Hifi, why bother?

[Crackle]

I am surprised at Andy's findings.
I would think that an amp that faithfully reproduced the sounds that the artist recorded would sound nice and as the artist/studio intended.

Mike

[Crackle]

In my opinion Lou Reed took it to a striking conclusion many moons ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIMSbKU2oZM

Tracy

That sound horrid, what on earth was it supposed to be.

Mike

[Mark Hennessy]

I am surprised at Andy's findings.
I would think that an amp that faithfully  reproduced the sounds that the artist recorded would sound nice and as the artist/studio intended.

Mike

Unfortunately, such such an amplifier doesn't have a sound.

For many, that's exactly what we want. For some, that's not good enough - they want their amp to be like a photographic filter, imposing a certain character on everything they listen to. And fortunately for certain parts of the hi-fi industry, many of these people have very deep pockets.

What does give me hope, however, is the growing popularity of "proper" speakers. Obviously, speakers do actually sound quite different to each other so you don't have to rely on your imagination or pretend to hear differences, so people choosing good speakers is really very encouraging. By "proper", I obviously mean monitor speakers, from the likes of ATC and the various people making BBC-licenced, or BBC-inspired designs. At a hi-fi show, these speakers are a breath of fresh air after all the nonsense you hear from the "esoteric" brands.

The over-riding problem with audio is that we don't just listen with our ears.

I find myself saying this a lot, but am fairly convinced that most don't get it - but although it's a ridiculously simple statement on the face of it, it's actually very profound - the more you learn about the human hearing system, the more you come to understand that.

When comparing two very similar bits of equipment, you simply can't just trust your hearing. This is especially the case in the usual non-scientific review scenarios. If you've level-matched to within a small fraction of a dB and done the testing double-blind, ensuring there's no clipping (voltage or clipping) or any other obviously "daft" problems, and with instantaneous switchover, then subjective findings might carry some weight if the results were statistically significant. But no-one reviews hi-fi that way. Reviews are a pretty universally a description of an experience, carefully worded to say as little as possible about the actual item.

That's not to say that subjective impressions are irrelevant, but if something sounds different, the reasons for this can usually be found, and perhaps useful lessons can be learnt. But in my experience, if an amplifier sounds "different" in a properly conducted test, there's normally something wrong.

Personally, I find amplifiers pretty boring these days - it's all a bit too easy really. Now, loudspeakers: that's a real challenge to get your teeth into - especially if it's a passive crossover (active is cheating - too easy!).

[ppppenguin]

....... especially if it's a passive crossover (active is cheating - too easy!).

Since amplification is now so easy and cheap I don't understand why passive crossovers should still be used in new designs. Put the DAC and amps in the speakers and feed them with AES digital audio. (I do understand why you might not always want to do this and there are certainly cases where you can't)

Talking of interconnects, I sometimes wonder why 'phools have been so slow to embrace balanced audio. The professionals try not to do it any other way. XLR connectors and screened twin with balanced audio is an excellent way of handling analogue audio. Perhaps the 'phools are inherently unbalanced.

[Mark Hennessy]

That's because you don't know the market or the typical audiophile.

Give them an active (or even a powered) speaker, and you take away their ability to worry about and experiment with different amplifiers and cables. They also believe that the vibration will affect the amplifier, ruining the sound. They will automatically assume that a loudspeaker company couldn't possibly be able to design amplifiers as well as people who sell amplifiers.

The fact that active speakers are dominant in pro applications - and that their favourite recordings would have been made using them - is neither here nor there.

Active vs passive is absolutely no indication of quality, BTW. Just because active speakers have many theoretical advantages, it doesn't mean that a designer is capable of exploiting them, and that these advantages outweigh all the other problems you need to deal with. Some of the best speakers I've used are passive, and there's no shortage of active speakers that are average at best. There's a lot more to speaker design than how you implement the crossover.

Balanced audio connections over a half-metre distance are utterly pointless in most scenarios.

[ppppenguin]

I wish I did kow the market better, and had a suitable avaricious instinct. Plus the imagination to invent (and promote) something so preposterous that it would have to sell. Relieving 'phools of their money could be quite enjoyable. Not sure I could maintain a straight face.

[Mark Hennessy]

I don't mind helping out some of the sane companies occasionally, but am glad I don't rely on it to pay the mortgage. I'm far too honest to get involved with the "fringe" - I don't know how some of those people sleep at night. I no longer see audiophiles as "phools" - I honestly feel that some/many of them are victims. But if it wasn't audio, there's no shortage of other industries out there willing to take their money. Funny old world...

[BusyBee]

Thanks for the references Jeffrey. I love the animation. Sometimes maths is too much.

That sound horrid, what on earth was it supposed to be.

Mike

I am not sure what it was supposed to be but it had the friends I was with absolutely cracked up when one of the group put it on the player saying what a gargain he had got as it was Lou Reed and so cheap. The excesses of pop culture - Perhaps the sound equivalent of Andy Warhol?

Now, loudspeakers: that's a real challenge to get your teeth into - especially if it's a passive crossover (active is cheating - too easy!).

Personally I have always thought that the loudspeaker / system is key. If all else is clean then they have to be. Cheap speakers almost never sound good.

But if it wasn't audio, there's no shortage of other industries out there willing to take their money. Funny old world...

Many are ready to take a fast buck. Quality is hard work and expensive. I think A lot of it stems from the 'Keeping up with the Jones'' attitude and wanting to apear superior.

Tracy

[radioman]

Balanced audio connections over a half-metre distance are utterly pointless in most scenarios.

Don't you mean under a half-metre distance.... ?

Andy

[Crackle]

Balanced audio cables are always used for microphone cables in a professional studio or stage environment.
Balanced connections over telephone cables were used by the BBC for their outside broadcast remote studios.
Balanced connections are always worthwhile where any audio signal is needed to be sent over long distances.

Mike