The Problem with Hi-Fi

[chris92346]

Is simply that people don't understand just how could it could be. I remember having stereos that I thought where good. I thought spending lots of money would only yield incremental improvements. A couple months ago I went shopping for a good system. I was thinking of spending a couple hundred bucks per speaker. When I had a chance to actually hear some good sounding speakers everything changed. There comes a point where there is a exponential leap in the listening experience.

I am just constantly in amazement at what is possible with hi-fi. It can be such a visceral tangible experience. Music can just float from the speakers and envelope the listener. Many people talk about having a system that is as close to the live performance as possible, well I have to say often I feel as though my system sound better than it would probably sound live.

In this world where quantity over quality is so highly regarded we need to stand watch and make sure our passion flourishes. We need to be sorta evangelists and make sure people get to hear what good sound can be like.

 

[mike c]

so what speakers did you hear?

 

[Seth=L]

Everyone has preferences. The same could be said about many different hobbies and products. For example, automobiles. Person 1 says a car is to get you from point A. to point B., person 2 says that a higher performance vehicle or one with more luxury does it better, or makes the experiance better in some way. Both people are right because it is what matters to them.

I am person 1 for the car, at least with my budget, my first love (hobby) will most likely always be audio, but person 2 may not agree with having a fancy rig with large imposing speakers. Person 2 may be perfectly happy with their TV speakers, he feels that being able to hear it and understand the dialog is plenty good enough, besides he is thinking about his car while he is watching TV and who needs a hi-fi rig if you can't concentrate?

 

[Seth=L]

so what speakers did you hear?

Yes, and what did you do with those DBTs?

 

[chris92346]

I settled on magnepan 12 speakers. In the process I listened to tons of b&w's Dennons Martin Logans Vienna McTosh, Polk Audio, Klips, and I know there where more.

 

[mike c]

Yes, and what did you do with those DBTs?

the term DBT has been thrown around too much that there's a ban on its usage ... for the next 10 years.

just kidding ... in case the smilies aren't enough.

 

[mike c]

I settled on magnepan 12 speakers. In the process I listened to tons of b&w's Dennons Martin Logans Vienna McTosh, Polk Audio, Klips, and I know there where more.

nice. I wish I had the space and budget for speakers like magnepan and martin logans ...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Many people talk about having a system that is as close to the live performance as possible, well I have to say often I feel as though my system sound better than it would probably sound live.

In this world where quantity over quality is so highly regarded we need to stand watch and make sure our passion flourishes. We need to be sorta evangelists and make sure people get to hear what good sound can be like.

I prefer the sound of live music, so to me a speaker system that sounds like live music is the best. When it comes to music, I prefer the sound of live drums beating, instead of the boomy sound that a lot of subwoofers produce.

 

[Tomorrow]

nice. I wish I had the space and budget for speakers like magnepan and martin logans ...

Ah, you could trade a half-dozen of your subwoofers for the cash and the space. Yes?

 

[Seth=L]

the term DBT has been thrown around too much that there's a ban on its usage ... for the next 10 years.

just kidding ... in case the smilies aren't enough.

I was just curious, what is the main difference between a DBT and a MTV?

I haven't been using the smileys, I want to maintain the illusion that I mean business.

 

[highfihoney]

I am just constantly in amazement at what is possible with hi-fi. It can be such a visceral tangible experience. Music can just float from the speakers and envelope the listener. Many people talk about having a system that is as close to the live performance as possible, well I have to say often I feel as though my system sound better than it would probably sound live.

In this world where quantity over quality is so highly regarded we need to stand watch and make sure our passion flourishes. We need to be sorta evangelists and make sure people get to hear what good sound can be like.

I agree,quality over quanity.

I also agree with a properly set up system sounding better than live,i often hear guys saying their goal is to get as close as possible to the live sound,not me,if my system sounded like live music i'd toss it all out & buy a York system from K-Mart.

 

[Haoleb]

I agree that there are alot of people who havent ever truly heard a real high end system. I got into HiFi when I bought a set of cheap floorstanding KLH speakers to replace the little bookshelves that came with my aiwa mini system. I was simply blown away by just how much better it sounded.

It wasnt until a couple of years later that I finally had the chance to go to a real HiFi shop, considering there are none here. I wandered around the store drooling over all these peices of gear that I had only seen pictures of and heard others talk about. I got to sit down and listen to one system consisting of Mcintosh amplification and B&W Signature 800 speakers. It really blew me away. I was just astonished how effortless and big and clean it sounded. I had my mom with me and she told the guy she was also just as amazed.

Im not sure how my current setup compares to that one, since it was quite a few years ago. But to me thats something to really work towards. I doubt I would be as blown away if I heard the system again today but for someone who has never experienced that before it really would be an eye opening experience of "WOW i never knew music could sound like this!"

I kinda like the fact that not really that many people are into HiFi because if everybody had a nice system it wouldnt really be anything special.

 

[chris92346]

So the other day I was talking to sombody I know that works for bose. As politely as I could I mentioned the Bose reputation. She tells me "No highs no lows must be bose" in a very sarcastic way She tells me how clear they sound. I ask her if she has ever seriously listened to any other high end setups. She told me no. Truly ashamed she works for bose and believes that is as good as it gets.

 

[Shashi Kumar]

the other problem ????

I settled on magnepan 12 speakers. In the process I listened to tons of b&w's Dennons Martin Logans Vienna McTosh, Polk Audio, Klips, and I know there where more.

I can't smile any more..my lower jaw will drop off....

The other problem is.... you start listening to the equipment......instead of listening to the music....

...and I dont know how to cure myself...

 

[Johnd]

The other problem is.... you start listening to the equipment......instead of listening to the music....(

You know, I've heard that phrase tossed around, and I simply don't understand it. I'll agree that at some point the return on upgrades becomes increasingly diminished.

But when you hear cymbals where there were none before, or another octave in the melody, or another chord where none was before...that is the purpose of high fidelity and critical listening. To experience it all. To experience it more completely. For me.

I can turn on the am radio at any time and hear a tune. I do critical listening with my Denons and 'digms (sometimes with my headphones). The goal is to not listen to the equipment when critically listening (to music). Some people will never hear the difference, and will therefore never understand or appreciate the difference.

 

[mike c]

Ah, you could trade a half-dozen of your subwoofers for the cash and the space. Yes?

i'm still a member of our little organization ... I wish I wasn't, but I can't change my ears. if I can only hear the oohs and wows people hear with their audio setups ... maybe I'll put a little more effort in getting a dedicated 2 channel room. but then again ... whenever I look at the price of the martin logans, I say I'm glad I don't hear the difference.

 

[mike c]

I was just curious, what is the main difference between a DBT and a MTV?

I haven't been using the smileys, I want to maintain the illusion that I mean business.

Dog Bark Test

Mute Talk Verse

... I don't know