Your system's sound quality isn't consistent from day to day? + Call for viewer pictures
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 29 янв 2025
- Send your system pictures to Audiophiliac@mail.com Please don't send more than three images, I won't look at more than three, and include pictures and descriptions in the SAME email! Thanks!
The new Audiophiliac Podcast can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts. Or from my website audiophiliacpo...
Please check out the AUDIOPHILIAC PATREON
/ audiophiliac
----MERCH-------
Audiophiliac T-Shirts and Mugs! teespring.com/...
Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan
Instagram and IGTV: / steve.guttenberg
#audio #audiophiles
You are so right. I have three stereos. My wife told me I’m not allowed to have more. ✌️
@@keplermission4947 Cerwin Vega 'quality'? Lol!
I'm sure you'll miss her.
Hi all, in my humble opinion, the most important and reasonably priced upgrade to any system is a really comfortable chair, preferably with a foot stool, and a glass of whiskey or two.
All the best Giles
Good whiskey will make any system sound better!
Well, when you're smashed, everything sounds good :)
I came to that conclusion many years ago. Most of the problems with my system was between my ears. One thing I've noticed is if I'm out of town and start thinking about a listening session long before I get home I've usually built it up too much and it doesn't live up to my expectations. Sometimes when I'm home and just happen to walk past the system and turn it on, sit down and listen. I'm amazed at the sound and how well it transforms my room. Yeah, it's all in my head. 😉
People can experience hearing fatigue after lengthy listening sessions and as some of us age and our hearing sensitivity in the upper frequencies are experiencing a loss in higher frequencies listeners “may” adapt by nudging the tone controls to increase the highs thereby adding to the listening fatigue. It’s not exactly imaginary but a real response to a real aural issue sometimes due to age or due to long exposure to high noise levels in a workplace environment that could cause hearing loss in the upper frequency ranges.
@@keplermission4947 so true!
People either hate with a passion horn loaded speakers or they absolutely gush over the horn experience. I’ve never owned horn loaded speakers although I have experienced them in the homes of those who do. My temporary experience, not being long term, was positive for me. With so many various types of speaker designs so there are plenty of choices at different price points to choose from and find satisfaction long term.
One other factor not mentioned often has to do with Cross-over design and quality of components.
Issues with many speakers occur because Cheaper capacitors were used and they usually have a short life span, degrade over time and eventually become nonfunctional and it is at this point where listeners notice the effects of the poor caps in line. When this happens with horn speakers then the effects are exacerbated to a point where the speaker is blamed for being unlistenable.
Components do fail in devices. Our modern disposal society leads people to throw away rather than repair and many repairs are not expensive at all.
I’m sure others may have experienced such things.
Or is it sometimes my speakers refuse to throw out that stupidly insane low bass that’s more of an earthquake frequency than a bass note….. Could be all in my head still
@@Aswaguespack All great points! As someone who owns B&W towers/bookshelves (some people say to bright) maggies (some argue to muted no bass) and horns (they shout at you), all I can say? I really really enjoy them all. Been an audiophile for years, and when I quit chasing the "holly grail" of sound/equipment you can really enjoy a lot more sonic experiences (and I get you can really make things sound better by mixing/matching, half the fun of the hobby for me). Another thing I am surprised is how long all my equipment/speakers have lasted. I have speakers and equipment that sound like they did they day they were bought (store them in closets) and to your other point, electronic components can obviously degrade. Lastly, I am amazed at how good of sound system you can get at entry level, back in my day that wasnt always the case.
Terry, So Right man....
When I see the Audiophiliac, I always feel like he lives next door. I'm several thousand kilometers away in Europe, but this guy is good in creating a comfortable, trusted and easy-going atmosphere. It's like living in the same hotel somehow, very cool. :)
Thanks for the kind words!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac You're welcome. :)
As a designer, I have found that even a slight illness can greatly impact your hearing ability. I won't critically listen when I have a cold or any respiratory since the ears are part of the mucus membrane system and even a slight bit in your ears impacts sound quality.
I notice a difference in sound depending on the atmospheric pressure.
I think your right , I have had a head cold for over a week now , and thought something was not right when listening yesterday evening ,
That's what I've been saying for years! People obsess about power cables but don't realize that physiological conditions like ear higiene, hydration, cold and respiratory diseases, and even psychological conditions can have much heavier impact on the way we perceive sound.
