What's holding you back?

[Feanor]

I am curious to know what other people feel are the two or three factors that most hindering their enjoyment of reproduced sound???

To be sure, there is lots of discussion of equipment and media. And for me there have been time when these things have been my biggest irritant. (Still is with my HT set-up where speaker quality awaits my time & money for a DIY project I have in mind). But where my main system is concerned they have cease to be the big thing (for now).

My list follow; let's see yours:

1. A distant first for me is recording quality. To be clear I'm not talking about medium, (vinyl vs. CD vs. high-res); good and bad recording exist on each. As a mainly classical listener, I'm looking for a realistic semblance of an actual ensemble performing in a good performance venue. Is this too much to ask? It isn't; and I can say the obviously because such recordings to exist. Just last night I listen to a good Naxos recording: Witold Lutoslawski's Symphony No. 3 and other works, 8.553423, (Antoni Witt/Polish National Radio Sym.Orch). This is an unexceptional recording in some ways; it is a standard Red Book CD that was recorded ten years ago and its reproduction of, e.g., string sound isn't as almost perfect as some SACDs I own. However it has the essential quality I mention above, plus more than decent performance I would say: recommend. By contrast, last night I also listened to Elgar's Enigma Variations and Pomp & Circumstance Marches on Sony Essential Classics, SBK-48 265, (Barenboim/LPO): murky, airless, and lacking in dynamics -- a disgraceful reproduction that does not do justice to these colorful works. (IMO, a second rate performance too especially of the Pomp & Circumstance.)
2. Second for me is my general listening environment. My main system is located where too much general household noise intrudes. Improvements will be difficult and costly.
3. Third is listening area itself. There are bass resonances and, I suspect, secondary reflects that are significantly detracting from idea frequency response.

You can see that my equipment is nothing special, barely beyond entry level, but I have no serious problem with it. The tube versus solid state and digital versus vinyl debates are farcical from my perspective. My SS equipment can reproduce the best CDs almost ideally -- apart from the factors I mention above.

[Wireworm5]

For me the limiting factor is the quality of the recording. I am fortunate that I lucked out on good room acoustically speakering. And I have the luxury of playing the tunes at loud volumes. With 9 speakers and a sub, a good remastered cd or DTS recording is as close to live as I can imagine. My best reference disc would be The Blue Man group Complex dvd, the 3 DTS tracks on side two. It is freaking awesome!!

[Kaboom]

certainly time.
I don't usually have the time to be able to sit for two hours or more and just LISTEN to music. hopefully when i've passed the 8 courses i failed i'll have a little more.
ATM, my speakers are definately pulling down the rest of the equipment. These will be replaced soon, but i had a string of expenses during the summer which has seriously hit my account.
Also lack of decent vinyl here in spain. The little vinyl there is are crappy spanish pressings which are usually very worn. on top of that, they are expensive. Not that getting decent pressings off ebay makes the situation any cheaper...
Oh yeah and in spain stuff like Porcupine Tree's back catalog or Wobbler's release are absolutely impossible to find. If it weren't because the economist says otherwise, i'd definately qualify spain as "third world".
Cheers!

[Florian]

Well to truly judge a recording one needs a reference system. Unfortunatly these are very rare. But the new recordings are generally not very good. Before i say all recordings are bad i have to establish a world reference. In order to get there i need the following

2x Modified Conrad Johnson P5's,
1x Modified Jadis P80
2x Krell Digital Active Crossovers specifically developed for my speakers
1x Krell X64 DAC
1x Goldmund CD63
1x 75m2 room, fully treated.
1x Forsel Airtight TT
1x Goldmund Ref.3 TT
1x Audio Reseatch Reference Phono

So the biggest thing standing in my way is the money. But its only a matter of time

[Feanor]

Well to truly judge a recording one needs a reference system. Unfortunatly these are very rare. But the new recordings are generally not very good. Before i say all recordings are bad i have to establish a world reference.
...
So the biggest thing standing in my way is the money. But its only a matter of time

Seriously, though ...

1. You don't actually need a "reference" system. My pile of crud is sufficient for the purpose;
2. Generally, newer recordings are better, at least in the classical genre.

Point 1 really gets to the root of the issue for me. Basically I can enjoy good recordings pretty much to their potential with what I've got; it's the good records that are too scarce.

[Florian]

I cheerfully disagree with you on point one, there are many recordings where i found nothing special about them until i heard them on the equipment mentioned above.

-Flo

[Feanor]

I cheerfully disagree with you on point one, there are many recordings where i found nothing special about them until i heard them on the equipment mentioned above.

-Flo

Equipment of sufficient quality can be a revelation. Indeed, that was the case for me when I when from NAD amp to my current Bel Canto.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I cheerfully disagree with you on point one, there are many recordings where i found nothing special about them until i heard them on the equipment mentioned above.

-Flo

Word on that Florian. To take your thoughts further, I think you need reference equipment, and a reference room.

[GMichael]

Seriously, though ...

