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Class "A" sound, as related to Stereophile.


It's all about the sound.

It's all about sound, not how much it cost; when I got into "high end", I knew right off the bat I couldn't afford it, but I had to find one thing for sure; how do the various components sound in regard to Stereophile's classes, or ratings? In order to know this; I had to acquire the ability to identify "Stereophile's" class "A" class "B" and class "C" sounds, and the only way to do that was: first, subscribe to Stereophile, and next was to go to every high end audio salon within driving distance; there were 5 well stocked "high end" salons within driving distance. (Since I didn't take my wife, that created some problems)

After a few years of subscribing to Stereophile, plus auditioning equipment that Stereophile recommended, I knew the sound of those recommendations, and I absolutely concurred with them; "If you want to hear the music, you got to pay the piper". While that's true, it's possible to get class "A" sound with class "B" bucks or less.

At this moment, I am looking at 8 capacitors that cost $25 dollars each, plus 2 mono blocks with an instant resale value of 6K. Once I take the covers off and go in with my soldering iron, these mono blocks are worth a resell of O; my mission must be a success. After a successful mission, the resell is still 0; but those mono blocks will deliver class "A" or "A"+ sound, and that's some sweet music.

I have to visualize and hear music in my head before I can modify a component to deliver class "A" sound; but that's the only way for me to get what has become a necessity.

The pressure someone is under when they modify, is great, but the rewards are glorious. On these mono blocks, they are too small for the huge capacitors, therefore I have to figure a way to make the case larger. My reward is "sound" with absolutely no relation to money. I often wander if someone with a fat bankroll can identify the sound, or only how much they paid for each piece.


Happy listening.

orpheus10
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Mesch, you're going in the right direction; if you say you hear Class "B", I don't doubt it. That's a class that is attainable with dedication and hard work, plus numerous tweaks.

Room treatment is an area I haven't investigated, consequently, I'm still learning about it; that means we'll all progress together.


Enjoy the music.
mesch
3,514 posts
 
Thanks for the kind words Dave and orpheus. When one has the latitude, playing with one's room is the best and least expensive way to tune a system to one's liking. Realizing that we are tuning to an average of what we are presented from the recording engineers.  
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Dave, according to what you are saying, I should apply more absorption to the right side of the room, in order to move the image to the left? Is that correct?

I think I have a CD with test tone frequencies, but I don't have a RatShack analog sound pressure meter. I use Parts Express for odds and ends, might they have one? Make a list of the necessary meters for this job, and I can place an order.

Thanks for the help.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Sometime before getting into the high end, I visited a friend who had a rig with an equalizer. I didn't even know what an equalizer was or did at that time; but I knew it sure looked impressive. This thing had 20 slider switches, and lights blinking for left and right channels; it looked so impressive that I wanted one for that reason alone. "Look at my new equalizer"!.

"What does it do"? Just look at it; with all those multicolored lights blinking, isn't that enough?

With an EQ you could shape the music however it suited you; this gave you the power of being the band leader.

My "Phase Linear 4000" had turnover tone controls, dynamic range expander, plus noise reduction; it was really hot stuff (junk under the hood) Now of course I have a pre without any tone controls because I want to hear the music on the record, not recreate it; which gets us to my present speakers.

Most people have had at least a half dozen or more pairs of speakers since I finally perfected the ones I got; that's why I want some "different" speakers. But after carefully listening to my "none" speakers, I thought about the equalizer, and the "turnover" tone controls; that brought me back to where I first got into the high end with no tone controls.

The purpose of this thing is to hear the "artist's music", not mine; and the speakers I have perform that function like no others I've heard.

What I need, is friends with equalizers, and turnover tone controls so I can come back to my rig, and say "Home sweet home".


Enjoy the music.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

I've got all the necessary materials for the panels, now it's time to go to work. Will give everyone a holler when I'm finished.
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