I look forward to my listening everyday. I'm a night shift worker so I'm blessed to have my music time daily. I'm blown away each time by dynamics, tight punchy bass,and hearing things in the music like its Always the first time. Many thanks for your video.
I use outside opinions whenever I can. Most especially my wife. I bought a new amplifier and even though she claims she can’t tell the difference, I note she’s singing along, bopping her head, and dancing more than usual. That amp’s a keeper!
Great content Gene ! Man, I could go on for days, but this was an awesome video. I don’t know where to start, but I’ll start by saying the critical listening. Part is so crucial I used to be just a collector and took a little time to actually make time for thorough listening! I used to live in Tampa. You guys have helped me before the name escapes me of a gentleman that helped me, but the equipment matching the use of a subwoofer, preferably plural and just getting your system dialed in with your room! I’m gonna go back and watch this a few more times because every point you made was so important and to this community I think this is the kind of content we need without the snobbery just direct accurate information so people can enjoy their music and movies!!
I had a 20 year old Pioneer AVR that started having problems so I replaced it with a PS Audio Sprout100 and my old 1980's Polk SDA CRS speakers. I am amazed at how well everything sounds now. I don't need to upgrade to a new AVR anytime soon.
Nice video. In my experience the best is when the volume can get so loud you can't even hear your self talk yet its not shrill, it doesn't hurt your ears, it's just naturally loud like you "are there".
Was turned on to high end audio ever since a friend of mine handed down to me his Hafler 500 stereo amp. Paired that up with a Bryston BP20 pre and B&W Matrix 803's...the rest is history, as they say. We have been lucky all that time till now (and future!) to be blessed with quality musicians still putting out great music! Now have three systems in place: an "ethereal " system in the dining room, a pleasing system in the Bar/mancave, and a critical listening system in the living room. All are stereo...b/m has additional sub. Wife works on Sundays, so the living room is mine then!! Was fascinated and agreed on every one of your ten points (and enjoy them)! No, I do not switch out componets often. Most recent acquisition was a Cary DMS 500 for the dining room. No streamer in the living room (CD's and a Sony Z1), but some day... Sorry, all of my records are in storage...only played them once (a while back) to copy them to tape (Maxell Metal). Was young then and did not own a house. Car was primary listening "area" though did enjoy acquiring high end after market systems to install into... Sunday would always have music time in the afternoon/evening and when children were growing up they would sit and listen as well. Never had to turn the music "down" during party's even when approaching late night (1 am...) as the children would just sleep on the sofa right through it! I feel that people are missing out on the joys of music and listening on a system that would allow one to appreciate it more fully. Music is a universal language. (Thanks for listening (reading).)
I find much of my enjoyment comes from swapping around equipment. Always looking for that synergy between components. My listening area although being a dedicated music room has some issues because of the "L" shape of the room and it produces wicked bass nodes. I'm constantly swapping things around and testing and treating. Someday I hope to find the sound I'm looking for.
@@mrcarpentersc I do share your enthusiasm for trying various sources...mine is probably tempered by having a few systems to choose from. So long as we both are happy.
Hi perfect list I agree 100%. My favourite item is the detail I only hear on good systems, it's amazing how much information is in a good recording and how much it adds to the listening experience. My system is not expensive but I am glad to say that it meets almost all the points in your list, except the high volume, but that's more to do with my room and the lack of acoustic treatment. However I cannot listen at high volume because I live in a small apartment and that would piss off my neighbors in the adjacent apartments. Thankfully my system is excellent from very low to medium volume so I'm happy with that
I have always said speakers should seem to disappear, too. Listening in 2 channel I've also noticed it sounds like my center channel is playing but it isn't. Listening to your top 10 list I'm amazed that I can check all the boxes.
Gene, something else I have found is listening to music using 3D Auro the sound is smooth, effortless and engulfing. I listen for hours and never get fatigued. I have to make myself quit. 😂 Everything is set so no one channel overshadows any other. They compliment each other but you can definitely tell if one is missing. If you are on the East Coast and have a free half hour, hit me up.
Exactly ... my SVS powered subwoofer still helps big time to my Neat Acoustics Motive 1, bi-amped with Purify Eigentakt (mids and highs) and Hypex nCore (bass) with power to spare ... great advise Gene
Gene, Nailed it! The Godfather of audio has spoken🙌🏻. Perhaps speak on Audiophile addiction, how to curb / direct the enthusiasm - Real upgrade vs. just a sidestep to an equally performing device or component. Ps. Amplifier power...Massive importance to performance - impossible to have effortless dynamics without adequate and often vastly 'overpowered' Amplifier power.
