I have come to believe that the biggest scam that has been perpetrated upon the high end community is the removal/degradation of tone control/equalization. Currently, I am demoing a dbx 1231 equalizer in my system because I dared to wonder what my music would sound like when adjusted for room anomalies. Of course it requires 2 high quality interconnects to connect my CDP to my Integrated, but otherwise it’s simple and quite unsettling…in a good way. Not only can I adjust my favorite music to sound it’s best in my environment, but the dbx does something else I hadn’t even thought was possible…it improved the sound quality overall. In fact, the dbx lowered the noise floor and has unleashed a more fully fleshed out pallet of sonic colors and tone and with greater body and dimensionality! The results I’m getting are not unlike using a high powered tube amp with an exceptionally low noise floor. It is disconcerting to have realized this so late in my journey . So much money and time could have been saved…better late than never.
How do you judge audio components and speakers?
I would say - listening to music you're familiar with, and comparing. We can talk about tight/bloomy bass, midrange clarity, treble extension and things of that nature. We can also be very specific with regards to how a particular track is supposed to sound; based on high-performance gear that we were able to experience - but only if it purports to be accurate without sonic colorations. Therefore, I guess you could say we have a reference point. This part is what I would consider "objective performance."
Along with this, measurements go hand-in-hand.
On the other side of the coin - subjective performance is how we "want our systems to sound." If the vocals are too bright or sharp, if snares or unpleasant sounding instrumentals ruin an otherwise good song, it's usually because the system is too accurate. So high-end audio is about chasing an ideal that doesn't exist in reality - but in the minds of audiophiles who are seeking a very particular kind of sonic presentation that bodes well with their music library as a whole....giving you just enough detail to keep you interested, while at the same time having a sense of realism, presence, and imaging that makes the speakers dissapear. We are seeking the illusion of a live performance.
The above are just my points. Feel free to share what you think. If you think I'm wrong, I don't mind.
Cheers.
Jack
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- 142 posts total
- 142 posts total