Re: One for the bottleheads

In article <slrndu1c3m.jv3.news0309@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, John Phillips
<news0309@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On 2006-02-01, Serge Auckland <serge.auckland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >                                                          ... Shouldn't
> > hi-fi be about "the closest approach to the original sound"?

> Ay, there's the rub.  For some people this clearly isn't so.  The
> problem, as I may have remarked before, is that both "sides" then use
> words that mean different things to the other and a "full and frank
> exchange of views" ensues.

The above is a key point so far as I am concerned. The problem is that
people use the same terms for quite different meanings - some of which can
be clearly defined and objectively tested, and others not. Yet then then
use them as if these ambiguities did not exist.

Part of the problem may be that some people seem not to like the idea that
what they enjoy might be the result of some specific systematic alterations
or distortions of the recorded/braodcast signal to get a 'preferred'
effect. For some reason they regard this as a prejorative or negative
description, when it may simple be an accurate one.

FWIW For the above reasons I have a great deal of respect for Keith G's
approach that he does not really care what the technical reasons may be. He
just wants what he enjoys. I can't see anything wrong with this if the aim
is simply to obtain what the user wants. Seems a quite straightforward and
reasonable approach.

What does cause 'debate' <sic> though is when others symultaneously say
that some types of amp produce a 'different sound' that they prefer, yet
also insist that this can't possibly have anything to do with any of the
measured differences which tend to be associated with the relevant
amplifier designs.

Thus you get statements made 'in isolation' like Andy's ones about the
distortion performance of a gain device - taken out of any context of a
complete amplifier system driving a real loudspeaker. The aim seems to be
to try and dismiss the idea that alterations/distortions may be a reason
for the 'different sound' when a complete system is involved. 

> I am sure that all elements of the hi-fi chain which I can influence can
> be made sufficiently transparent (there's on of those pesky, overloaded
> words) that only the loudspeakers remain as elements I have to choose on
> personal taste.

If you use ESLs within their power limits, etc, they also do a
'dissapearing act' - alas you are then left with audio's 'final frontier' -
the acoustics of the listening room.  :-)

> Others like to choose all bits of kit on that basis.  That's part of the
> hobby for them.

Indeed/ Given my tendency to prefer to design or modify equipment I use, I
am unlikely to ague against people doing this.  :-) It can be satisfying,
good fun, and allow you to make items tailored to your personal
preferences. The only snag is that you may need time, and to learn what you
are doing rather than leaving it to someone else. But I personally tend to
welcome kit or home brew approaches. I only wish the magazines, etc, did
more of this - and *not* confine it so much to valve amps and speakers!

It seems to me a great shame that there has been an absence in the
magazines of SS kits, and also of FM tuner kits. These might make it much
easier for people to experiment  - and also to compare SS with valve on a
more 'like for like' basis of involvement and understanding.

Slainte,

Jim

-- 
Electronics  http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
Audio Misc  http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio  http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html
.

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