What is "better" sound to you?

[DigiPete]

Why is the sound of one device better than the other?

Is it because it has more detail?

Less distortion?

Better frequency balance?

Something else?

That is a much tougher question to answer than it would seem to be on the surface.

 

 

Technology is but a means to an end.

 

I do think we hear differently and thus have different preferences.

Probably caused by a combination of: room, experience and training.

 

 

I'll break My Personal view and preference down for you.

 

 

Where?

 

I want the musicians right there in my living room, i.e.:

 

- Holographic imaging

- Completely natural sound

- No traces of the real room

- No traces of the system

 

OK, that's the ideal state of things.

 

 

What?

 

- The room and the rig needs to play together as one instrument.

- The sweet spot need to be rater wide as I'm a sociable guy.

- Allow the best possible music source

 

Rig.

 

- Full frequency system (20hz to 20khz minimum)

- Frequency and impulse response adopted to best possible in the room.

- Low total system distortion

- Low total system noise

- As many channels/speakers as possible.

- Wide imaging speakers / excellent directivity within +/- 30 deg. horizontal / +/- 20 deg. vertical

- Minimum resonance and difraction (no square speakers)

 

Room

 

- Good placement of speakers and listeners

- Small enough to tame lower freq.

- Dimensions sufficiently different to distribute resonances.

- First reflections absorbed and/or sufficient delayed

- Bass absorbing furniture, shelves and treatment

 

 

How?

 

Rig.

 

- Designed to be a system by experts/manufacturer

- Using DSP to design optimum frequency & impulse response and timing

- Digital files as prime source - surround preferred.

- Fully Active & Digital Design: One DAC - per One AMP - per One driver

- Co-axial mids and high drivers in directivity waveguide for perfect imaging

 

Room

 

- Soft furniture only.

- Lots of shelves with records, books and stuff.

- Rugs on the floor.

- Rear wall half open to distribute low freq. resonances.

 

 

Your preferences may lead you to entirely different Rigs & Rooms.

Hence, I don't think there is a straight answer to your question.

 

Most of the industry hates or ignores my preferences and findings.

May they rest in peace.

[DigiPete]

I went to a demonstration at my local dealers.

 

Three brand spanking new Lyngdorf TDAI2170 digital amps with RoomPerfect correction was demoed with with an assortment of B&W's.

 

I never liked B&W's much, I think they are over priced, power hungry and over hyped (PR wise).

Still, it should be a good listen with interested people.

And I have been impressed by Steinway - Lyngdorf entry level system on numerous occasions.

USD 25.000,- from signal to speaker system.

 

I took a stick with some favourites of mine - good music well recorded.

 

It sounded awful - or really rely terrible.

 

- The rooms were challenging (hard, too small and/or wrong dimensions)

- The speakers were too hungry for the souped-down amps

- No extension to the lower registers.

 

No blame on the equipment, we were just asking too much of it.

 

It really dawned on me how lucky I am.

To have a home suitable and equipment capable.

To have found something that fits me.

To enjoy sound that pleases me every day.

 

I wish that for every single one of you!