1. You don't actually need a "reference" system. My pile of crud is sufficient for the purpose;
2. Generally, newer recordings are better, at least in the classical genre.

Point 1 really gets to the root of the issue for me. Basically I can enjoy good recordings pretty much to their potential with what I've got; it's the good records that are too scarce.

Crud? Can I have your hand-me-downs?

Time is the biggest hold back for me. That and the cash needed to buy some of the "crud" you don't like. Dibs on the planners......

[Feanor]

Crud? Can I have your hand-me-downs?

Time is the biggest hold back for me. That and the cash needed to buy some of the "crud" you don't like. Dibs on the planners......

Mine might be "crud" relative to Florian's stuff, but I do like it. Really, it was my main point that other stuff, not my equipment, that's restricting me.

[nightflier]

I used to have no time at all, regularly coming home 7-8pm at night and working weekends. Then I (ahem, we) had a baby and everything changed. We now have daily listening sessions together after work. It's not two hours, but it's the best time of the day. Music appreciation (and by extention the appreciation for quality equipment) is something we also have a responsibility to pass on.

My limiting factors are:

1. When listening to the radio and TV, commercials and lack of publicly accessible variety in programming (Sirius is fine, but it's expensive and still not commercial-free)

2. Diaper changes and feedings

3. The nagging feeling that a yet undiscovered but simple & inexpensive tweak could substancially improve the sound in my system

4. The fear that all my favorite quality recordings will go the way of the Dodo and be converted to compressed-low-quality-made-for-background-listening-online-only sound files (If Mappleshade sells out to iTunes, someone will have to shoot me)

[patch]

Seriously, though ...

1. You don't actually need a "reference" system. My pile of crud is sufficient for the purpose;
2. Generally, newer recordings are better, at least in the classical genre.

Point 1 really gets to the root of the issue for me. Basically I can enjoy good recordings pretty much to their potential with what I've got; it's the good records that are too scarce.

You owe it to yourself to audition some of Chesky's CD's and SACD's. These are truly awe inpiring recordings by a studio that pays attention to details. I've also had good luck with Mobile Fidelity.

[Feanor]

certainly time....Cheers!

Nevertheless I left it out my list of complaints.

I do you have an iPod Mini with decent AKG headphones that let's me enjoy music when I otherwise couldn't, e.g. commuting to work. Granted, the enjoyment is not as great.

[ToddL]

Mine is simple: It is me. Some days I can listen to 20 year old skipping records through by buddy's minisystem and I love it. Some days I can listen to $10,000 Klipsch Horns with NAD amplifier hooked up with well recorded music and I hate it. Your brain is what interpretes music and mine is very day-to-day.

[theaudiohobby]

What's holding me back

1. Room
2. Room
3. Room

A dedicated listening that is acoustically treated will greatly enhance my musical joyment.

[Feanor]

What's holding me back

1. Room
2. Room
3. Room

A dedicated listening that is acoustically treated will greatly enhance my musical joyment.

I lost my (semi-) dedicated listening room when we move to a smaller house about a year ago. Now the living room is doing double-duty as a listening room. My wife isn't super fussy and has no real problem with my Magneplanars in there -- thank goodness for that. However as I mentioned, household sounds are a big problem, especially TV and video for the nearby family room.

[gonefishin]

I am curious to know what other people feel are the two or three factors that most hindering their enjoyment of reproduced sound???

1. Lumbar surgery a month ago (l4,l5)
2. A two level cervical fusion next week

I've got a lot of the pieces downstairs waiting for me...but they've got just a bit longer to go. So I suppose I need a little more time. Soon though...soon

take care all>>>
dan

[Feanor]

1. Lumbar surgery a month ago (l4,l5)
2. A two level cervical fusion next week

...
dan

Best wishes for a successful procedure and quick recovery.

(I'll be facing a coronary artery by-pass operation in a few months.)

[Worf101]

1. Lumbar surgery a month ago (l4,l5)
2. A two level cervical fusion next week

I've got a lot of the pieces downstairs waiting for me...but they've got just a bit longer to go. So I suppose I need a little more time. Soon though...soon

take care all>>>
dan

Kinda puts it in perspective don't it. However, nothing like good, soothing quality music to speed and ease one's recovery eh wat? Get well and be well...

Da Worfster

[topspeed]

Hey Dan,
Best wishes for your surgery. I'm sure everything will be fine and now you can look forward to not enduring that constant pain you've suffered through.

On topic, my biggest problem is room and time. I don't think I'll be completely satisfied until I can have a dedicated music room with enough space for a dedicated 2 channel rig and my drum kits. This way, I can play whenever I want, as loud as I want, and not worry about bothering the wife and kids.

[thepogue]

Sorry to hear your backs in the dumps me friend....me prayers to ya!!! Get well soon!!!

Peace, Pogue

1. Lumbar surgery a month ago (l4,l5)
2. A two level cervical fusion next week

I've got a lot of the pieces downstairs waiting for me...but they've got just a bit longer to go. So I suppose I need a little more time. Soon though...soon

take care all>>>
dan

[gonefishin]

Ok...let me try this again...

