An audio guide for the ab-so-lute newbie nitwit?

[Dutch_T]

G'day you all

I also own an LX-82, but my question is actually even more beginner: where do I learn about Audio & Speakers? Would anybody know of any tutorial that enables me to grasp what seems all to easy for you all but is way beyond my leak? I mean, without me googling and clicking for months? Because I have been doing that for the last four hours, only to become completely depressed. Even the 'explanations' I found that are aimed at 'beginners' assume so much implicit knowledge, that all you do is run around / click around in circles ('what does this word mean the author uses but doesn't explain so assumes knowledge for the beginning reader).

I am a complete noob as it comes to audio, and basically, my problem is this: two years ago I bought one of the last Kuro's (KRP-500A). I decided to buy an LX-82 (and an LX-52) to go with it, since the retailer offered a great deal. The Kuro has been used intensively (nice TV ), and so has the LX-52. The LX-82, however, has not been used whatsoever, it has just been standing there for two years, right under the TV, looking all shiny and making me wonder every day 'and what might that machine be capable of'? (This last sentence was meant to make you all laugh ).
The problem being is: the Pioneer manual appears to be a sort of 'point and click' (if you want this setting, then press this setting). But the bigger picture isn't there. All kinds of terms I have no clue about what they mean, so I have no clue what I am 'tweaking' or what I should be tweaking. I mean it like this: there is no reference model in my head, the foundation of audio. To give an example: I see many people all easily discussing the best setting for a cross-over, but I have no clue what a cross-over is in the first place, so nice that the Pioneer manual says 'if you want to change the cross over', then go this menu, but I am lacking the foundation of it all: the 'audio 101'. Another example: standing waves, ok, my stupid brain (I studied economics, so there you go; point proved ) says 'well, I have no clue what is, its probably the brother of the lying wave (again, meant to make a laugh for you ).

Now, like said, it will take me months to google every word, sift through the sites that don't properly explain it, and then, finally, I will probably end with a list of words with explanations. And then I have to connect all that to something coherent (and pray that I don't make errors due to misunderstandings), to arrive at 'the conceptual, high-level, frame work of audio'. And once I've done that, I can dive into the Pioneer manual, try to understand their settings and how to relate that to the conceptual audio framework. And to do this a little bit more efficienty (the alternative is throwing the LX-82 in the garbage can because I can't spend months on this, there are mouths to feed in this family and I am the choosen one to do that ), I am looking for such a 'audio for complete dummies: what the words mean, and how it all relates to eachother'.

To give one more example: I studied economics. For sure I can't tell non-economists about how to monitor the beta of a stock market share if I don't lay the foundation first: what stocks are, how the stock market works, how stocks are valued, how to tend to evolve. And including statistics foundations in this matter too. Only then, after I have explained all that, if I have been a good tutorial, the student is ready to understand what 'beta' means in the stock market, and how to interpret and work with it.
I was hoping someone here would perhaps be so (too!) kind to point me in the right direction. I was thinking, I can't be the first one to ask for a document like this, so it has to exist somewhere. But I can't seem to find it.
I'd be in your debt for helping me out, and I really, really, mean that

Thank you in advance,

Bye,

Dutch

 

[bikemig]

Your question focuses on conceptual questions but I tend to think this is an area where how to questions make more sense. Why don't you post what your set up is, what your room configuration is, and then ask what is it that you would like to improve about your set-up? That way, you'll get plenty of how to advice that you may find useful.

 

[Dutch_T]

Thank you for your reply

Why don't you post what your set up is, what your room configuration is, and then ask what is it that you would like to improve about your set-up? That way, you'll get plenty of how to advice that you may find useful.

I'm afraid I haven't explained my problem well enough

If I would do that, I would be flooded with 'improve your cross-over, look it up in your manual on where to do that'. And that would leave me at the starting point. Hence: I need to understand what it is I am doing.

Because, to answer your question, to show what I mean: I have shitty sound. No punchy base, no middle, no crisp high. My room is 8 by 8 meters. I have 2 speakers (Monitor Audio RX8).

Now probably you would come back with either 'what do you mean?' or 'you have a standing wave problem, fix it with disabling 'advanced flip flap flop to setting 3 or 4, I'm sure your Pio can do that, look it up in the manual'. Both your replies would appear extremely helpful, yet: I still wouldn't have a clue what I am doing. And won't ever understand what I am doing. If my neigbour asks me 'so, how did you improve?' I'd have to say 'I changed flip flap flop to setting 3, Bikemig over at the forum told me what to do'. And so my neighbour would say 'great, can you change my flip flap flop as well, because I have shitty sound also'. And then I'd say 'well, from looking in the manual, it appears your Marantz apparently doesn't have anything like 'flip flap flop', because I don't see it anywhere. It is probably a Pioneer thing, or Marantz calls it differently so it would be in the manual but under a different name. But how would I know? I don't even know what 'flip flap flop' is, I was just told to press a button.



I hope I've clarified my problem

 

[markw]

OK, tell me everything i need to know about economics. I've got five minutes.

