Visit to Boston to Hear the Sublime Sound of PeterA

[morricab]

Microstrip and Brad: I think I heard you both mentioning diffusion on lateral walls to widen the lateral image. This is important information for me. Please could you expand on this or share some experiences or tips

Cheers

Sorry, Bill it wasn’t me; however, what Ked said is worth a try. Diffusion is often better than absorption to expand the soundstage

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I once compared three rare and expensive violins with a cheap modern one ( my ex is a first chair violinist). I also recorded here on R2R tape playing Paganini Caprices on a Strad. I consider solo violin a good test of all but bass.

Yes agreed Brad. It certainly says a lot to me.

 

[microstrip]

Microstrip and Brad: I think I heard you both mentioning diffusion on lateral walls to widen the lateral image. This is important information for me. Please could you expand on this or share some experiences or tips

Cheers

This effect is fully addressed in the F. Toole book and the S. Linkwitz site I referred. I attach a summary from an F. Toole article.

In an anechoic chamber, unless phase information is added to the recording, the image just moves between the speakers according to the intensity and pitch - something we usually do not like! However, for some sound engineers an highly absorptive room is a must to get pin point imaging and no distractions!

But not all people agree on diffusion - for example Wilson Audio advises against any diffusion or absorption in the speaker zone.

 

[microstrip]

I once compared three rare and expensive violins with a cheap modern one ( my ex is a first chair violinist). I also recorded here on R2R tape playing Paganini Caprices on a Strad. I consider solo violin a good test of all but bass.

It depends on what you mean by a good test. IMHO we are debating sound reproduction, not the quality of violins, and listening tests carried with such recordings are too personnel and mainly show how the system complements the deficiencies of this particular recording technique and conditions.

The fact that you praise this kind of test can help to understand your personnel preferences, biases and choices. Mine are created by listening mainly at row F - H.

 

[morricab]

It depends on what you mean by a good test. IMHO we are debating sound reproduction, not the quality of violins, and listening tests carried with such recordings are too personnel and mainly show how the system complements the deficiencies of this particular recording technique and conditions.

The fact that you praise this kind of test can help to understand your personnel preferences, biases and choices. Mine are created by listening mainly at row F - H.

I think it is pretty clear what I mean by a good test. I am also debating sound reproduction and the quality needed to have not only a believable violin sound but the ability to differentiate different violins, bows and even technique. I made my own recordings that I can reference against the real thing.

It is not clear what the last statements you make mean or the point you are trying to make, which such recordings are too personal? Home made ones? Solo violin recordings in general, what?

 

[Audiophile Bill]

This effect is fully addressed in the F. Toole book and the S. Linkwitz site I referred. I attach a summary from an F. Toole article.

In an anechoic chamber, unless phase information is added to the recording, the image just moves between the speakers according to the intensity and pitch - something we usually do not like! However, for some sound engineers an highly absorptive room is a must to get pin point imaging and no distractions!

But not all people agree on diffusion - for example Wilson Audio advises against any diffusion or absorption in the speaker zone.

Dear Microstrip,

Thanks - I will take a detailed read this evening.

 

[bazelio]

Me too but I bought a Tascam DR-100 MkIII (very nice handheld recorder...no video) and record at 24/96 PCM wav files. It has a nice pair of built-in condesor mics. You learn a lot when played back through some high quality headphones.

I also think you can hear really a lot on some YouTube videos.

+1

I find the AV Showroom videos to be useful. I don't know which mic he uses, but it is very consistent from video to video. I prefer to rip to WAV and play through my DAC in the main rig. And I would completely agree that you can easily pick out many attributes of the system in use, especially when you own the same LP and can play it back as a direct compare. This is what I was doing with Tang's videos (converted to audio) yesterday. It's very easy to hear the way his system renders the piano with incredible detail that surpasses mine. It's not possible to get a sense of stage width/depth and subtleties are often missed, but at a macro level things like resolution and tone generally do come through.

The Tascam DR-100 looks useful. We should put together a WBF group purchase and start a thread.

 

[morricab]

+1

I find the AV Showroom videos to be useful. I don't know which mic he uses, but it is very consistent from video to video. I prefer to rip to WAV and play through my DAC in the main rig. And I would completely agree that you can easily pick out many attributes of the system in use, especially when you own the same LP and can play it back as a direct compare. This is what I was doing with Tang's videos (converted to audio) yesterday. It's very easy to hear the way his system renders the piano with incredible detail that surpasses mine. It's not possible to get a sense of stage width/depth and subtleties are often missed, but at a macro level things like resolution and tone generally do come through.