What's holding me back?

• Adding more room treatments before making any other measurments/adjustments/additions
• Next would be a new tweeter amp...then it will be time to take more measurments...with new adjustments to follow
• after that...I've got two woofers that I won't be able to use in their current cabinet (too large) but they also work in a small ported design. This sub would be for my DIY area for testing and tuning
• Then a new set of speakers to go with them...just something smallish
• after that a pair of back-loaded fostex speakers basically for looks...and maybe in the bedroom.
• that's about it for now

On a good note: I'm going to go see the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in October at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I simply can't wait. I'll be there neck brace and all with probably one of the biggest smiles you've ever seen. The last concert I missed there was Wynton Marsalis's Charity event which was simply just too much money for me to spend. Actually, the only two places I'll go for concerts anymore are the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Auditorium that's just around the corner. These und good. The Auditorium has some nice blues acts there too


But this is going to be one heck of a good time...can't wait!


take care all>>>>>>>>>

[Feanor]

Ok...let me try this again...

What's holding me back?

• Adding more room treatments before making any other measurments/adjustments/additions
• Next would be a new tweeter amp...then it will be time to take more measurments...with new adjustments to follow
• after that...I've got two woofers that I won't be able to use in their current cabinet (too large) but they also work in a small ported design. This sub would be for my DIY area for testing and tuning
• Then a new set of speakers to go with them...just something smallish
• after that a pair of back-loaded fostex speakers basically for looks...and maybe in the bedroom.
• that's about it for now

On a good note: I'm going to go see the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in October at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I simply can't wait. I'll be there neck brace and all with probably one of the biggest smiles you've ever seen. The last concert I missed there was Wynton Marsalis's Charity event which was simply just too much money for me to spend. Actually, the only two places I'll go for concerts anymore are the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Auditorium that's just around the corner. These und good. The Auditorium has some nice blues acts there too

But this is going to be one heck of a good time...can't wait!

take care all>>>>>>>>>

Sounds you've got lots of good stuff to look forward to.

[texlle]

I know I have some issues holding me back. My new room is one, with it's astoundingly bad acoustics. It's a 10x12' box with paper thin walls. It sucks. I need to go by and at least get some big towels to put on the walls since I'm way too cheap for pro sound treatment.

I also get the impression that my upgraded power tubes on my amp are making a lot less power than the stock tubes. The only reason I upgraded them is because the stock tubes had a brown base...plus everyone said it was worth it to upgrade them. I got some Sovtek EL34 tubes and while, IMPO, the sound did seemingly improve, I noticed power output to be now lacking. My friend has the same amp as I do, only older, and with the original tubes, and his seems to make a decent amount of power. Unless the B&W 602s2's are just exceptionally easy to drive.

Other than those two grievances...recording quality on really really bad cd's.

[Woochifer]

The room acoustics, the setup, and the quality of the source recordings are probably going to be the biggest culprits IMO for anyone who owns a decent component based system.

The room acoustics are typically lousy in most homes, and are small enough to create huge nonlinearities in the bass response. Dealing with the acoustics IMO is priority #1, because it can uniformly detract from enjoying any system, whether it's an entry level system or a high end system.

The setup is also important because getting the "sweet spot" optimized and making sure that everything is setup correctly (especially with analog components) is another frequently overlooked aspect that detracts from enjoying a system to the fullest. With multichannel setups, this is even more crucial because improper levels, delay timing, and subwoofer settings can significantly degrade what a system is capable of.

For all the talk about recording quality and whether a "reference" system will bring out their best, the thing to keep in mind is that plenty of recordings nowadays are not optimized for playback on "reference" quality systems. And that probably includes most pop, rock, and hip hop recordings.

The issue is that the majority of the audience for those music genres does not listen to music while sitting at home in front of an audiophile system. They listen in the car, on a portable device, through computer desktop speakers, through mini systems, etc. The recording engineers are well aware of that, and one of the most commonly used monitoring setups over the last decade was the Yamaha NS-10 near field monitor. The NS-10 has numerous inaccuracies in its tonal response, yet it gained in popularity in professional circles because it provided a great reference for optimizing recordings for car audio systems and smaller speakers. While that approach compromises the sound quality when played on higher resolution audio systems, it provides a sonic benefit to the majority of the listeners who buy (or download) those particular titles and mostly listen on the go.

In the 70s, much of the sound in pop music tended to be optimized for the big JBL floorstanders. I recently heard a demo of the Eagles' Hotel California DVD-A (two-channel version), and was floored by how much better it sounded through a pair of Definitive Technology BP7002 floorstanders than on the Vienna Acoustics Mozarts and Martin Logan Montages. In listenings I'd done with other recordings ("better" recordings, if you will), I always thought that the Viennas far outclassed the Def Techs. But, this seems to be a case where a particular recording was optimized for how rock audiences in the late-70s likely listened to their music (i.e. the vintage JBLs and their many imitators), and it shined with the Def Techs, which better emulate the dominant approach of that past era.