50-60-70 year old ears stating with certainty that what they hear is proof positive of the efficacy of analog, uber-cables, tweaks...name your favorite latest and greatest audio "advancement." How many rock concerts under the bridge? Did we ever wear ear protection with our chain saws? Believe what you will, but hearing degrades with age and use and abuse. To pontificate authority while relying on damaged goods is akin to the 65 year old golfer believing his new $300 putter is going to improve his game. And his game MAY get better, but it is the belief that matters. Everything matters, but the brain matters the most.
Esteemed Orchestra conductors and old rock concert audiophiles may not belong in the same category. Extremely trained ears versus extremely addled ears. I recognize experience plays an important part of evaluation. However experience can be a two edged sword. Can lead to hardening of opinion (please visit golf club locker room) or recognition that the more you know the more you don't.
Hearing degrades, true enough. But even a 70 year would be able to tell the difference between a live instrument and a recording - even behind a curtain. It's not all about frequency response. In my opinion, microdynamics is more important, the lack of which is a dead giveaway that sound is not coming from a live instrument.
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?
What you describe here is a basis for a solid system.
"Tweaks" are outrageously priced, unsubstantiated marketing claims that have little to no benefit on the objective performance of a sound system.
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