Please Educate Me


If I can’t find the answer here, I won’t find it anywhere. 

Something I’ve wondered about for a long time: The whole world is digital. Some huge percentage of our lives consists of ones and zeros. 

And with the exception of hi-fi, I don’t know of a single instance in which all of this digitalia isn’t yes/no, black/white, it works or it doesn’t. No one says, “Man, Microsoft Word works great on this machine,” or “The reds in that copy of Grand Theft Auto are a tad bright.” The very nature of digital information precludes such questions. 

Not so when it comes to hi-fi. I’m extremely skeptical about much that goes on in high end audio but I’ve obviously heard the difference among digital sources. Just because something is on CD or 92/156 FLAC doesn’t mean that it’s going to sound the same on different players or streamers. 

Conceptually, logically, I don’t know why it doesn’t. I know about audiophile-type concerns like timing and flutter. But those don’t get to the underlying science of my question. 

I feel like I’m asking about ABCs but I was held back in kindergarten and the computerized world isn’t doing me any favors. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do. I’ll be using Photoshop and I’ve got it dialed in just right. 
paul6001
"Repeat: OP asks a reasonable question."


OP, in fact, did not ask a question. She/he posted her/his musings and informed us of activities.
From my original post:


”Conceptually, logically, I don’t know why it isn’t.”


Doesn’t that invite a response, doesn’t that ask somebody to inform me why it does? Like desktopguy so nicely did. Complaining that, “He never asked a question” seems to be a level of pedantry way above 20 kHz, out in the range where only hummingbirds and . . . other things dwell. 

That bit of self-restraint is actually causing me physical pain. I need a drink. 

Glupson, you got me. A triumph of form over content. As punishment I hereby ban myself from this forum. At least until another inane question pops into my head. 

And to think, all this audio interest/excitement/curiosity was caused by the arrival of my new (used) LS50s. We’re only a week into this relationship but I can tell it will be one of the deepest and most meaningful of my life.


Now HERE’S a question, although it probably belongs in another forum: My tiny NYC apartment forces the speakers into an awful position. (The apartment is small but at least it’s expensive.) I can move them in and out about four inches and about the same horizontally, and I’ve been carefully positioning them inch by inch all week. The problem is that on one side, at the point of first reflection and a lot of other points as well, are two big works of art covered by glass. I’m not willing (at this point, anyway) to trade decorating for sound. And I can’t imagine that there’s any other way to diffract or absorb the sound, short of hanging curtains in front of them, which sorta defeats the principle. Suggestions, anyone?


I expected transparency and accuracy from these speakers. I didn’t expect the warm, rich sound. Maybe it’s the small room, maybe it’s my unfamiliarity with audiophile speakers, but they’re so friendly and inviting. This truly is love. 
Also, I did a little calculating. (I might have a problem here.) My quarter wavelength cancellation frequency is 214 hz. Halfway is 107 hz. Is that good? Bad? I can’t do much about it but should I worry?
Room correction or different speakers with narrow directivity but I wouldn't worry about it. 
Good old Millercarbon and it is amusing that he chimes in first here to educate. Self annointed self appointed curator of the only accurate opinions and audio knowledge. Just ask him and he will tell you so in detail.
  I am coming to the conclusion he is a retired bored guy who just likes to stir crap up and spend his days pontificating and harassing. Goes well with all the absurd audio topics and claims made here though so there is that.