Silly, eh?

Seriously, Q&A format forums work best on a direct "Ask one direct queston, get one direct answer" style.

fou want to learn everything, well, you can't expect someone to type pages and pages about a subject at hand and, even if they did, odds are they wouldn't answer that one specific question you need answered.

You have several options. None of which will guaranee instant satisfaction:

1) Scan through a few pages odf forum posts and read tose that seem to be linked to what yu waht to know.

2) On the audioholics home page, ter eis a sectin called "AV University". Spend some time there. That's as close as you're going to get for a tutorial for the basic concepts. Once you learn the basic concepts, you can take it from one piece of gear to another. It may take some time but it does work.

3) Ask a direct question. Some answers require more questions to be answered. Provide specifics as requested and simply accept the answers.

But, in any case, I'll expect your next post here to make me an expert in ecomonics, OK?

 

[Dutch_T]

Silly, eh?

Seriously, Q&A format forums work best on a direct "Ask one direct queston, get one direct answer" style.

fou want to learn everything, well, you can't expect someone to type pages and pages about a subject at hand and, even if they did, odds are they wouldn't answer that one specific question you need answered.

You have several options. None of which will guaranee instant satisfaction:

1) Scan through a few pages odf forum posts and read tose that seem to be linked to what yu waht to know.

2) On the audioholics home page, ter eis a sectin called "AV University". Spend some time there. That's as close as you're going to get for a tutorial for the basic concepts. Once you learn the basic concepts, you can take it from one piece of gear to another. It may take some time but it does work.

3) Ask a direct question. Some answers require more questions to be answered. Provide specifics as requested and simply accept the answers.

But, in any case, I'll expect your next post here to make me an expert in ecomonics, OK?

You have to forgive me, but based on your tone I sense your position, and please allow me to reply: you didn't read it the right way.

1. I have no clue what the 'silly' refers to.
2. I didn't ask people to type pages full of explanation.
3. re (3). I asked a direct question: 'would anybody know a tutorial for the noob?'
4. I will again say : I will not spend months of time browsing through a zillion threads where all kinds of things are be written that are, or are not, true but which I can not understand because I have no clue about the context, the definitions. As an economist, I focus on efficiency. What you propose is by no means efficient, although it may be a nice hobby. Nothing against that, but there is a flip to that coin: you shouldn't object against people wanting to do something efficiently. Live and live.

You have to forgive me for my response, but then again, I only respond. Some call that 'stimulus - response'.

I guess I'll have to take my question elsewhere, because I feel some hostility in the air. No idea why, because I tried to be as friendly and politely as possible.

Finally, as to your last question, which appears cynical: I'd love to educate you about economics. But I am forbidden to do so by contract with the Dean's Office. You are welcome however to send in your submission, you never know, perhaps it even gets accepted.

Edit: I wrote here where I teach, until I realized I am not allowed to write about that in non-scientific fora, as to maintain the status of The University. So I deleted that. I'll leave the above, however, hoping the point gets through.

But from the hostility received I already know this is my last visit to this board; you have to forgive some people for wanting to do things efficiently.

Don't bother to respond: I won't be reading your replies.

 

[Grador]

You asked an extremely broad question that is impossible to answer. You were informed that the AV university is a good place to start.

The most efficient way to go about this really is to ask specific questions. People on this forum are very willing to guide you through things down to the most basic level. Explaining concept is far more difficult to go about than walking you through the practical application, especially given that none of us know your level of expertise and ability to grasp these concepts.

There is such a broad range of topics to go through that without some direction on your part its really hard to point you in the correct direction.

 

[markw]

My, my. Touchy, aren't we?

Interesting. I actually thought I was being pretty nice and quite helpful.

Don't we have a high opinion our own area of knowledge but hold other areas of expertise in such low esteem that you think years of experience can be neatly wrapped and packaged in a pamphlet to be absorbed in a matter of minutes.

Remember, "The Matrix" was a movie, not reality.

Tell your dentist that you have an electric drill, some drill bits, some dental picks, and some hard putty. Ask him if he can talk you through doing a root canal for your kids while you're at it.

As for "silly", ever hear of a dictionary, or even google?

 

[Grador]

Mark I thought you came across a touch gruff, but you didn't say anything wrong. It's a little difficult for me to understand why someone would think it's possible to give a primer on a very diverse topic without even knowing what the end intention is.

 

[markw]

Mark I thought you came across a touch gruff, but you didn't say anything wrong. It's a little difficult for me to understand why someone would think it's possible to give a primer on a very diverse topic without even knowing what the end intention is.

I thought I used a fairly illustrative, and humorus, example of the futility of the initial request. That exact wording has been used with other disciplines (not always by me) and the point was immediately obvious when it was used.

...Of course, they might not have had as high a hubris count as this one.

For one that uses so many words, it's amazing how little he actually says and comprehends.

 

[fuzz092888]

Don't bother to respond: I won't be reading your replies.

Then why is your green light on and it says you are viewing this thread?

