers actually sounded better on FM Radio as opposed to hearing them in person-live. Yes, I noticed that nearly 50 years ago. A few years ago I learned that a Stax headphone system from the late 1970's-early 80's will sound incredible if played thru the record out outputs of a quality Audio Research tube line stage. And a few years ago I developed a true high quality pair of speaker wires, but at a reasonable price. By chanch several years ago I attached a one foot pair of the Shunyata's top of the line speaker wires to my speakers. Now between the Shunyata speaker wires and my them amplifier, a Rega Orisis integrted amplifier, a single Jenna Lab's 18 gage hook up wires. The results were incredible. Over the years I eventually replaced the Shunyataspeaker wires with a one foot pair of MG Audio Design's own topend speaker wires. The same speaker wires at the time used by both Arnie Nudell and Paul McGowan. I added, over time, 6 runs of the Jenna Lab's 18 gage hook up wires per speaker-12 in all. The result is a pair of speaker wires that can easily compete with the "Big Boys". All this time I myself have basically no knowledge of the very basics of audio design whatsoever. What I have created for my own use only. Both MG Audio Design and Jenna Labs are very small wire companies. But I have found that when combining their two wire products together, one silver based and the other copper, that between them I have a pair of speaker wires that can compete against the big named wire products. By the way, my own speaker wire combination averages to a 14.5 foot length. Total cost today about $1800. What I sm attempting to say is trust your own ears. Even the audio experts don't know everything. I have no personal or financial interest in these two companies. No way I can make any money off of them. But it works. I used to workout at Vince Gironda's Gym gym back in the 1980's. Used to train at the sametime as Apollo Creed. Vince used to say that if he ever give free advice that not a single one would ever follow it. But if they paid him money, then they would willingly follow hiss advice completly. It's just human nature. I have had my say.
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