jssmith

Responses from jssmith

When was the last time when serious new instrument was invented ?
Since electric guitar is two-component instrument, the Kemper profiler made guitar amps obsolete about 10 years ago. Other digital devices, by Neural and Fractal have expanded that transition. In live music almost no one uses a "real" amp anymore.... 
why expensive streamers
You're not missing anything. This coming from a former software engineer with network experience. I think we're at a point where the last gasp of the marketeers is down to clocking (jitter), but as you point out the amount of information is not su... 
Music first or sound first?
I listen to my music on my "audiophile" system, on Beyerdynamic 880 headphones, Koss Porta Pro headphones or inexpensive Bluetooth earbuds at the gym. So obviously the music comes first. If I went broke and was only left with my $200 JBL 30x studi... 
Are there other people like me ? Amazed by their low cost system :)
@mahgister  Sorry for the delay. I don't check in here too often. I've been to the Capitol Audio show and heard some fine systems. But audio shows aren't a good indicator of how it will sound in your room. In person in a home setting, I've heard ... 
Are there other people like me ? Amazed by their low cost system :)
Better late than never. But it will be interesting to read their more detailed experience with their relatively low cost system versus a more costlier part or more costlier system... After reading the infamous Stereo Review blind test of 1987(... 
It's your streamer, not your modem
@erik_squires  Why? Buffering.  Finally, someone understands how it works. I learned this stuff in the '80's when I was setting up computer networks between mainframes, mini computers and POS systems. IOW, this isn't a new concept. I don't kno... 
Are there other people like me ? Amazed by their low cost system :)
If you understand acoustics and what human hearing is capable of hearing and what it isn't, it's not difficult to set up an exemplary low-cost (sub-$2000) system. Especially if you buy used and/or build your own speakers and acoustic treatments.  
Do you trust your ears more than measurements?
Do you test drive a car that you are considering buying, or do you make a buying decision based on the Road and Track test? Yes. Both. The R&D test (objectives) narrow down the field. The test drive determines if everything is satisfactory... 
Do you trust your ears more than measurements?
I trust the measurements. At this point, audio is not a mystery to science. It knows how to measure the whole frequency spectrum. It knows what the vast majority of people prefer. And it knows about people's proclivity towards cognitive dissonance... 
Please be gentle with me! 🙏
No.  
Songs you use when auditioning gear
Tiger Prowl - Cualli (EDM) Steamer Lane Breakdown - Doobie Brothers  (acoustic) Deathamphetamine - Exodus (metal) Sad But True - Metallica (drums) I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt (vocals)  
Best Covers
Exhorder's cover of Black Sabbath's Into The Void. They gave this song the maximum heaviness it always deserved. The picks that stand out to me above are Disturbed's Sound Of Silence and Hendrick's All Along The Watchtower.  
Favorite Obscure Rock Song
@mitchagain Trapeze... the most underrated album of the 70's. I remember that nobody knew this album even back in the day. My pick would be the song Jury.  
Did your system getting better the more money you spent or more experience you gained?
Knowledge has been far more important than money spent. In some ways it's an inverse relationship.  
The subwoofer site we don't talk about enough
I found that site about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, and expectedly, the selection of tested subs is limited. For instance, I wanted small but powerful subs for both my home theater system and 2-channel system. Unobtrusive is important to me. Data...