I think that pretty aptly defines silly, at least in my book

 

[JerryLove]

I suppose we could have just responded "no". Answer the question asked.

 

[monkish54]

Here's how it goes, buddy:

We can't help you, unless you give us a problem to solve. You can ask a specific question, and we can tell you how to fix it AND help you understand it, but we can't write a book explaining every piece of audio knowledge we have, in hopes it will solve your mysterious problem.

 

[g0bez]

Not sure if this helps, but I only started in this whole home theater audio about 1 week ago. I had a starting point (the setup that I was looking at buying, but wanted to get opinions from others who have more knowledge/experience on this) and even though I was looking to buy an entire system on the budget that wouldn't even pay for most guys' cables/wire, a lot of people on this forum took the time to give me some really great advice... I then took their advice and evaluated it... picked it apart for things I didn't understand, and then asked more questions or researched until I understood.

This took hours... over the course of days.

When I was recommended two receivers (and found one on my own) I saw something I didn't understand, and googled it (or asked here, or better yet, searched these forums -- it is a gold mine!) For example, I had no idea how to properly evaluate/compare the power of amps (and what an amp even was, or why you'd want 7 instead of just 5) and what the ohms, watts, etc. even meant as it relates to audio.

And then once I had that down I could make a more informed decision... but then I didn't understand why not having a pre-amp is a deal breaker for some (wth is a pre amp anyhow?!) so I had to look *that* up... I'll say, it makes a lot of sense after I learned everything I mentioned in the first paragraph. (fwiw -- a 'pre amp out' is just a non-amplified signal output that you can then run through an external amp... gives you options for even more granular control and expansion).

And on it went... sound calibration... why do I want one version of sound calibration over another? (yah, a guy said I *did* want one over the other, but why? what he doesn't know me all that well and it actually doesn't make a difference to me? ...google to the rescue.) how much power do I need to drive the speakers I'm looking to get... and will I still be able to upgrade to nicer speakers later? what is the benefit of one set over another... etc.


Truth be told, I *really* enjoy this process, it is just in my nature -- I get completely absorbed in something until I feel like I understand it, and I absolutely enjoy 'binging' on information like that. I realize not everyone is like that. But you do have to jump in somewhere, and a subject like this (even if it were condensed into a primer) *will* take a time investment on your part. It is just *too* complex to approach half-assed.

I will say that just from what I've learned so far, the rabbit hole goes deeeeeeeep... so just pick one of the things you don't currently understand and ask questions until you figure it out. In a forum like this, I do think specific questions are best. And then you have to take it from there.

I will also say that the answers are out there, and aren't really that hard to find. Google... google, google, google... I'd wager that if you google "Home theater audio 101" you'll be well on your way. When you find something specific you don't understand and can't find a good answer to, come here and ask it. Dive in -- the water is nice.


As a *complete* newb myself, I can personally attest to the gracious nature of the community here... I've found them to be more than willing to answer my questions. I hope you can find the questions to evoke the same wealth of information here that I did.



I know you're looking for a tutorial, but to answer one of your questions (and I hope I have this right) crossover has to do with the range of frequency that one speaker will cover -- it is the range where multiple speakers overlap and then make the transition from one speaker to the next. Adjusting at what frequency that crossover takes place can make a difference... it gives you control over which speaker handles what range, and knowing which speaker handles specific frequencies better allows you to use each speaker at its optimal range.

 

[monkish54]

Not sure if this helps, but I only started in this whole home theater audio about 1 week ago.

Welcome to the audio world, my friend!

picked it apart for things I didn't understand, and then asked more questions or researched until I understood.

This took hours... over the course of days.

When I was recommended two receivers (and found one on my own) I saw something I didn't understand, and googled it (or asked here, or better yet, searched these forums -- it is a gold mine!)

That's how I did it.

Truth be told, I *really* enjoy this process, it is just in my nature -- I get completely absorbed in something until I feel like I understand it, and I absolutely enjoy 'binging' on information like that.

I am the exact same way.

It is just *too* complex to approach half-assed.

It really is!

I will say that just from what I've learned so far, the rabbit hole goes deeeeeeeep...

Verrrrrrrry.

so just pick one of the things you don't currently understand and ask questions until you figure it out.

I will also say that the answers are out there, and aren't really that hard to find. Google... google, google, google... I'd wager that if you google "Home theater audio 101" you'll be well on your way. When you find something specific you don't understand and can't find a good answer to, come here and ask it.

Good advice.

I know you're looking for a tutorial, but to answer one of your questions (and I hope I have this right) crossover has to do with the range of frequency that one speaker will cover -- it is the range where multiple speakers overlap and then make the transition from one speaker to the next. Adjusting at what frequency that crossover takes place can make a difference... it gives you control over which speaker handles what range, and knowing which speaker handles specific frequencies better allows you to use each speaker at its optimal range.

You are correct. Couldn't have said it better myself. : )

 

[ARES24]

But so much is built on half-assed ambition!!!

I feel all injured parties deserve 1 e-hug!