If your source is CDs the odds are very good any particular CD is dynamically compressed, and not just a little bit as things have gotten a little bit out of control. If your source is LPs or even hi res downloads there has been some overly aggressive dynamic range compression going on there, too. There is also the other separate issue of Polarity. The polarity of many recordings is inverted inadvertently and sometimes the polarity of systems is inverted inadvertently. Whereas the overly aggressive dynamic range compression at the factory is not (rpt not) inadvertent.
Dynamic compression in speakers themselves?
The primary audio characteristics I want to achieve in my system is an open, uncompressed, unstrained, and highly dynamic presentation. What I don't know much about is how much speakers can or do contribute to loss of dynamics and impact. I have a very powerful amp, but it seems that when I increase the volume, yes, the speakers get louder, but perhaps not commensurate with the increase in the volume control. I do think I understand that this type of presentation is more easily achieved with larger scale speakers, but even with my large speakers, I feel something is wanting.
I guess my question is, what factors contribute to any compression occurring in the speakers themselves? Also, can the age of a speaker cause a loss of dynamics? Mine are ~20 years old. I'm thinking to get new speakers in the foreseeable future, so I'd like to understand more about this. This question is in regard to traditional dynamic speakers.
I guess my question is, what factors contribute to any compression occurring in the speakers themselves? Also, can the age of a speaker cause a loss of dynamics? Mine are ~20 years old. I'm thinking to get new speakers in the foreseeable future, so I'd like to understand more about this. This question is in regard to traditional dynamic speakers.
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- 51 posts total
Hi, The only review site I know that measures this routinely is here: http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=... Like you, I am incredibly sensitive to this. Best, E |
Your experiencing thermal compression 1 reason why so many audiophiles tend to use systems sparingly or for short sessions for with longer playing time VC heating and compression can cause listener fatigue. Its the price audiophiles pay for running undersized loudspeakers that require massive power to produce SPL |
The primary audio characteristics I want to achieve in my system is an open, uncompressed, unstrained, and highly dynamic presentation. A horn does all this a more and can run off low power thus very little thermal compression. Hoffman’s Iron Laws of Speaker Building 1) Bass Extension 2) Efficiency 3) Small Enclosure The law is that you can only have two of these three attributes in speaker building. Ideally we would want all three, we want speakers with good bass, can play really loud, and are small. Unfortunately we cannot have all these. |
- 51 posts total