Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102

RE: Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102, posted on October 19, 2016 at 05:35:08
tesla Audiophile Posts: 3180 Location: San Diego County, California Joined: October 25, 2000	He had the kind of respect that Dr. Bose should have had. Proudly serving content-free posts since 1984.

RE: Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102, posted on October 19, 2016 at 05:49:35

-�-
Bored Member

Posts: 788
Joined: May 9, 2013
Contributor
Since: March 1, 1999

One of my favorite quotes:

It has been remarked that if one selects his own components,
builds his own enclosure and is convinced he has made a wise
choice of design, then his own loudspeaker sounds better to
him than does anyone else's loudspeaker. In this case, the
frequency response of the loudspeaker seems to play only a
minor part in forming a person's opinion.

-L.L. Beranek, Acoustics [McGraw-Hill, New York, 1954], p.208

If you aren't quite noticing or accepting what is really going on in the present,
but are responding based on your thoughts or feelings about what ought to be,
then you are apt to collide with what is really going on.

One of the greatest observations ever made, posted on October 19, 2016 at 06:23:04
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com Audiophile Posts: 3040 Location: Atlanta Joined: December 15, 2003	It applies to anything we make, for that matter. I try very hard to keep this in mind but sometimes I know I fall into the trap. Sometimes might be being generous ... Mr. Baranek will never be forgot.

RIP, posted on October 19, 2016 at 06:39:18
Zipcord Manufacturer Posts: 707 Location: No. California Joined: December 19, 2002	His "Acoustics" book was my first Loudspeaker guide 102 ain't too bad

Leo Beranek, Acoustician and Audio Engineer, posted on October 19, 2016 at 08:10:17
Inmate51	This is very sad news. Leo Beranek was the epitome of "pioneer". He laid groundwork in acoustics which would become the foundation for others to build upon. I have his book "Music, Acoustics & Architecture", which includes an analysis of "the fifty four halls" - concert halls around the world. An absolutely excellent work. Unfortunately, I do not have his book "Acoustics". Gotta get that.

Confirmation bias, posted on October 20, 2016 at 09:38:17
Kloss	A trap that is hard to not fall into. But to flip this is the guy who builds his own and it sounds better to him then anything else is he wrong for being ignorant flawed and human or smart for just enjoying the results?

I have long felt there is nothing wrong with the placebo, posted on October 20, 2016 at 11:49:19
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com Audiophile Posts: 3040 Location: Atlanta Joined: December 15, 2003	as long as it works, why not enjoy it!

RE: Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102, posted on October 20, 2016 at 13:14:41
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	R.I.P.

RE: I have long felt there is nothing wrong with the placebo, posted on October 20, 2016 at 13:15:36
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	It is good to read that Al Gore did not invent the net afterall.

RE: Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102, posted on October 21, 2016 at 04:33:40

BigguyinATL
Manufacturer

Posts: 3475
Joined: April 10, 2002

Yes, I love that quote. I have stated several times - I call it the Tweaker's Allegory of the Cave: "The belief of the the illusion of stereo reproduction depends greatly on the confidence that you have in your system."

The fact that stereo reproduction (at least when the goal the recreation of a live event in our living rooom) is always an illusion, created by flawed signals, engineered by artists in often effects the observations and behavior of even the most knowledgable of us.

"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave

RE: Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102, posted on October 21, 2016 at 04:50:56

geoffkait

"The fact that stereo reproduction (at least when the goal the recreation of a live event in our living rooom) is always an illusion, created by flawed signals, engineered by artists in often effects the observations and behavior of even the most knowledgable of us."

The dynamic range of the best sources is one hundredth of the dynamic range of live events. No one is pretending you can reproduce live sound in the living room.

RE: Confirmation bias, posted on October 21, 2016 at 05:02:57
geoffkait	Every audiophile thinks his system is great. He also thinks he only has 10% left before he enters audio nirvana. Not that there's anythung wrong with that.

It's been said ..., posted on October 21, 2016 at 08:54:55
-�- Bored Member Posts: 788 Joined: May 9, 2013 Contributor Since: March 1, 1999	... that it's a zero-sum game: X + Y = Z. X is what the system brings Y is what the mind fills in Z is Music The trick is that we can make Y whatever it needs to be. If you aren't quite noticing or accepting what is really going on in the present, but are responding based on your thoughts or feelings about what ought to be, then you are apt to collide with what is really going on.

That might be an exaggeration, posted on October 21, 2016 at 09:57:05
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com Audiophile Posts: 3040 Location: Atlanta Joined: December 15, 2003	I would say I think my system is good and I know it has more flaws than I have the money or time to correct and that is with the understanding that none of our systems will ever sound like a real acoustic music. I do think my system sounds better than live amplified music. The thing is no matter how good we think the thing sounds today we all get tired of the sound of our system eventually.

RE: That might be an exaggeration, posted on October 21, 2016 at 10:24:08
geoffkait	"I do think my system sounds better than live amplified music." Bingo!

I think listening fatigue is when the brain gets tired of , posted on October 21, 2016 at 10:39:41
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com Audiophile Posts: 3040 Location: Atlanta Joined: December 15, 2003	filling in the same old stuff. I think we tend to attempt to change the sound of our systems because of this. Either the brain wants a new puzzle or some strange aspect of perception no longer allows the existing correction algorithm to satisfy ... Who knows?

No bingo, posted on October 21, 2016 at 10:41:58
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com Audiophile Posts: 3040 Location: Atlanta Joined: December 15, 2003	I do not think it is much of a challenge to better the sound of live amplified music. My speakers and amps are much better. Now when it comes to acoustic music there is no comparison. I think you yelled BINGO even though you did not win. For this you are disqualified!!!

RE: Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102, posted on October 21, 2016 at 10:54:21

BigguyinATL
Manufacturer

Posts: 3475
Joined: April 10, 2002

Yes Dynamics are one aspect - though the best recording microphones can match the dynamics in a live event. But the signal they record is just a part of the sound intensity radiated by the instrument - the recording engineer can do his best to make the instrument sound "real" or they can (and often) choose not to - for a completely different effect.

I can't find the post - but several years back there was a "poll" as to why us "Audio Enthusiasts" participate in this "hobby". My memory serves me poorly these days, but I think that there was less than half doing it because we wanted to create a life-like event in our listening room.

A friend of mine, Keith Yates, years ago, used to hold live events at his stereo store. He related to me more than once how many audiophiles were not interested in live music.

"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius

General Asylum

Leo Beranek, Acoustics Designer and Internet Pioneer, Dies at 102

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