Ron's Favorite Private Rooms + Systems of All Time

brad225

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Nov 22, 2012
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I prefer the fast light footed dynamics of hi eff, rather than trying to squeeze the cow through the meat grinder...
By being a non meat eater for 50+ years I will never look at my speakers the same. It will always be the sound of cows.:)
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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It seems to me, members when discussing why they like a new componant or a system, in general look for similar attributes.

Low Distortion
Good dynamics
No grain or hash
No fatigue
Cant pinpoint the speaker
Wide and tall soundstage
Full frequency bass and treble extension.
A relatively flat frequenxy response.

These are some of the most obvous attributes we aspire towards. I did not say Natural or organic or close to the real event. Those are too nebulous a term.

If I were to listen to a system that excelled at these basic attributes and it sounded "musical" to me, I would assume most others would too. I would share with others it was a great system. A favorite of mine.

Sorry, this is different. You are listing a system with great properties and saying you liked it and it sounded musical to you. Then you should, of course, state you like it and recommend it to others for listening.

Why would you like a system that lacked many attributes you desired, or had an attribute you hated? What you are saying is the obvious. That is not what Ron said.
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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I wonder what Ron would think about a Decware Zen amp driving a single full range driver in an appropriate sized room with proper setup and treatments.

More interesting would be walking Ron into a space blindfolded, then setting him into the chair and letting him listen.

My point is that peoples perception of what is your favorite might be heavily influenced by the atmosphere of the room. Its pretty easy to see a large rack of gear in a big fancy room and believe what you are hearing is great. Visual esthetic may be the single largest hindrance to finding the sound one truely likes. That and price of equipment. The oll perception that if it cost more its better.
 

Audiohertz2

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Kingrex

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Sorry, this is different. You are listing a system with great properties and saying you liked it and it sounded musical to you. Then you should, of course, state you like it and recommend it to others for listening.

Why would you like a system that lacked many attributes you desired, or had an attribute you hated? What you are saying is the obvious. That is not what Ron said.
I am not sure how you come to this conclusion this is not how Ron came to the list. I don't think I have seen Ron break each system down for what it does. But that does not mean his perception of what he feels he and.others would like does not encompass a system that has attributes as such. But that is something Ron needs to tell us.

I apologize up front if Ron clearly stated what each system does and how that influenced his rating. Maybe I missed that.
 

Kingrex

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Speaking of a special room :)

Thats an example of a room someone might walk into and your perceptions are profoundly shaped by what you see. Not necessarily what you hear.
 

bonzo75

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I am not sure how you come to this conclusion this is not how Ron came to the list. I don't think I have seen Ron break each system down for what it does. But that does not mean his perception of what he feels he and.others would like does not encompass a system that has attributes as such. But that is something Ron needs to tell us.

I apologize up front if Ron clearly stated what each system does and how that influenced his rating. Maybe I missed that.

he indicated some might be his preferences some might be others. It is not clear these are his favourites
 

tima

Industry Expert
Mar 3, 2014
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That's the point. If it would be just Ron's opinions on Ron's favorite rooms, there would be no objections. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as you say.

The objections arose from extending the term "favorite" to something not applicable, as discussed.

exactly. Each is entitled to his own opinion about his personal preferences. It is when someone arrrogates fore-knowledge of other's opinions that it becomes presumptive of the authority to make such judgements.
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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Why is this so spun up over if Ron likes it personally or if he feels its something most people would like.

I do wish there was more detail about what goes into these systems. How the room was built. What is the electrical supply. How was the internet handled. What is the racking and footers/isolation. Gear.
Then, what sonic attributes are apparent that make it stand out. He could then explain what he likes and what others might like. Currently the focus is far from what makes these rooms a part of his list. Its useless hot air.
 

