« Just another tune… »
I am once again listening music for hours without recognizing some of my favorites.
It’s maybe just matter of taste but god I have lost years of good stereo sound with my old Denon. This Yamaha doesn’t stop to amaze me.
Gene can’t ruin my happiness with 20000% THD measurements , all I hear makes me smile.
Can’t wait to beef my lows in stereo with a sub…
Multi quotes I don't get too well and this is why I reply separately to these posts. Forgive me.
This is just my opinion and I do not say it to offend anyone...
Test equipment and specifications are sure great and lots of other things, too. lets just discuss a few.
Looks good on paper
Manufacturers may or may not like? But sales people cannot stop showing you that 0.000007% THD, etc.
We have the best DAC's and processors with specifications even an Engineer, like myself currently retired, is unable to comprehend. Well, I guess you get my point. I have found that the only TEST EQUIPMENT that should and REALLY matters, is the one we all have. This is what it is:
For Audio Equipment: YOUR EARS
For Video Equipment: YOUR EYES
For Both.... EYES/EARS..... and that's you my friend, you don't have to go out and buy anything and let another tell you how it sounds and shows. You are the Master who can judge for yourself.
Good reviews are worth the most here, but you have to take it for what it is; someone else's opinion. Some people are quite biased and some are truthful. I do not profess to be a Pro in this Audio/Video, however, I do know what I like and what I want, and I want the simplest way to achieve it. In the old days when I used to have my Stereo Receivers and amps etc. You had physical audio Graphic and Parametric equalizers. You had Companders/Expanders like the dBX. They added colors and looked good in a rack, but simpler is best. I still have these in my garage collecting dust (covered). That's history... but when some people speak of the good old days and that's like 20 to 25 years ago, its a laugh. My Dad was into Music and reasonably decent equipment. In the 70's, I started buying my own Stereo stuff as a teen and never stopped. You can say that music was in my bones. " I still love bone rattling bass".
Back to reality: Friends do not depend on YPAO, AUDYSSEY, DIRAC, REW or any of the others that are out there being sold by the various competing companies. Sure they equalize your Room, but they end up taking away lots of good Frequencies etc. A computer makes calculations and fools us into believing that this or that is good for us. Well, lets wake up, you are the only one that can judge that. This is one fact why most of us are lacking BASS after the darn Auto configuration. It does not even get the Large/Small speaker Crossover thing right either. (Another topic that most will battle for eternity) Not important as I always set this myself anyways. I will recommend one thing for you AV guys/gals. Just get a reasonably good SPL METER. I like the old analog ones because the meter is much more pleasing to my eyes and to me, accurate. (well, easier). If you can get your hands on an old Radio Shack one on eBay... go for it.
This is my way to get my system to sound how I like it. I always say that you'll never have 2 or 3 or 4 Sweet Spots as it is not possible. However, you can still enjoy the sound from various locations, but it will never be the same. If you sit in the middle of your HT room and you have a 2 seater couch approximately 4 feet wide. Then 2 persons, possibly 3, with a little wider chair will be able to get the full potential of your calibration for HT and Stereo. Some at the sides and other areas can still get enjoyment from it, too, only they'll hear things even you at the center may not and vise versa. This is the same for a tv, you may spend weeks calibrating it, even ISF standards, but the view angle changes every time you move location.
The reason I am checking out the 8500 for myself is simply because my brother in law bought it and want me to set it up for him. He got brainwashed by You Tube and want "THE VOICE OF GOD". Well, its a good thing because I get to test it out.
I am now dizzy typing so much and need some coffee. Thanks for indulging me, and remember, no offence to anyone.
regards.