@@vladrapchan5330 not to mention stress!
@@JBrm Well put! How could I have forgotten! Stress is a big one!
I have finally come to terms, whit the fact that, my system tells me what mood i'm in. Quite clever in fact, as i now know when to take a pause 😉 Took me 35 years or so to figure that out. Better later than never, right? ✌️❤️🇩🇰
I sometimes think my system is garbage, but I'm always blown away by how good it sounds the day I return home from a vacation. I think this more or less proves that mood and listening fatigue are huge factors in the perceived "sound" of your system.
No Its because your system demagnitize, its all about power and humidity air pressure and acoustic where you sit and the recordings off cours. The equipment will play like never before when all thes things are done. So dont buy all that stuid shit, changing around. Buy good speakers, then you have something to listen to while youre saving for acoustic and power. then after all that is in place you can start playing with your system then you already have used your monet the importnnat place and everything wil sound good and you can hear if the equipmentr really does something or not.
If that were true then how do sound engineers record anything approaching consistency?
@@keplermission4947 It always amazes me that (some) Audiophiles think they have better skills, hearing and audio insights than the professionals who are paid to create the content in the first place. I showed respect to your original post that was total nonsense and you responded like an asshole. There is a HUGE difference between amateur and pro in ALL aspects of life.
Topics like this keeping me coming back, Steve.
GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is what I’m always afraid of when I watch channels like yours, but the fact you don’t just review gear and tackle such topics as the inconsistency of the listener, well, that’s great content.
I’m off to take pictures or my rig! Thanks Steve!
My brother is (retired now) an engineer with Nippon. He always insisted on line conditioning/sine wave correction. He told me that if you have $1,000.00 or $200,000.00 invested they all expect 'clean' sourced power. I have followed that rule for decades and my 70's Sansui gear is still cranking. I upgrade all the time now with home theatre but my experience over the years has worked out for me.
First of all THAT is a great shirt!! But as to your topic, I have had the same experience. I just recently was listening to music that I've listened to many many times before. And it just didn't work for me! So I simply powered down and left to do something completely different. Fast forward to three days later...I listened to the same songs and they sounded sublime! So I quickly realized that the gear is fine and that I was defective. This happens every now and then so I learned not to sweat it. Thank you for choosing this topic ,now I dont feel so bad. Good day to you ,Mrs Audiophiliac and my fellow Music & gear lovers. Stay well my brother from another mother.
And here I thought it was just me who had good listening days and not so good listening days. Thanks Steve for pointing out that tone and mood of the listener can be just as important as the equipment.
I would say humidity and change in air pressure can make a difference. Or if you have a cold or a sinus thing happening.
I've come to the same conclusion and it also depends on the time of day that you listen. At any rate, I've only recently taken Steve's advice to step away for awhile. It does help : )
Trying to enjoy music with a sick, stuffy head is the worst!
@@keplermission4947 That's a different perspective : )
I always attributed it simply to my mood. On days I’m feeling well rested, optimistic about life and feeling overall happy my system sounds amazing. When I’m tired, feeling down, or run down, not so much.
You have a great topic today Steve. Putting aside any obvious problems in your listening space, in other words your setup sounds very good to you sometimes, it's really, as you say, all about you. Anyone who does work that involves a subjective outcome, my work happens to be mixing records, you're going to recognize the hills and valleys in the assessment of the product of your efforts. When things are sounding bad to you it usually means your brain is tired and it's time to stop and come back the next day. Sonics, even more than visuals, are a particularly subjective area since being visual creatures, we're able to distinguish differences in what we see much more accurately than what we hear. In the case of a listener, it might be time to open a nice bottle of wine or some other mood altering drug. Doing something like moving speakers makes sense if you're not liking what you hear day after day. Find a recording that you know sounds great to keep a consistent perspective.
My favorite venue to listen and make recordings in is the Village Vanguard. You can sit in the rear banquette at the very back of the room and hear cymbals like you were sitting right next to them. It's really magical and why so many wonderful records have been made there.
Hey Steve, just stopped by to checkout today's shirt! I love it bro!
Electric service voltage can change throughout the day due to demand. I do not know how this affects various types of audio equipment, but I would expect it that it does to some degree.
