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

 

jackhifiguy

@mahgister 

If i am deluded why all my 8  headphones sound like unnatural and bad compared t o my 2 listening positions in my  mechanically controlled room ?

 

Maybe those headphones are not so good. Afterall, we know that speakers and headphones will sound different. If you were hired for acoustic treatments in a studio, is this the kind of acoustic treatment you would provide?

Maybe those headphones are not so good. Afterall, we know that speakers and headphones will sound different. If you were hired for acoustic treatments in a studio, is this the kind of acoustic treatment you would provide?

First:  all 8 headphones cannot be bad, and sayoing that headphones and speeakers/room are different is sayo=ing nothing... It is a common place fact...

Second : the acoustic of abig hall is not the acoustic of a boig room, and the acoustic of a small room is NOT the acoustic of a big room... And there is no relation with the acoustic of a studio and the acoustic of a small room...mine is 13 feet square...

Acoustic is an art, you must adapt all devices and method to a SPECIFIC size, acoustic materials content of the hall or room or studio, geometry ( form) and topology (windows and doors)..

There is NO MAGICAL RECIPE in acoustic control...Save for those who sell costly acoustic panels...

but passive material treatment is not mechanical active control, the two complement each other...

 I am not an acoustician specializing in studio acoustic by tyhe way and this has nothing to do with a small room adapted FORTHGE TWO EARS of the owner...

A studio cannotbe controlled for only 2 specific  ears ...

Acoustic is not a simplkemater you must EXPERIMENT... This is the bad news... The good news is this may cost peanuts and itis more fun than buying a 20,000 amplifier and plugging it in the wall ...

My best to you....

And to further my point, you cannot transform a system to have better sound quality with your "acoustical treatments" it is impossible.

You just need the speakers to be close to you - away from anything that might cause sound waves to bounce all over the place. 

RFI is everywhere (WiFi, electronics etc.) But with your methods you are likely to cause cables to act as an antenna, further changing the sound and you believe all of this is an improvement.

Also Maghister, you should start a consulting service to do these treatments for professional studios like AIR studios, and for audiophiles.

Let's see what happens. I'm not trying to be rude, just giving you some common sense advice.

 

And to further my point, you cannot transform a system to have better sound quality with your "acoustical treatments" it is impossible.

You just need the speakers to be close to you - away from anything that might cause sound waves to bounce all over the place.

You dont know what you are talking about...

Near field listening and regular field listening are the TWO positions very influenced by room tratment and control in a room under asround 15 feet ?

Why?

take the speed of sound and the roiom size and think about the number of times the waves front coming from EACH speakers touch your two different ears...

 

Also Maghister, you should start a consulting service to do these treatments for professional studios like AIR studios, and for audiophiles.

Let's see what happens. I'm not trying to be rude, just giving you some common sense advice.

Any studios already pay very highly acousticians to do their job they dont needed me...

 And instead of mocking me THINK by yourself about what i suggest...."You common sense advice " are what? You only suggested that i am a "fool" BECAUSE ME i can suggest sound advice ; think about simple acoustic experiments BEFORE buying anything...

 Who is the fool?