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Audio Diversity - What is it?

I've noticed that there are always alot of threads put up about "this vs that", tubes vs transistors, analog vs digital, cone vs electrostat, high price vs high value, cables make no difference, etc, etc. It seems that there is a wide variety of opinions as to what actually sounds good or better than the rest. Sometimes this elicits very strong opinions.

My question is why is it, that there is so much difference of opinion on this subject? Doesn't everyone hear the same music? Is it something to do with some other factor like, whether they never really heard many other things, or this was all their dealer had so they think it's best, is it listening skills, or what? Or is it ego, pride of ownership, and protecting resale value of their equipment, that is coming into question here? If that is the case, then are people lying about it to support their self-esteem or bank account, by exaggerating the quality of their systems to others? Do people who can only afford low-fi state that there is no difference in gear, only to make themselves feel better that they have just as good gear as the guy who paid $50k? Or are we all just imagining differences? Or perhaps, some of us don't want to get "closer to the music", but would rather have certain "airbrushed" qualities to it that they like, but take it further away from truth? Personal preferences? I don't know.

It seems to me that if 2 people listen to the same system in the same room at the same time, there should be some consensus about whether it is better or worse than some other system they compare it to. But yet, we seem to not be able to agree on this. There is always this and that getting in the way. But I say it's either closer to the music or further away. It should be easily determined. When 2 people look at a red car, they both know it's red. Nobody has to measure the reflected wavelengths to know that. One may like red better than the other, but there is no doubt that the car is red. Can't do that with audio systems. When 2 people listen, one says better, another says worse. Why?

What I would like to know is, what you think is the reason for such large differences in opinion about what sounds right and what doesn't. I don't want to start an issue about one particular type of equipment vs another, but I want to focus on why we don't seem to hear things the same.

I think this is at the root of alot of our discussions here on this forum, and I'd like to hear some opinions on it, which will likely be just as diverse.
twl
golden_ears
224 posts
 
Slappy
You're taking that one terminology or point out of context from the rest of the message. I didn't say the experienced ears are any better, I said that they will recognize the good points more quickly because they know what to listen-for; they know where the inferior systems or components fail to deliver.
There is a lot of noises occurring in a musical passage, and the secret is in the playback of certain details; you just have to know what details to listen-for (in addition to the over-all sound). Most people have to be trained to listen properly.
rockinroni's avatar
rockinroni
287 posts
 
Yes, Golden ears has said it well.
MR. SLAPPY Yes, I cannot hear better that you in fact I probably cannot hear as well as you, but I believe because of my 30+ years in AUDIO, I may be able to Listen better?
Take your guitar player, When A Guitarist listens to another Guitarist he will hear many things that I cannot, because he can listen better, not because he can hear better. Mr. Slappy you need to understand this concept.
I believe you know what we are talking about. I apologize for I may not have done a good job of getting this Idea accross.

Tom, when I have done critical listening with others to the same system at the same time, we could always agree on the sound. When 2 people listen to the same amp, in different systems, in different locations. It will be much harder to get a Consensus, because of the obvious differences. IMHO

Ron
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
there is so much difference of opinion on this subject because people don't do blind listening tests
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
+1 Golden ears 

A lot of differences are a lack of training. An untrained person may prefer a lush bass heavy warm sound coloured by the system to accent treble and bass. A trained musician may prefer something that sounds closer to what he recognizes is closer to the real thing which often has more mid range and can be harsh or brash (especially trumpet)
chayro
2,983 posts
 
Very interesting thread indeed.  As a conservatory-trained musician, as well as running a music production company, I think I know what every acoustic and electronic instrument sounds like, both live and recorded.  And, as many of you know, many engineers do not even attempt to capture the true sound of the instrument, instead preferring to make it sound prettier by tuning out harsh overtones, etc.  I have often wondered what people without a musical background are listening to, or think they're listening to when they listen to a high-end hifi system.  There is no way for me to know, except to say that this is a hobby and everyone enjoys themselves differently.  To some, it's a pathway to musical performances and to others, just a bunch of toys to be fooled around with in hopes of achieving some imaginary goal.  Who knows?  All I know is, I went to see Denis Matsuev at Carnegie last week and it sounded just like my system.  So I guess I have it basically right.  Good luck people. 
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