Both. I can't listen to flat compressed recordings distracting me from the music with booming bass, or lack of bass, and/or spiky fatiguing harsh sounds. I would rather listen on basic Bose speakers or car stereo. I remember Ron's speaker system on his swimming pool was much better than many hifi systems, that time he did not have his stereo, but I won't be surprised if it is way more emotional than his stereo.
WHY are high-efficiency speakers are better at conveying emotion of music vs. audiophile vocabulary?
- Thread starter caesar
- Start date
OK I understand what you mean your main system really pokes you in the eye making the recording short comings more obvious. Trust me I have the same issues sometimes where I am scratching my head wondering production values chosen aside from the obvious loudness wars.
Ok so you are restricting the available music for your main system based on recording fidelity. Self imposed "fidelity gate". The way the music is recorded is part of the package. I can hear the issues but if I like the music I can tolerate the warts.
Rob
Last edited:
...driving around with family, listening to AM radio in the 60s was amazing. Motown. Bubble-gum pop. Rock. Emotional connections with music formed that would carry me through my life. A basic love of music. Many styles of music.
Into my teens, a little blue Panasonic cassette player carried the day. Much later, a TT integrated amp and speakers bought with house-painting money.
My current system sounds amazing to me, and is beyond what I could have imagined in the 60s.
But to say I need my "today" system to truly enjoy music, or that my "today" system conveys more emotion than music from days past on my own musical timeline, seems missing some fundamental understanding of the connection of music and emotion, to me.
I really enjoy my system and the detail and energy far exceeds AM radio output from the 60s, or my old 70s systems, but I don't think I could determine which point in time evoked more emotion for me.
Deep Purple "Made in Japan" hit the US in 1973 and it was awesome on my mini cassette player. Whoah! "Smoke on the Water" you betcha.
Into my teens, a little blue Panasonic cassette player carried the day. Much later, a TT integrated amp and speakers bought with house-painting money.
My current system sounds amazing to me, and is beyond what I could have imagined in the 60s.
But to say I need my "today" system to truly enjoy music, or that my "today" system conveys more emotion than music from days past on my own musical timeline, seems missing some fundamental understanding of the connection of music and emotion, to me.
I really enjoy my system and the detail and energy far exceeds AM radio output from the 60s, or my old 70s systems, but I don't think I could determine which point in time evoked more emotion for me.
Deep Purple "Made in Japan" hit the US in 1973 and it was awesome on my mini cassette player. Whoah! "Smoke on the Water" you betcha.
You hit the nail on 2 of my points, and maybe even made another one. When you say:
we care about sound, to the point where it can spoil appreciation of the music.
I am interpreting your meaning we need a good system or we find the sound spoiled. But many times we go the opposite way and spoil the intent of the music fussing over the sound rather than listening. Your so intent of the this or that that you forget to appreciate what Chopin wrote.
This is probably one of the reason I was so drawn to the Led Zeppelin video. I was watching the artist and seeing how they worked together. I was not only hearing, but visually witnessing their craft. Computer speakers were all I needed to hear the music.
Video was helping in this instance.
Your current state of the art digital-only system can't compete with a portable tape deck? Now that I can understand.
I do notice the better my system, the more I notice compression and poor recordings. And I do to some extent play poor recordings less. At least with classical where I can find a good recording of the same piece. Carol King Tapestry bothers me as I like the album, but I have never heard a good recording of it.
Personal comment directed at another member deleted.
Last edited by a moderator:
That's a bit of a trap don't you think? Are you in it for the music or chasing some unattainable goal? Reminds me of upgrade fever where you constantly swap gear or change directions. The idea that the music isn't good enough to play on my uber tweaked system rubs against the grain to me.
As a DIY builder I have continuously done driver upgrades to existing systems or built new ones so have been in and understand the trap in that respect. I still have and listen to my first systems. As I see it as the system isn't good enough not the other way round YMMV
Rob
Currently I have Bose 301 and $115 Fosi streaming amp. Works great. Fine living room system.That's a bit of a trap don't you think? Are you in it for the music or chasing some unattainable goal? Reminds me of upgrade fever where you constantly swap gear or change directions. The idea that the music isn't good enough to play on my uber tweaked system rubs against the grain to me.