Mike Lavigne

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Apr 25, 2010
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exactly. Each is entitled to his own opinion about his personal preferences. It is when someone arrrogates fore-knowledge of other's opinions that it becomes presumptive of the authority to make such judgements.
not sure that Ron holds himself apart or above others (arrogates?) in his knowledge of 'other's' preferences. although he likely sees himself as more unique in his personal preferences, hence is aware more of the offset/correction for where he is not mainstream in his preferences. acknowledges where other might go. so adjusts for his differences; likely his rough edges have been ground down.. he sees a bigger picture. nothing new for him.

but nothing arrogant about it comparatively. not that feathers are not ruffled. he has not come up with an acronym for mainstream.

friends I most often listen with have somewhat different sonic compasses than myself. and over the years I can recognize systems that appeal more to them, or systems they might not care for as much as I do. and we acknowledge systems that might please either of us and value those attributes even if not quite one our personal priorities. over time we seem to be more alike in our preferences, which started out just with a respect for the differences. we evolve.
 

bonzo75

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not sure that Ron holds himself apart or above others (arrogates?) in his knowledge of 'other's' preferences. although he likely sees himself as more unique in his personal preferences, hence is aware more of the offset/correction for where he is not mainstream in his preferences. acknowledges where other might go. so adjusts for his differences. he sees a bigger picture. nothing new for him.

but nothing arrogant about it comparatively. not that feathers are not ruffled. he has not come up with an acronym for mainstream.

friends I most often listen with have somewhat different sonic compasses than myself. and over the years I can recognize systems that appeal more to them, or systems they might not care for as much as I do. and we acknowledge systems that might please either of us and value those attributes even if not quite one our personal priorities. over time we seem to be more alike in our preferences, which started out just with a respect for the differences. we evolve.

lol this is a much better rational explanation of Ron’s objective then Ron himself gave
 

cjfrbw

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Apr 20, 2010
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LOL! To add the keelhauling, I doubt that Ron would ever visit a DIY guy's basement irregular montage or 'ugly' system even if it sounded great. Favorites will be 1. Clean and orderly as a showroom and visually neat or pretty 2. Bigga Badda 3. Expensivo 4. Consisting mostly if not all of currently commercially available brand name top end merchandise 5. Antiseptically correct to the extent it is possible to be so 6. Polite and diplomatic to said systems 7. Tilted toward the mutual admiration society buddy systems of high end audio 8. Geared toward 'accepted' mainstream audio commercial mythologies

So, to the extent of the obvious filters, I am sure that the opinions are otherwise sincere. That doesn't mean they aren't useful or interesting, that kind of audio tourism IS fun. I wouldn't mind doing it for a while as a luxury ride.

It is like Kedar. It is probably a lot of fun to BE Kedar. However, trying to extract meaningful advice is like untangling a whirling dervish in a cotton candy factory. Still, I would love to BE Kedar for a couple of weeks/months with all the plane tickets and cushy audiophile systems to audition. After all, the reports are fun and consist mainly of ENTERTAINMENT not brain surgery, as Nelson Pass likes to say.
 

bonzo75

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LOL! To add the keelhauling, I doubt that Ron would ever visit a DIY guy's basement irregular montage or 'ugly' system even if it sounded great. Favorites will be 1. Clean and orderly as a showroom and visually neat or pretty 2. Bigga Badda 3. Expensivo 4. Consisting mostly if not all of currently commercially available brand name top end merchandise 5. Antiseptically correct to the extent it is possible to be so 6. Polite and diplomatic to said systems 7. Tilted toward the mutual admiration society buddy systems of high end audio 8. Geared toward 'accepted' mainstream audio commercial mythologies
Well summarised.
 
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bonzo75

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However, trying to extract meaningful advice is like untangling a whirling dervish in a cotton candy factory.
you are not reading between the lines correctly then. For me, a lot of it is cotton Candy (cheap sugar), and very few those are

 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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I doubt that Ron would ever visit a DIY guy's basement irregular montage or 'ugly' system even if it sounded great.

A DIY system constructed by a hobbyist is totally eligible for this list and tiering system. My only hesitation in traveling long distance to hear a DIY system is that I think it would be of relatively less interest than a system composed either of commercially available new components or of available used or vintage components because a DIY system has less general interest and less informational transferability.

I don't really care what a system looks like. I think David's Bionors are not in high-end furniture grade condition. He has a huge rat's nest of cables. It never occurred to me to care about those aspects.
 

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