Excellent list Gene I check off about 7 so I feel real good about that. I need to experiment with some different genres of music to hopefully check off the final three. Thanks
One lesson I've learned for enabling speakers to disappear is to make sure to stay away from the speakers maximum sound pressure level. It's great to have speakers that can handle high SPL, but they'll always sound better, and call zero attention to themselves, at moderate to lower levels. It's like having a Porsche or some other high-end car. It's capable of going 200 mph, but it idles at 80 and it's so smooth it doesn't even feel like you're moving.
This is usually due to a combination of distortion and dynamic compression that many speakers will exhibit at/near their SPL limits. It can also be due to items and objects in your listening room that will begin to buzz/rattle/resonate from the high SPL even if you can't specifically notice them. They can & will mask the imaging cues that our ears & brain need to recreate the soundstage.
@@Audioholics The best speakers I ever owned, the equivalent of which I can no longer afford had fantastic dynamic range even at lowest listening levels. They did not need to be turned up before they came alive. Full dynamic range that I can enjoy late at night without disturbing anyone. That's my test for a good system.
@sPi711 What is your budget limit to spend on a pair of "End Game" loudspeakers that are, for all intents and purposes, unlimited in SPL & Dynamic Range for either low or high volume listening in all but the very largest of rooms? While I am not suggesting that $4k-$5k USD is affordable for everyone, IF you are willing to go the DIY route, this budget range will allow you to obtain a truly End Game loudspeaker setup, and this actually includes a high-end multi-channel DSP and perfectly matched amplification as well! All you need to add is the analog or digital source player of your choice.
I agree to all points, specially when you loose track of time. I love when I found new tracks with good sound. Different topic but I cant stand to watch a movie or listen to music on the tv speakers, cant count how many times my wife wants to watch an action movies like that.
The most hilarious question I get from people about hifi speakers/headphones is, "What do you use them for..?". That's like asking, "What do you use ears for..?". 🤦🏼♂️
I was just thinking about this less than two days ago, i.e. what the characteristics of a good audio system are. I feel I have everything on your list except my bass is intentionally dialed down a bit for personal preference. One quality I especially notice is the sensation that sounds are coming from all over the room, sometimes I feel as if I am hearing sounds coming from well above the speakers. Another is the ability to keep increasing the volume without it becoming loud or painful, bad systems make your ears bleed at a fraction of the volume of a good system.
About Bass… I think it’s fairly common in the audiophile journey to discover what “ good bass” sounds like, by which we typically mean, tight, tonally nuanced bass, rather than the “ one note bass” we may have been used to on crappy systems. And then part of the audiophile obsession becomes avoiding “ one note bass at all costs.” So you want those speakers to totally disappear in the base and you want that base to be tighter… tighter… tighter. And often this can lead to buying speakers whose cabinets have been heroically manufactured to reduce every possible bit of vibration… all that type of stuff. But what I found over the years is that this can sometimes result in what I call “ audiophile bass.” In other words , on some speakers or in some systems, the base can become controlled to a fault. So buttoned down it loses the boogie factor. Audiophile bass is when bass instruments appear holography positioned in the soundstage, for instance, the bass guitar or bass synth may sit well back in the soundstage behind the singer, and you’re hearing every articulated note, but the bass is sort of “ staying back there in the soundstage” and not really reaching out and energizing the room like a real instrument can. Even though I’m not a bass junkie nor do I play music super loud , I’ve come to prefer that the system Give me some feeling for the bass. Several years ago I thought I’d finally get around to adding a pair of subwoofers to my Thiel floor standing speakers. I had 2 JL Audio subs, they are expensive crossover, room correction to flatten the bass response, and yes, everything sounded more linear and controlled. But I also ended up with “ audiophile bass” which actually felt less engaging and punchy than the speakers alone in the room. And I sold all the associated subwoofer equipment and never looked back. Likewise, when I was looking for different speakers I’d listen to speakers like Magico, etc And I just didn’t have that reach out and feel it bass, and lost the boogie factor. So one of the reasons I selected my current speakers that replaced the Thiels is that they had bass that reached out into the room and that I could feel - I feel with the drummer doing it with the bass is doing and so it really connects me with the music.