As a DIY builder I have continuously done driver upgrades to existing systems or built new ones so have been in and understand the trap in that respect. I still have and listen to my first systems. As I see it as the system isn't good enough not the other way round YMMV
Rob
I am also modifying my speaker. Getting a much nicer horn than the one that came with it.
Subjectively yes, we all imagine whatever we like. And we all do! But the question is more about if high efficiency systems can objectively capture more emotion due to their design.
Let me post a quote from Art Dudley that greatly shaped my thinking and subsequent audio experiences:
"...
In the years since the Klipschorn's debut, loudspeaker technology has progressed in many ways. Speakers that sound timbrally neutral and uncolored are much more common today, as are speakers with consistent and effective dispersion across their operating range. Thanks to the pioneering work of people like Jon Dahlquist, Jim Thiel, Richard Vandersteen, and John Fuselier, physical time alignment of drivers in a dynamic loudspeaker system is virtually a given these days, and the problem of baffle edge diffraction has been identified and smacked upside the head. The result is a great selection of loudspeakers that offer apparently flat frequency response, superb stereo imaging, and great airiness and transparency.
And what did we give up to gain such easy access to all those things? Natural-sounding dynamics. Impact. Pluck. Snap. Body—especially body. And soul."
"...
In the years since the Klipschorn's debut, loudspeaker technology has progressed in many ways. Speakers that sound timbrally neutral and uncolored are much more common today, as are speakers with consistent and effective dispersion across their operating range. Thanks to the pioneering work of people like Jon Dahlquist, Jim Thiel, Richard Vandersteen, and John Fuselier, physical time alignment of drivers in a dynamic loudspeaker system is virtually a given these days, and the problem of baffle edge diffraction has been identified and smacked upside the head. The result is a great selection of loudspeakers that offer apparently flat frequency response, superb stereo imaging, and great airiness and transparency.
And what did we give up to gain such easy access to all those things? Natural-sounding dynamics. Impact. Pluck. Snap. Body—especially body. And soul."
Mike, yes, I agree that not everyone will buy their home just to accommodate an audio system. But I have had family members buy high quality speakers after they experienced mine...
But I am addressing this from a different perspective...this hobby is based on music and most products in this industry JUST SUCK!!!!
If a speaker or system cannot change how people feel - more than just hearing sounds when people listen to it, these musical experiences can help people live a richer and more meaningful life. Which should be every human's goal, IMO.
Yet look, a lot of these alter kakers in the hobby, guys who have been in the hobby for a long time, got acclimated to certain types of sound, and it's mostly a hifi sound. Many don't even realize it. It's like being in a stinking bathroom or a flower shop for a long time. This hifi sound gets championed by hobbyist press and dealers and forums and by many pathetic / clueless YouTube guys.
Yet other than a small number of guys already in this hobby and OLD, no one really craves the products offered by this hobby. And the products that get championed can’t frequently even get Patricia Barbara and Diana sound good. However, most people could care less about Patricia or Diana.
People should not retrain their musical taste to enjoy this hobby!
On the contrary, think of Apple. Steve Jobs and Apple strategy was built around an understanding that people don’t just buy computers anymore. People want to know what they can do with them.
Apple stores are not stocked with products. Instead, they are discovery centers that show people what Apple products could help them become . Increasing sales and growth is actually a byproduct of understanding and giving people what they really want . The products should solve the customers’ problem- deliver bliss and state of flow on the music they enjoy! Hence, I believe we need better products!
Interestingly, people who are intellectually self impressed , and been in this hobby for so long , don’t seem to get this. They get excited over a few hundred extra attendees at an audio show , like the sad axpona, while not understanding how friggin pathetic that audio show is, playing Patricia and Diana and Annie's "liberty sweet liberty", is to anyone other than the pitiful alter kakers that usually attend those and are impressed with them.
Telling people what to believe and how they should feel and what to buy may have worked the 80s but it’s not working so well now. Hence, again, I think we need better products that can deliver on the customers' goals and make their lives richer and more meaningful!
Similar threads
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |