The Method of Tuning


System Playback has been evolving ever since the first stereos came out. Folks who have success can’t imagine listening to a system that has not been tuned, folks who haven’t been as successful in their listening tend to go off on their "snake oil" rants. People who buy from the "Recommended Component" list have their Plug & Play approach. The guys using measuring have their camp certainly, and there’s several other audio types out there that have their beliefs to add to the mix. Who’s correct? Well if we can remove our personal egos from this question, they (we) all are correct. The approach that you take as a listener is as legitimate as the next guys, to you. We try pushing our particular belief system on others because we are passionate about it. We have our likes and dislikes and we also have our own reasons why something does work or our blames why it doesn’t. The audiophile world has as many chapters as religious believers has denominations. It’s just the way our minds are built, you grew up on skippy, you peter pan, and you jiff. The audiophile world forgets sometimes just how many opinions and beliefs there really are, until they meet up on places like these audio forums and begin to mix this big bowl of ingredients together.

I’ve started this thread so I can share what I have learned through watching all these mixers turned on and being stuck in the bowl with each other and also from the point of view of someone who has "Tuned" many thousands of you, and have picked up on your own personal developments as masters of your own systems. So before we get going let me tell you something important. No one on the planet of listening "does" audio the way you do. You are unique, and you are a specialist when it comes to your audio adventure. You are all a salesman, because you want others to have that same level of success you enjoy. Audio reviewers, recording producers, component designers and end users are all in the same boat. You might have one or the other on a higher level than the rest, but that really has little relevance when your sitting there with your system and it’s just you and it.

What I would like to do with this thread is level the playing field and talk to you about the oldest technology in all of music (both playing & replaying). Tuning is the most basic and the most advanced technology in making fundamentals and harmonics work in support of each other and every single one of you (us) Tune. We may want to call it something else that sounds more HEA (high end audio) ish, but no matter what we choose to call it, it’s all about taking the audio variables and making them work together. This is what I have been doing all of my personal and professional life. This is also what you have been doing ever since you started to play or playback music.

Just some ground rules for this thread.

First have fun. No one gets anywhere in music if their not enjoying it. If your a sour puss, don’t be surprised if we call you out as one. Personally I don’t mind or care if your a sour puss or not, but speaking for myself, I only have so much time in the day, and if this thread gets too sidetracky & tacky I’ll have better things to do, like making music money, which is a ton of fun.

Second I’m a designer/manufacturer. I am Michael Green of RoomTune and Michael Green Audio. I would imagine over the years 10,000-15,000 Agoners have used my products, maybe more maybe less, maybe only 2 people here have bought some of my stuff. The point is we sell audio products and if someone happens to buy them from this thread don’t get all bent out of shape, sales happen. Also if other designers come up and share their ideas, again try not to get all bent out of shape. Every single one of you are going to have and or get ideas from this thread or about this thread, or about the length of my hair (lol). As far as I am concerned everyone who has a stereo system has a product they want to sell, either physical or intellectually. So? It’s all part of the same soup as far as I am concerned.

Third I and others who come to this thread are free to post long posts. Some topics are not one sentence topics, and this will probably be the case here simply because we will be talking all things audio. And I should throw this in, let me the OP decide if something is off topic.

And last, if I disappear don’t take it like I don’t care. I’m a busy son of a gun and sometimes need a week or 2 to get caught up. Lately I’ve been posting and boring you a lot up here, but when the bell rings for me I’ve got to answer. I work on the US during the day and overseas during the night so that only leaves room for cat naps at best. Everyone here is important and I respect that, and I apologize in advance for my tardiness at times.

I’m ready for some fun are you?

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

128x128michaelgreenaudio

Showing 8 responses by amg56

To make it more graphic if I am correct, air pressure waves are similar to water? watch a small wave reflect off the hard surface it meets? And the gets jumbled up in corners or other obstacles? I hope I am on the right track...

I am an engineer (or was...retired) but a civil one (not against an uncivilised one), so I understand the physics and air, sonics, some audiology and so on.

I have NEVER given a thought to my stereo or how the speakers are positioned, and what the soundwaves do with the various pieces of furniture, rugs, windows and the odd cat strolling through...

This subject is timely as we are building our dream house (did I say I was retired) and in it is a dedicated sound room, for what my lovely wife calls your boy stuff; until Bach or Beethoven gets turned up. Even the cats come in!

Keep this thread going, please keep it positive (naysayers), I at least want to learn about something new and educational. Most of all, I might get more out of my current system (which changes when the new room is able to be occupied). Adrian

Michael,

Thank you for your posts. Saves me buying a book, or hunting down previous posts on similar subjects. I don't mind folks having their say either. I personally (I hate those 2 words together), would like to see if I can get the most out of my system. Even if I am in Australia, I can listen (to my music), read your posts (and learn), and if needs be, do business if I think it will help. Oh, And I love all music, but I am a baby boomer so I have the 60, 70 and 80s preference!

Adrian

I am really looking forward to it. I love the expression that the "room" is the stage and what makes that stage is what I am learning.

Cheers A.

Hi Michael

I read your tuneland post and found it extremely enlightening. But it stopped!

I see that there are many aspects to tuning a room, but knowing what to tune and the products where necessary to use is the challenge. I imagine it is going to be a very iterative process.

@michaelgreenaudio Hi Michael,

I am still here and scrubbing the web for anything on audio tuning, and particularly from yourself. Although I do not have any acoustic aids in the sense of panels etc, I have played with the positioning and angle of my speakers, from 30 degrees toe in, (where the speakers and listener are crossed, the cross point is about 1m from a 2 seat listening position) to the same degree toe out and the wall is the reflective speaker and more defined notes come directly from the speaker. The effect on the music is remarkable, or should I term that the sound stage created.

I have always stood at the listener distance and angled the speakers at that middle point. My music has not always been clear or focussed but typically I used volume to cover the missing or out of focus sound.

Using the same volume (low) I angled the speakers (the stereo pair of a MK950 7.1 set). I committed to a full 7.2.4 HT system before I came across a pair of speakers that will be my primary (only)
 music speakers. the MK300s will be totally separate along with the hardware. The only common points will be the power at the wall points and Ethernet.

The MK300s (atmos) and new music system will be inaugurated in my new house where I have started designing the music room from fresh. Soundproofed walls and ceiling behind gyprock plaster, concrete slab with direct laid wooden flooring and a large picture window (double glazed) behind the listener's heads. There will be a floor rug and wall procures, but beyond that I'll need to work on the acoustics once all is set up.

Adrian