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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Doppler distortion and sonic holography. posted by Charles on August 6, 1999 at 01:38:50:
I will not address doppler effects and related distortion, because I too, do not thoroughly understand the details and have not experienced the sonic differences in a critical way. However, the issue of system coloration and the issue of accuracy to the medium, which you seem to focus on as "bad," is something that I find fascinating.I take serious exception to your statement "most people will eventually tire of ANY coloration". Many people tire quickly of brutal, in-your-face accuracy. Music (esp. classical and jazz), unlike most art, is dynamic, and by nature subject to interpretation and "coloration" by musicians, recording/mixing engineers, and even listeners. You can choose your seating at a musical event, and you can tailor the sonic aspects of music playback to your preferences. Perhaps we are of opposite philosophies, because I believe that being a "slave" to the data on the medium is not a "musical" pursuit. For me, as I state ad nauseum on this forum, it's ultimately about how the music I listen to brings pleasure and perceived musicality - the very definition of euphony. My personal taste in euphony is sound that is accurate and detailed, but not sterile and analytical, easy-flowing, but not slammed into my face. And for live music, I prefer to not be in the front rows, for the sound levels can be very high there. Is preferring a sound that is softer, but equal to the middle to rear of the hall a bad thing? I think not. Some folks believe that a close approximation of live large scale classical and jazz can be achieved, but only if the loudness or playback is equal to the loudest seat in the house. For many others, including me, perceived timbral accuracy, a very high level of detail without, and a good amount of dynamic range are the most important items. And yes, I would love to have a digital pre like Rodney to play with, but it's not at the top of my list of audio toys at the moment.
Regarding coloration, consider one instrument - the piano. They come in many flavors and "colors," from upright honky-tonk to concert grands, and many variations with different sonic characteristics within each general type. If there is a "distortion" in my audio system that makes a Steinway sound more like a Boesendorfer, that is indeed coloration. However, if I like the interpretations of a particular pianist who plays only on Steinways, but prefer the sound of a Boesendorfer to a Steinway, I might really like his music then played on my system. If my system makes a Steinway sound like a Baldwin upright, I will not be happy.
I don't think that coloration necessarily causes listener fatigue or eventual dissatisfaction with the sound of an audio system. There are many audiophile music lovers who have had the same "colored to their own taste" systems for many years without an urge to upgrade. You are likely to find more of these folks on the music forum and fewer on the General, Tube, and especially, Tweaks forums.
Much of the desire to upgrade audio systems is based on capitalistic consumerism that is pounded into us from early childhood by marketing. The evidence for this is the epidemic tendency in much of western society to desire and buy, buy, buy, things that we don't really "need." Sometimes the urge might be a simple personal trait. Sometimes it is a simple curiosity about different technologies and sonic signatures. Sometimes is due to a change in taste with regard to either music or sonics. And sometimes it is a realization that harshness or distortion is causing listener fatigue or irritation instead of prolonged pleasure. (Tweaking, as opposed to upgrading, is probably based on the listed motivations other than pure consumerism)
Old-timers on this forum tweak, experiment and change components for various combinations of these reasons. (I'm referring to audiophiles who have been "playing" with audio for many years, such as Rodney Gold, Doc B., Jack G., Phil Sieg, many others, and even yours truly.) And lots of us like to "play." It just happens that some of our favorite toys are audio systems.
Enjoy the music,
Dave Van Harn
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Follow Ups
- Good questions, but you raise many issues. - Dave VH 10:15:18 08/06/99 (5)
- Not about Doppler. - Charles 18:53:43 08/06/99 (0)
- Re: Good questions, but you raise many issues. - D. Cazden 17:03:59 08/06/99 (3)
- Re: Good questions, but you raise many issues. - Charles 19:05:20 08/06/99 (2)
- Re: Good questions, but you raise many issues. - D. Cazden 05:43:16 08/07/99 (1)
- Re: Good questions, but you raise many issues. - Charles 19:42:25 08/07/99 (0)
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