The Tascam DR-100 looks useful. We should put together a WBF group purchase and start a thread.

We recently did a multi-TT shootout by recording each one in the configuration desired and then playing them all back to back...this was a quite powerful way to compare and the TASCAM was super transparent to these differences in the TT setups. We were not playing through the speakers but taking the signal straight off the phonostage...it is better to limit the number of variables.

 

[microstrip]

(...) It is not clear what the last statements you make mean or the point you are trying to make, which such recordings are too personal? Home made ones? Solo violin recordings in general, what?

Home made ones, surely.

 

[bazelio]

We recently did a multi-TT shootout by recording each one in the configuration desired and then playing them all back to back...this was a quite powerful way to compare and the TASCAM was super transparent to these differences in the TT setups. We were not playing through the speakers but taking the signal straight off the phonostage...it is better to limit the number of variables.

Oh sure, to better isolate the TT, that's the way to do it. Mogami 2549 in to the Tascam. I'd love to hear Tang's carts directly off the EMT phono this way. Then, PCM playback through our DACs would be very revealing of cart differences.

PS The Tascam AKM AD with Velvet Sound gives me pause in regards to this particular recorder, though. The AKM Velvet Sound DACs are pretty soft.

 

[microstrip]

Oh sure, to better isolate the TT, that's the way to do it. Mogami 2549 in to the Tascam. I'd love to hear Tang's carts directly off the EMT phono this way. Then, PCM playback through our DACs would be very revealing of cart differences.

PS The Tascam AKM AD with Velvet Sound gives me pause in regards to this particular recorder, though. The AKM Velvet Sound DACs are pretty soft.

Yes, these would be very interesting recordings, particularly if we could get 192/24 flac's ...

 

[bazelio]

Yes, these would be very interesting recordings, particularly if we could get 192/24 flac's ...

I think it'd be 192/24 WAV (uncompressed).

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I think it'd be 192/24 WAV (uncompressed).

we need Apple/Samsung to design a phone and YouTube style 'ease of use' delivery system for those files too (not going to happen). mass market tools have mass market performance.

 

[morricab]

Oh sure, to better isolate the TT, that's the way to do it. Mogami 2549 in to the Tascam. I'd love to hear Tang's carts directly off the EMT phono this way. Then, PCM playback through our DACs would be very revealing of cart differences.

PS The Tascam AKM AD with Velvet Sound gives me pause in regards to this particular recorder, though. The AKM Velvet Sound DACs are pretty soft.

The feedback has been very positive on them though in the recording community. They didn't sound soft to me really. We also did some analog recording on a Nakamich ZX-9 and R2R (Teac something mid-80s...can't rememer the model) and honestly, the Tascam sounded more like what we heard listening directly to the vinyl.

 

[morricab]

we need Apple/Samsung to design a phone and YouTube style 'ease of use' delivery system for those files too (not going to happen). mass market tools have mass market performance.

www.wetransfer.com

You can send large, uncompressed files this way.

 

[audioquattr]

Great report Ron! Nice to see some more than just the system.
What a beautiful house and place to live, and a very nice system, congrats Peter.

 

[Woofer and Tweet]

I must have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, as I just came across Peter's beautiful home (and system). I love the discussions that have accompanied Ron's trip. Not only informative, but thought provoking.

Thanks Ron for this report, as well as Peter for allowing us to view something so wonderful.

 

[PeterA]

Thank you for the kind words, audioquattr and Woofer and Tweet. I have a wonderful few days introducing my system and neighborhood with Ron. These "member visits" are fun to read about.

 

[ddk]

Thank you for the kind words, audioquattr and Woofer and Tweet. I have a wonderful few days introducing my system and neighborhood with Ron. These "member visits" are fun to read about.

Been waiting to read something about your boat Peter, you guys didn't go sailing?

david

 

[Ron Resnick]

Been waiting to read something about your boat Peter, you guys didn't go sailing?

david

Peter graciously offered to take me on the boat. The first couple of days were too rainy or cold. The last full day saw perfect weather, but I wanted to take it easy and focus on Peter and Peter's system and have a relaxing last day.