The Absurdity of it All

@edgewound    

What?

Tweaks are not something that have to be overcome!

Lets see... The components need to sit on top of something. Hmmm, do they sit atop a rickety old chair, or a solid platform?

Tweak one...

Now, to better control vibration, both inside and outside of the gear, some kind of isolation would be useful.

Tweak two...

These things all run on electricity. Not sure how clean the power is in my place, so some kind of protection/filter is likely a good idea.

Tweak three...

Now, I have to connect these components to the power. I'm going to get a well made cord that uses good materials and is properly assembled as opposed to some wire that was thrown together with plastic encasing it which was done by a giant machine designed to produce the most cost effective product possible.

Tweak four...

Now, I have to run the signal from the source to my amplifier. Now I know that small electrical signals are subject to interference from electrical noise, so I'm going to get some good interconnects that are shielded to preserve the integrity of that tiny signal. Don't want it getting muddied or distorted by this noise.

Tweak five...

My speakers are stand mounts. Going to need to put them on something. That sideboard is not such a great idea, its a big open box, and I'm sure the sound isn't going to benefit from that big open "bass bas" underneath. Stands are probably a good idea.

Tweak six...

Those speakers are going to be shaking a lot. Think I'm going to put something between them and the stand so as they vibrate, they move in such a way as to not fight with themselves. Want as much clarity as possible from them.

Tweak seven...

Going to have to connect them to my amp. They are really efficient, so its probably a good idea to buy some decent speaker cable. They are going to enhance any distortions because of their sensitivity, so no lamp cord here. 

Tweak eight...

So edgewound, explain to me where the hurdle is here that needs to be jumped, or overcome?

I qualify for old guy at 72. I never wore ear protection at rock concerts. The army never gave me ear protection to shoot a rifle. Have bad hearing but the one thing that some old guys have is a lot of disposable income...!The wife and I had no kids so gotta spend it on something. Have been buying back the vinyl I sold 30 years ago to go digital...!

I'm 82 and soon to be 83. I can still hear a lightly struck triangle in the rear of the orchestra. Due to tons of amazing tweaks, my audio system is better than it has ever been. The resolution is such that I can discern between drum heads covered in animal skin vs those covered with acrylic. I no longer listen for detail, bass, etc., I just listen to a performance unfolding in front of me that expands into an amazing sound stage. The system is seamless. Each performer is defined in a three-dimensional space, with all instruments having a  lifelike size. I hear all of this with no problem. However, trying to carry a conversation in a crowded space, a restaurant, for example, affects my hearing. Ambient noise really sucks.

Frank

@oregonpapa 

Thank you for that. The difference between hearing, and listening.

Put an omni directional mic in a busy room. Play it back. Try do isolate any conversation and follow it. Not so easy to do. It hears everything, and listens to nothing.

However, if in the room, with visual cues and listening, its possible to filter through the noise. Although, I do find it quite difficult lately.

Put the same omni mic in the middle of the orchestra, and you're going to have a similar challenge isolating elements.

But, wether in that room with a live orchestra, or listening to the same properly recorded performance at home (key word is listening...) elements can be isolated with ease.

Listening is a skill, hearing is a matter of biology...

+1 oregonpapa