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What Does Holographic Sound Like?

And how do you get there? This is an interesting question. I have finally arrived at a very satisfying level of holography in my system. But it has taken a lot of time, effort and money to get there. I wish there had been a faster, easier and less expensive way to get there. But I never found one.

Can you get to a high level of holography in your system with one pair of interconnects and one pair of speaker wires? I don't believe so. I run cables in series. I never found one pair of interconnects and speaker wires that would achieve what has taken a heck of a lot of wires and "tweaks" to achieve. Let alone all the power cords that I run in series. Although I have found one special cable that has enabled the system to reach a very high level of holography -- HiDiamond -- I still need to run cables in series for the sound to be at its holographic best.

There are many levels of holography. Each level is built incrementally with the addition of one more wire and one more "tweak". I have a lot of wires and "tweaks" in my system. Each cable and each "tweak" has added another level to the holography. Just when I thought things could not get any better -- which has happened many times -- the addition of one more cable or "tweak" enabled the system to reach a higher level yet.

Will one "loom" do the job. I never found that special "loom". To achieve the best effects I have combined cables from Synergistic Research, Bybee, ASI Liveline, Cardas, Supra and HiDiamond -- with "tweaks" too numerous to mention but featuring Bybee products and a variety of other products, many of which have the word "quantum" in their description.

The effort to arrive at this point with my system has been two-fold. Firstly, finding the right cables and "tweaks" for the system. Secondly, finding where to place them in the system for the best effects -- a process of trial and error. A lot of cables and "tweaks" had to be sold off in the process. I put "tweaks" in quotation marks because the best "tweaks" in my system have had as profound effect as the components on the sound. The same for the best of the cables, as well. For me, cables and "tweaks" are components.

Have I finally "arrived"? I have just about arrived at the best level that I can expect within my budget -- there are a couple of items on the way. In any case, I assume there are many levels beyond what my system has arrived at. But since I'll never get there I am sitting back and enjoying the music in the blissful recognition that I don't know what I am missing.

I should mention that there are many elements that are as important as holography for the sound to be satisfying, IMO. They include detail, transparency, coherence, tonality, and dynamics, among others. My system has all of these elements in good measure.

Have you had success with holographic sound in your system? If so, how did you get there?
sabai
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,949 posts
 
"You stated, "I am not so certain". Certain about what? That a "strategy" you have no experience with may or may not work? This is like speculating about whether you will like vanilla when you have never even tasted it yet. More hot air.
"

I like vanilla.

I have never tried jumping into quicksand either but I have a pretty good idea what to expect regardless.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,949 posts
 
Here's a useful principle
that relates to applications of technology that can also be applied to optimizing home audio effectively.

home audio tweaks fall into the 20% category of the Pareto Principle I would say.

Personally, as one who seeks perfection in my home audio sound (yet knows that is not likely to happen 100%) I tend to want to well exceed the 80/20 rule when it comes to home audio matters. I would say I want my rig to achieve 90% or better of what is possible in theory. Some tweaking will be necessary to get that but realizing the fundamentals has a good chance of putting one in the game based on the Pareto Principle..
csontos
1,311 posts
 
Try the link to "diminishing returns". I would dare to wager Sabai is burning his crop by now.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,350 posts
 
I believe the onus of proof is on Sabai since he is the one pushing the innovation.

Sabai, could you describe how you do your critical listening and make judgements about sonic improvements. The reason I ask is that with some many tweaks and variables in your system I am a little wary of your statement about 90% of your listening being for pleasure.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,949 posts
 
Look, the bottom line is Sabai has his way which works for him. I have mine. We each have our own.

If it works it works.

Best practices that others might leverage is where it becomes interesting. Not everything that works can be a best practice. Best practices are usually the roadmap one wants to follow.

I'm sure there are some best practices relating to audio tweaks that might be discerned. Getting a concensus on what they are is probably a challenge. In lieu of best practices, it is the user who assumes the risks associated with exploring lesser understood territories. They may strike gold or go bust. It all depends.....
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