If you ever get the chance, listen to a system that is dialed in by dirac live bass control. I think it marries the 2 scenarios. The bass is tight, controlled and in your example it really come from for instance the bass guitar, but its als fully in the room like a blanket or a fundament to the music. Since I use bass control I never looked back. And like Gene says, I amazed at how the system sounds every time I listen to it...
i run a "wall of speakers", but its sounstage tuned: wides, main stereo pair, center, two tiny stereo tweeters, stereo sub the soundstage is basicly a virtual box one foot wider in all directions then my room, behind the speakers and going way past the actual wall. the sounstage also extends 3 feet infront of the stereo speakers. with the common singer voice being at realistic mouth height, at a realistic head size, most often in the middle of the sounstage, a foot behind the speakers. the stereo mains can do that job alone, as can the center+ wides combo. but together they build on each other, with the tweeters and sub adding air and foundation.
My favorite is the excitement to just keep on listening. Pulled right into the joyful time dilation. Checkout a song called “Tel Aviv” by skeler ;) I imagine it would be a good automatic playlist seed.
Thanks Gene. Your Theater room is amazing! Love all these thoughts. I've worked hard to put together a nice audiophile system in my odd living room (ie left front is in a corner and right front is in open space) it's now a 5.2 system with the addition of a pair of REL T/9x subs. I'm still dialing it in and wondering if it's correct. Need to hire you to come by and give feedback...lol. Thank You.
I'm in a similar boat and dirac live helped me enormously! First used the standard version for a couple of years, which was great. But I did not know what good bass was until I upgraded to bass control. Which integrated my subs completely and gave me the bass gene talks about. I can't describe how good that sounds. Bass notes can be fully appreciated and the bass sits as a fundament under the music filling the room... just wow
Paused at 4.12. Hey Gene, I have heard room treatment experts suggest the enemy of a 'real' sound is too much absorption and symmetry. They suggest to alternate the absorption and deflectors to better match a natural sound. From the human ear to the brain there is a chaotic style of presentation 99% of the time. If you listen to anything is an overly 'unnatural' sounding room your brain will not process the sound as natural.
True. The amount, type, and placement of acoustic treatment that is used should be specific to the speakers you are using, their placement, the acoustic properties of the room itself, and your listening position. There really is no "one size fits all" when it comes to proper acoustic treatment solutions for any given room + loudspeaker combination.
You don't want to overtreat a room especially with thin absorption which kills HF. If you walk in a room and it sounds unnatural to carry a conversation, it's probably over treated.
would you agree that for stereo listening treating the first reflections on the side walls can reduce the level of envelopment , width of the soundstage and overall immersion?
It really depends on the behavior of the speakers and how much treatment you're using. I see a lot of dedicated spaces that overtreat and do what you say. It's why I target a specific RT60 Decay time range of 300-700msec depending on room size and purpose of the system.
@ you can treat ceiling and back wall to control rt60 but speakers with good off axis perf might benefit from side wall reflections I read. People in the audio realm often tell you to always absorb first reflections. It is a really confusing subject and more clarity is needed. We need to have live debates on these controversial audio subjects
Would you be interested in hearing an entirely different type of sound system based on my Patent 4,332,979? I'm in the NYC metro area about one mile from Manhattan.
welp, actually - it is all about doing everything possible to achieve maximum vibration reduction in every electronic and speaker component / hint/ remove electronic devices from all metal boxes, place on wood . night /day difference in sound. read everything on vibration reduction
Hey Gene, I noticed that you dont have a center channel in your theater room, did you just decide to go without one, and just use the pantom center imaging from your two large fronts for movie watching?
Try it out for yourself. I watch movies on a 120 inch projection screen and the dialog seemed to come from below the screen with a center channel. I have very large speakers and the phantom center channel made the dialog come from the center of the screen. It will also depend on your system. For some systems, the vocals can have spatial volume and be very clear with the phantom center channel. On others, the vocals will not sound clear enough, where you end up turning the volume up really loud to hear the dialog.
Once they mix Atmos properly, why is the song is so much fuller than just 2 channel? And not becuse it’s all the speakers, I’m talking about more bass, more detail, louder etc…
Many say their system sounds like a live performance . What live performance are they referring to - stadium concerts, jazz bar, bar bands? Cos I've never been impressed with live performances .
You give a great description of what a proper sound you should aim to achieve. I have reach that stage where I can just be in owe when I put anything on. Regarding car audio, the biggest issue is the noise floor, so systems start to sound good at a high volume.
There's no depth in any soundstage or any modern recording. There is no depth encoded in the recording. None. Whatever depth you're hearing is being conjured up in your mind.
Not true. We can create depth in a multitrack mix by controlling/adjusting spectral balance (EQ), timing & phase, reverb/ambience, and relative levels. This is exactly why some recordings present a 3D soundstage and some do not...it IS IN the recording itself! Study how our auditory system works in regards to ILD, ITD, HRTF, and head shadowing.
Kidding aside as a life long audiophile these are some good and important lessons.
Gene you can’t be MORE right with your analogy!!!
The system must be first musical and fun to listen too
I look forward to my listening everyday. I'm a night shift worker so I'm blessed to have my music time daily. I'm blown away each time by dynamics, tight punchy bass,and hearing things in the music like its Always the first time. Many thanks for your video.
I use outside opinions whenever I can. Most especially my wife. I bought a new amplifier and even though she claims she can’t tell the difference, I note she’s singing along, bopping her head, and dancing more than usual. That amp’s a keeper!
Forgetting time when you listen to music say it all!
Many times, I get up to make sure my center is not on, lol. It's pretty wild how convincing it can be.
Great content Gene ! Man, I could go on for days, but this was an awesome video. I don’t know where to start, but I’ll start by saying the critical listening. Part is so crucial I used to be just a collector and took a little time to actually make time for thorough listening! I used to live in Tampa. You guys have helped me before the name escapes me of a gentleman that helped me, but the equipment matching the use of a subwoofer, preferably plural and just getting your system dialed in with your room! I’m gonna go back and watch this a few more times because every point you made was so important and to this community I think this is the kind of content we need without the snobbery just direct accurate information so people can enjoy their music and movies!!
I had a 20 year old Pioneer AVR that started having problems so I replaced it with a PS Audio Sprout100 and my old 1980's Polk SDA CRS speakers. I am amazed at how well everything sounds now. I don't need to upgrade to a new AVR anytime soon.
Another to add to the list. It's so easy to turn the stereo on than it is to turn off. Great video. Checks a bunch of boxes for me.
I wasn’t able to check off everything on your list until I purchased the Cabasse Murano Altos! Amazing speakers and are on another level!
Nice summary! I guess I'm also lucky enough to have an audiophile sound system.
Nice video. In my experience the best is when the volume can get so loud you can't even hear your self talk yet its not shrill, it doesn't hurt your ears, it's just naturally loud like you "are there".
Welp, I guess I'm an audiophile.
Buying the right gear and setting it up right with the room will do that to ya.
Zero complaints!
Was turned on to high end audio ever since a friend of mine handed down to me his Hafler 500 stereo amp. Paired that up with a Bryston BP20 pre and B&W Matrix 803's...the rest is history, as they say.
We have been lucky all that time till now (and future!) to be blessed with quality musicians still putting out great music!
Now have three systems in place: an "ethereal " system in the dining room, a pleasing system in the Bar/mancave, and a critical listening system in the living room.
All are stereo...b/m has additional sub.
Wife works on Sundays, so the living room is mine then!!
Was fascinated and agreed on every one of your ten points (and enjoy them)!
No, I do not switch out componets often. Most recent acquisition was a Cary DMS 500 for the dining room.
No streamer in the living room (CD's and a Sony Z1), but some day...
Sorry, all of my records are in storage...only played them once (a while back) to copy them to tape (Maxell Metal). Was young then and did not own a house. Car was primary listening "area" though did enjoy acquiring high end after market systems to install into...
Sunday would always have music time in the afternoon/evening and when children were growing up they would sit and listen as well.
Never had to turn the music "down" during party's even when approaching late night (1 am...) as the children would just sleep on the sofa right through it!
I feel that people are missing out on the joys of music and listening on a system that would allow one to appreciate it more fully.
Music is a universal language.
(Thanks for listening (reading).)
I find much of my enjoyment comes from swapping around equipment. Always looking for that synergy between components. My listening area although being a dedicated music room has some issues because of the "L" shape of the room and it produces wicked bass nodes. I'm constantly swapping things around and testing and treating.
Someday I hope to find the sound I'm looking for.
@@mrcarpentersc I do share your enthusiasm for trying various sources...mine is probably tempered by having a few systems to choose from.
So long as we both are happy.
Hi Gene, this is a great list. Thanks for putting this together.
Hi perfect list I agree 100%. My favourite item is the detail I only hear on good systems, it's amazing how much information is in a good recording and how much it adds to the listening experience. My system is not expensive but I am glad to say that it meets almost all the points in your list, except the high volume, but that's more to do with my room and the lack of acoustic treatment. However I cannot listen at high volume because I live in a small apartment and that would piss off my neighbors in the adjacent apartments. Thankfully my system is excellent from very low to medium volume so I'm happy with that
I have always said speakers should seem to disappear, too. Listening in 2 channel I've also noticed it sounds like my center channel is playing but it isn't. Listening to your top 10 list I'm amazed that I can check all the boxes.
Gene, something else I have found is listening to music using 3D Auro the sound is smooth, effortless and engulfing. I listen for hours and never get fatigued. I have to make myself quit. 😂 Everything is set so no one channel overshadows any other. They compliment each other but you can definitely tell if one is missing. If you are on the East Coast and have a free half hour, hit me up.
Exactly ... my SVS powered subwoofer still helps big time to my Neat Acoustics Motive 1, bi-amped with Purify Eigentakt (mids and highs) and Hypex nCore (bass) with power to spare ... great advise Gene
Gene, Nailed it! The Godfather of audio has spoken🙌🏻.
Perhaps speak on Audiophile addiction, how to curb / direct the enthusiasm - Real upgrade vs. just a sidestep to an equally performing device or component.
Ps. Amplifier power...Massive importance to performance - impossible to have effortless dynamics without adequate and often vastly 'overpowered' Amplifier power.
Excellent list Gene I check off about 7 so I feel real good about that. I need to experiment with some different genres of music to hopefully check off the final three. Thanks
One lesson I've learned for enabling speakers to disappear is to make sure to stay away from the speakers maximum sound pressure level.
It's great to have speakers that can handle high SPL, but they'll always sound better, and call zero attention to themselves, at moderate to lower levels.
It's like having a Porsche or some other high-end car. It's capable of going 200 mph, but it idles at 80 and it's so smooth it doesn't even feel like you're moving.
This is usually due to a combination of distortion and dynamic compression that many speakers will exhibit at/near their SPL limits.
It can also be due to items and objects in your listening room that will begin to buzz/rattle/resonate from the high SPL even if you can't specifically notice them. They can & will mask the imaging cues that our ears & brain need to recreate the soundstage.
Yes, wide dynamic range is critical even at normal listening levels.
@@Audioholics The best speakers I ever owned, the equivalent of which I can no longer afford had fantastic dynamic range even at lowest listening levels. They did not need to be turned up before they came alive.
Full dynamic range that I can enjoy late at night without disturbing anyone. That's my test for a good system.
@sPi711
What is your budget limit to spend on a pair of "End Game" loudspeakers that are, for all intents and purposes, unlimited in SPL & Dynamic Range for either low or high volume listening in all but the very largest of rooms?
While I am not suggesting that $4k-$5k USD is affordable for everyone, IF you are willing to go the DIY route, this budget range will allow you to obtain a truly End Game loudspeaker setup, and this actually includes a high-end multi-channel DSP and perfectly matched amplification as well!
All you need to add is the analog or digital source player of your choice.
Next, do 10 ways to know when your home needs to be decluttered.
😂😂 i feel your talking to me 😂😂
The clutter is just strategic room treatment in our house.
I know you were going for the wicked witch but the screenshot makes you look like the Grinch Pimp. Awesome!!
Loved this Gene
I agree to all points, specially when you loose track of time. I love when I found new tracks with good sound. Different topic but I cant stand to watch a movie or listen to music on the tv speakers, cant count how many times my wife wants to watch an action movies like that.
Good video!
The most hilarious question I get from people about hifi speakers/headphones is, "What do you use them for..?". That's like asking, "What do you use ears for..?". 🤦🏼♂️
I was just thinking about this less than two days ago, i.e. what the characteristics of a good audio system are. I feel I have everything on your list except my bass is intentionally dialed down a bit for personal preference. One quality I especially notice is the sensation that sounds are coming from all over the room, sometimes I feel as if I am hearing sounds coming from well above the speakers. Another is the ability to keep increasing the volume without it becoming loud or painful, bad systems make your ears bleed at a fraction of the volume of a good system.
About Bass…
I think it’s fairly common in the audiophile journey to discover what “ good bass” sounds like, by which we typically mean, tight, tonally nuanced bass, rather than the “ one note bass” we may have been used to on crappy systems.
And then part of the audiophile obsession becomes avoiding “ one note bass at all costs.”
So you want those speakers to totally disappear in the base and you want that base to be tighter… tighter… tighter.
And often this can lead to buying speakers whose cabinets have been heroically manufactured to reduce every possible bit of vibration… all that type of stuff.
But what I found over the years is that this can sometimes result in what I call “ audiophile bass.”
In other words , on some speakers or in some systems, the base can become controlled to a fault. So buttoned down it loses the boogie factor.
Audiophile bass is when bass instruments appear holography positioned in the soundstage, for instance, the bass guitar or bass synth may sit well back in the soundstage behind the singer, and you’re hearing every articulated note, but the bass is sort of “ staying back there in the soundstage” and not really reaching out and energizing the room like a real instrument can.
Even though I’m not a bass junkie nor do I play music super loud , I’ve come to prefer that the system Give me some feeling for the bass.
Several years ago I thought I’d finally get around to adding a pair of subwoofers to my Thiel floor standing speakers. I had 2 JL Audio subs, they are expensive crossover, room correction to flatten the bass response, and yes, everything sounded more linear and controlled. But I also ended up with “ audiophile bass” which actually felt less engaging and punchy than the speakers alone in the room. And I sold all the associated subwoofer equipment and never looked back.
Likewise, when I was looking for different speakers I’d listen to speakers like Magico, etc
And I just didn’t have that reach out and feel it bass, and lost the boogie factor.
So one of the reasons I selected my current speakers that replaced the Thiels is that they had bass that reached out into the room and that I could feel - I feel with the drummer doing it with the bass is doing and so it really connects me with the music.
If you ever get the chance, listen to a system that is dialed in by dirac live bass control. I think it marries the 2 scenarios. The bass is tight, controlled and in your example it really come from for instance the bass guitar, but its als fully in the room like a blanket or a fundament to the music. Since I use bass control I never looked back. And like Gene says, I amazed at how the system sounds every time I listen to it...
@
Oh, I’m definitely familiar with being constantly amazed by one’s system!
101% agree!
i run a "wall of speakers", but its sounstage tuned: wides, main stereo pair, center, two tiny stereo tweeters, stereo sub
the soundstage is basicly a virtual box one foot wider in all directions then my room, behind the speakers and going way past the actual wall. the sounstage also extends 3 feet infront of the stereo speakers.
with the common singer voice being at realistic mouth height, at a realistic head size, most often in the middle of the sounstage, a foot behind the speakers.
the stereo mains can do that job alone, as can the center+ wides combo.
but together they build on each other, with the tweeters and sub adding air and foundation.
My favorite is the excitement to just keep on listening. Pulled right into the joyful time dilation. Checkout a song called “Tel Aviv” by skeler ;) I imagine it would be a good automatic playlist seed.
Thanks Gene. Your Theater room is amazing! Love all these thoughts. I've worked hard to put together a nice audiophile system in my odd living room (ie left front is in a corner and right front is in open space) it's now a 5.2 system with the addition of a pair of REL T/9x subs. I'm still dialing it in and wondering if it's correct. Need to hire you to come by and give feedback...lol. Thank You.
I'm in a similar boat and dirac live helped me enormously! First used the standard version for a couple of years, which was great. But I did not know what good bass was until I upgraded to bass control. Which integrated my subs completely and gave me the bass gene talks about. I can't describe how good that sounds. Bass notes can be fully appreciated and the bass sits as a fundament under the music filling the room... just wow
@@jeroenvanwesemael8556 Not familiar with dirac live... guess I can google it...Thanks!
I definitely feel the pain of some music recordings sounding like complete trash😢
I don't think there's anything I can disagree with there!😂
Paused at 4.12. Hey Gene, I have heard room treatment experts suggest the enemy of a 'real' sound is too much absorption and symmetry. They suggest to alternate the absorption and deflectors to better match a natural sound. From the human ear to the brain there is a chaotic style of presentation 99% of the time. If you listen to anything is an overly 'unnatural' sounding room your brain will not process the sound as natural.
True.
The amount, type, and placement of acoustic treatment that is used should be specific to the speakers you are using, their placement, the acoustic properties of the room itself, and your listening position.
There really is no "one size fits all" when it comes to proper acoustic treatment solutions for any given room + loudspeaker combination.
You don't want to overtreat a room especially with thin absorption which kills HF. If you walk in a room and it sounds unnatural to carry a conversation, it's probably over treated.
would you agree that for stereo listening treating the first reflections on the side walls can reduce the level of envelopment , width of the soundstage and overall immersion?
It really depends on the behavior of the speakers and how much treatment you're using. I see a lot of dedicated spaces that overtreat and do what you say. It's why I target a specific RT60 Decay time range of 300-700msec depending on room size and purpose of the system.
@ you can treat ceiling and back wall to control rt60 but speakers with good off axis perf might benefit from side wall reflections I read. People in the audio realm often tell you to always absorb first reflections. It is a really confusing subject and more clarity is needed. We need to have live debates on these controversial audio subjects
No mention of timbre and tone?
Without good tone nothing else matters.
Any ultra linear and ultra high SINAD power amp will deliver that
Would you be interested in hearing an entirely different type of sound system based on my Patent 4,332,979? I'm in the NYC metro area about one mile from Manhattan.
What’s nice about a less expensive system, you can really enjoy it without knowing what you’re missing. Ignorance is bliss.
@garyharper2943 it's all about speaker placement.
welp, actually - it is all about doing everything possible to achieve maximum vibration reduction in every electronic and speaker component / hint/ remove electronic devices from all metal boxes, place on wood . night /day difference in sound. read everything on vibration reduction
Hey Gene, I noticed that you dont have a center channel in your theater room, did you just decide to go without one, and just use the pantom center imaging from your two large fronts for movie watching?
@@albertelazar4069 the matching center channel is behind my acoustically transparent screen.
Try it out for yourself. I watch movies on a 120 inch projection screen and the dialog seemed to come from below the screen with a center channel. I have very large speakers and the phantom center channel made the dialog come from the center of the screen. It will also depend on your system. For some systems, the vocals can have spatial volume and be very clear with the phantom center channel. On others, the vocals will not sound clear enough, where you end up turning the volume up really loud to hear the dialog.
So Gerne is Madam Mim
Phantom center channel
Once they mix Atmos properly, why is the song is so much fuller than just 2 channel? And not becuse it’s all the speakers, I’m talking about more bass, more detail, louder etc…
For car, DSP. I use Audison. No rear fill
Wicked is going to be a spectacular failure.
But but but live music doesn't have a phantom center. Live music doesn't have anywhere near the dynamic range of electronically reproduced music.😊
@@willwill5595 unamplified live music has extreme dynamic range.
Bragging
Yep, I'm proud of what I've accomplished with decades of knowledge and am happy to share it for free to anyone who listens.
@@Audioholics ...and we do listen...
Many say their system sounds like a live performance . What live performance are they referring to - stadium concerts, jazz bar, bar bands? Cos I've never been impressed with live performances .
@@paulc7190 unamplified live performance or like a small jazz bar.
@Audioholics ah, got it ... unamplified keyword for me
You give a great description of what a proper sound you should aim to achieve. I have reach that stage where I can just be in owe when I put anything on. Regarding car audio, the biggest issue is the noise floor, so systems start to sound good at a high volume.
There's no depth in any soundstage or any modern recording. There is no depth encoded in the recording. None. Whatever depth you're hearing is being conjured up in your mind.
Not true. We can create depth in a multitrack mix by controlling/adjusting spectral balance (EQ), timing & phase, reverb/ambience, and relative levels.
This is exactly why some recordings present a 3D soundstage and some do not...it IS IN the recording itself!
Study how our auditory system works in regards to ILD, ITD, HRTF, and head shadowing.
Of course there's depth in audio recordings! see above reply. I think you've never experienced it.
already have too much invested in theater. 2 channel when im an old fart maybe
Your theater room should also be awesome for 2CH, too.
Nice video. ruclips.net/video/iAsSzhQYPzc/видео.htmlsi=tCkgKqUf92AXboef
Very interesting topics, it would be great a future video about Auro 3D upmixer for two channel lossless streaming music.