2. misc-audio
  3. 173365-13640

OK-- I think I get it, now...

For a long time, I've hesitated to call myself an audiophile, preferring "music-lover", instead.

To be honest, I've had a somewhat dismissive attitude regarding those whom, to me, appeared overly obsessed with sound. 

With the recent acquisition of a Hegel H390, I'm forced to "change my tune", as it were. I guess I just crossed over into the high end.

I've been immersing myself in the Burton/Corea duet disc "Crystal Silence", a long time favorite of mine, and there is just so much "more" going on to notice and appreciate, now.

First of all, the music is unmistakably occurring in three dimensional space. And notes have roundness, color, density and texture. Instrumental timbre is richer and more distinctive. The players' use of varying dynamics, attack and tempo are much more evident than before. Vocals convey so much more emotion and now I can feel the emotion's impact somatically. That's new.  

It's certainly made me appreciate my speakers, more. Apparently, up until now, the Silverlines have been denied the sort of amplification that would permit them to perform at their best. I hope the speaker gods will forgive me! 

No doubt, in time, I will make other discoveries, but for now, this is crazy (in a good way).

I feel I've entered a whole new world. There's no way I can still claim to be "just a music lover". Master M has emphasized the unity of sound and music many times and finally, I think I get it. One cannot be separated out from the other-- they are inextricably one. 

 

stuartk
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

Apparently, up until now, the Silverlines have been denied the sort of amplification that would permit them to perform at their best. 

Yes and not only amplification. What you're noticing is really good speakers don't sound good. Really good speakers don't sound like anything. All the best stuff does is let you hear what's there to be heard. So if you use crap source, amp, or wire the good speakers will let you hear just how crappy they are. 

The same is true for everything. Every wire, DAC, cartridge, fuse. The better they are the less effect they have on the sound. Pretty much the opposite of what everyone says, but there you have it.

Enjoy!

mahler123
3,253 posts
 

I met my wife about 20 years ago, via an online dating source that catered to Classical Music listeners, now out of business.  When the relationship blossomed and I began spending time at her place her "system" consisted of an ancient Pioneer receiver that was staticky in one channel, and two speakers that were Bose cubes on top of matching bookshelves , placed just below the ceiling facing backwards.   Her priority was making the gear as unobtrusive as possible. I was in love but listening to music with her at her condo was painful.

  After a few months  she stepped out for a couple of hours during which I placed a new receiver, DVD player, and two B&W book shelf speakers on small stands.  The sound was about 8000% improved but she was not pleased.  I realize now that was a step to far for her for multiple reasons., not all of them being musical.   So different strokes for for different folks.

stuartk OP
2,655 posts
 

@millercarbon:

Thanks for the "reality check" !

 

 

 

stuartk OP
2,655 posts
 

@mahler123 :

"So different strokes for for different folks"

This is true among ardent audiophiles, let alone the uninitiated, no? .

 

stuartk OP
2,655 posts
 

@hshifi:

"What I have learned about Hifi is that the amp can be very important. What is more important is the preamp. It is the heart and soul of your system"

Having never owned separates, I can't comment but I'd guess Hegel would say it's all about their proprietary Sound Engine technology that compares the signal coming out of the amp to the signal coming into the amp and using phase-inversion, "cancels out" the difference (distortion). 

"I hope you keep enjoying it for a long time"

Thanks!  Unless I win the lottery -- in which case I might be tempted to buy the H590 -- I can easily visualize the H390 being my last integrated. 

More to discover