Natural Sound

Marc, it is a hobby. Have some fun! Each of us makes choices and our systems end up sounding quite different. Do you really think everyone’s target is “sonically invisible”?
Now you're confusing me. You're in favour of a system that allows the music to speak for itself, does not impose any character on the music, no tonal homogeneity, dynamically unfettered.
That *wouldn't* be described as sonically invisible?
 
And the reference to natural, over and over again, remains circular. I don't know anyone in this hobby who wouldn't use this term, wouldn't have it as an objective. No-one here is aiming for unnatural. Everyone thinks they have a natural sound.

On the contrary, I am extremely proud of my UnNatural Sound (TM).
 
Now you're confusing me. You're in favour of a system that allows the music to speak for itself, does not impose any character on the music, no tonal homogeneity, dynamically unfettered.
That *wouldn't* be described as sonically invisible?

Marc, I mentioned your phrase “sonically invisible”. I rarely use the word, transparency or transparent. I use the word natural. It refers to the perception from the listening seat and the listening experience in the room and references, live music as a guide and target. I want the system to be revealing, but I never claim I want no character from the system. I haven’t given that much thought.

You’re conflating my target of natural sound with whatever everyone else wants. I don’t really know what others want, except for a few friends. I’m simply describing my target and how I achieved it. You and everyone else, of course can make your own choices and pursue the hobby as you want. If you listen to 10 different systems, surely they sound different. It’s hard to conclude as you do that everyone wants the same thing. Ron started a whole thread about individual audio file different goals. It’s clear to me from listening to various systems and talking to people in the hobby that people have different goals and some don’t clearly articulate what they are.

I think you are confused precisely because you make assumptions about what each of us wants. Or you’re confused about my goals for my system and conflating that somehow with what others want. The hobby is richer and more diverse than that.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for confirming the obvious. Perhaps Marc can now appreciate that people have different goals.

Hehe. I guess I need to put emojis behind some of my posts ;).
 
When you come to this conclusion by swapping a cable in your system, then you know you have a problem with your system (or your hearing).


Do you really believe that a cable manufacturer can “tune” a cable to decrease the midrange and give the impression of more detail? This is complete nonsense.

This type of frequency manipulation can be done with speakers, obviously, and it is very simple to check with a frequency response curve. Try to compare the frequency response of two cables and get back to me if you can see a difference on a graph!

Whether you get more information or detail (same thing) from your system is the result of an infinite number of factors. Karen Sumner’s explanation are nonsense and just written to stroke those who believe they are “true” audiophiles (and not just hi-fi enthusiasts) :)

Well, I think you are addressing mainly semantics - the words used by Karen Sumner are subjective and IMO your interpretation of them is different from her intention. I would suggest that you wire an well balanced system with Transparent Audio Opus cables and next with Nordost Vallhalla (complete looms, not just a cable). Next describe the difference with your words. I did such comparison and I can easily understand what she means with her words. And yes, I consider that I am a "true" audiophile, or at less I try to be it.
 
Actually, in your above quote of Karen Sumner she does *not* seem to draw a distinction between detail and information. This does not mean she equates the two (she certainly does not, at least not explicitly), but I don't believe her quote serves the purpose that you think it does.

(Having said that, I agree with her thoughts about tonal density and artificially stripping it in order to hear more "detail".)

Very good point. Karen Sumner quote just added a diversion to the subject.
 
Well, I think you are addressing mainly semantics - the words used by Karen Sumner are subjective and IMO your interpretation of them is different from her intention. I would suggest that you wire an well balanced system with Transparent Audio Opus cables and next with Nordost Vallhalla (complete looms, not just a cable). Next describe the difference with your words. I did such comparison and I can easily understand what she means with her words. And yes, I consider that I am a "true" audiophile, or at less I try to be it.

You tell me I am a asdressing semantics then proceed to explain that cables can make or break the “tonal density” of a system. As I said, if this is what you experience then there is something very wrong with your system. Then again, I would bet anything that your cable swap would go unnoticed in a blind test!
 
You tell me I am a asdressing semantics then proceed to explain that cables can make or break the “tonal density” of a system. As I said, if this is what you experience then there is something very wrong with your system.

Thanks for telling me that my system, as well as 99.99% of the audiophile systems, are very wrong.

BTW IMO the key words in describing "tonal density" are "well-integrated overtones", "midrange weight" and "saturation". Probably we have different views on "tonal density" and this helps explaining our divergence.

My experience allowed me to understand Karen Sumner words and intention. Just wanted to share it with others.
 
BTW IMO the key words in describing "tonal density" are "well-integrated overtones", "midrange weight" and "saturation". Probably we have different views on "tonal density" and this helps explaining our divergence.
I'll stick to resolution, frequency response, and dynamics. The rest is intellectual masturbation :)
 
The subject at that moment was the distinction between detail and information. You were asked to elaborate on your comment and we are still waitlist for your response.

My apologies, I addressed the subject so many times in threads about the formats (tape, vinyl and digital) that I became tired of it. I will be back to it later. The main idea is that sometimes detail can enhance or mask information.
 
I know you were teasing about the trade mark. How are your experiments with speaker position and acoustic treatments progressing?

Hehe. They're doing great, I'll tell you all about it next time...
 
You tell me I am a asdressing semantics then proceed to explain that cables can make or break the “tonal density” of a system. As I said, if this is what you experience then there is something very wrong with your system. Then again, I would bet anything that your cable swap would go unnoticed in a blind test!
So, you are a cable denier?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: andromedaaudio
(...) Then again, I would bet anything that your cable swap would go unnoticed in a blind test!

You should learn what is a proper blind yest and its purpose.

I'll stick to resolution, frequency response, and dynamics. The rest is intellectual masturbation :)

You should also add this last sentence, exactly as arrogantly stated, to your WBF signature. It will save our time.
 
You should also add this last sentence, exactly as arrogantly stated, to your WBF signature. It will save our time.

“Well-integrated overtones, saturation, and midrange weight”

Maybe you should put that in your signature. It sounds very sophisticated. Or maybe state that your cables let you listen to music not hifi. I promise, you won’t sound arrogant.
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing