2011 California Audio Show

[tube fan]

That point only makes sense if the source music was originally live and unamplified... Which it usually isn't...




If all someone listens to is rock and their setup sounds like a rock concert, then it doesn't matter what live, unamplified music sounds like on that system... Absolute Sound by your definition is mostly irrelevant...

Several years ago I went to audition a pair of Magnepan speakers at a dealer in Toronto (as you no doubt know; Maggie is a top choice for lovers of live acoustic / classical music). With my favourite albums, the Maggies were the worst sounding hifi speakers I had ever heard (even up to today). The dealer then introduced me to the Revel Concerta and Performa lines and I was in love with what they did with my favorite albums.... So even if Maggies sound closer to the Absolute Sound by your measures, I would never buy them... At the end of the day, we have to live with our system and our tastes... Personal preference is what really matters in HiFi...

This is epistemological nonsense! Without some kind of objective goal or standard, audio knowledge is impossible. BTW, all the Magnepan speakers I have ever heard fail in tonal decay, micro dynamics and bass. Plus, they are horrible at anything other than high SPLs. Plus, they don't really tolerate really high SPLs (a very small sweet spot for the Magnepans). All the Revel speakers I have heard are more accurate (taking everything into account) than any Magnepan. Electrostatics, on the other hand, can sound accurate in tonal decay and micro dynamics. Plus, they sound great at low SPLs.

[Ajani]

This is epistemological nonsense! Without some kind of objective goal or standard, audio knowledge is impossible.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that one... I understand the logic of objective standards, however I don't agree with your choice of standard and neither does the Revel design team BTW:

http://seanolive.blogspot.com/2010/0...listening.html

BTW, all the Magnepan speakers I have ever heard fail in tonal decay, micro dynamics and bass. Plus, they are horrible at anything other than high SPLs. Plus, they don't really tolerate really high SPLs (a very small sweet spot for the Magnepans). All the Revel speakers I have heard are more accurate (taking everything into account) than any Magnepan. Electrostatics, on the other hand, can sound accurate in tonal decay and micro dynamics. Plus, they sound great at low SPLs.

Well at least we agree here...