I have heard the theory that your audio system can sound better at night because the electrical grid is quieter than it is during the day when most of the population is at work. I.e. industrial machines, computers, etc.
this^...And this is the argument for power conditioners and not straight into the wall. I find my system to be much more consistent and fluid with some quality power filtering added to it. Also, we can't ignore our brain is an extremely advanced filter and many things can impact how we hear and feel about the sound at a given time.
Steve, you always bring me back down to earth. Thanks!
It's obvious (and well documented) that many of us are dealing with anxiety or depression during the pandemic. Therefore, if you've liked your system and suddenly don't, assess what's bothering you emotionally before doing anything.
This is true. Another thing is, I liked my Koss headphones just fine, better than the expensive Sennheisers.Then someone said those sucked and now I can't be content anymore. Humans are the weakest living things in every way.
@@SamBorgman
You'll always be miserable if you listen to trolls. That's exactly what they want.
To make you miserable, and keep you that way.
Great video Steve. It DOES happen. One way to cope with this problem is to play music that you normally don't listen to. It causes a "reset" in your head and when you come back all will be right with the world. :-)
I Agree .. if you know the music well .. we tend to go from pleasurable fun listening to critical mode listening
Hey Steve, I took your advice long ago, when this happens, all other things considered, I step away, sometimes for a week or so, and voila! the music sounds better upon return. great video
Your so right, your mood does make a difference to how your system sounds most definitely, another great video👍
I recently went down the Audiophile rabbit hole and ordered a CSS Criton 2TDX tower speaker kit with superior crossovers and no flat pack. I plan to build the cabinets myself from 1 inch white oak so they don't look like a plywood box. I also ordered the Elekit TU-8600S 300B Tube Amp with the Lundahl output transformers. That is supposed to be delivered today. : ) It's going to be a few months before I have any pictures of my finished system. When I do I will submit some for your viewer system of the day segment. : ) Thanks for the video!
My system does play music consistently everyday. The system is set up appropriately for the room its in to play the types of music that appeals to me, myself and I. I am now free to listen to the music standing up, sitting down, moving around, far/mid/near field ... whatever ... to perform with all those audiophile clichés gear-driven listeners obsess about, imagined or non-imagined, and spend far too much money in pursuit of incremental improvements.
Thanks for producing this video Steve.
AND HERE IS A GOOD CONTENT IDEA ....there are audiophiles that make $15/$20.00 an hour and those that make far, far beyond that.
I was the kid that made $12.00 an hour back in the early 80s & I was passionate about my ever evolving system, as well a all the stuff I couldn't afford..it literally made my heart pound when I saw and auditioned speakers, amps, turntables etc, with price tags that cost more than I could afford in a year.
Take 5 Audio and Audio etc in New Haven, Ct.knew me very well..they where kitteraly just 75 yards away from ea other on the same side of the street..it was just too easy.
In my late teens I was as passionate about obtaining the best sound from my systems as the guy/gal that could afford the very very best. Great video
Thanks!
Wow! The Indigo Girls and Keb Mo. What a show that must have been.
You have it so right on how things sound with your seating position. My point exactly about the whole illusion of "being there in front of you" fantasy. Thing is, as good or bad as it can sound, what makes the live experience is the energy that the artist(s) give to the crowd and what the crowd gives in return. If the performance doesn't excite you, then it won't matter how good it sounds.
For example, I've been to a number of Farewell concerts over the last few years, Glen Campbell, Rush, Peter Frampton to name a few, and each has had great significance regardless of sound quality.
Glen was okay sound wise, but to hear him perform, even in a slightly diminished state, was paramount.
Rush was damn emotional. They played their derrieres off with their usual high quality performances, even though we were to the side. Special because 2nd to last ever performance and our kids were with us. (choke... ;'( )
Peter. O.M.G. I swear he was floating on the stage, his playing/performance was nothing short of what could be thought of as a transcendent experience. He was on fire, everything he put into each song was 300+%. And you had a connection to him at that moment you'll never feel again.
Oh, and Richie Havens, He was such a gentle soul that could touch your heart off the stage. I swear he changed my life after talking to him at the signing afterward. Fly free, Richie!
Steve, you hit a super important conclusion - if it does not satisfy you at the moment, then do something else. Best advice for these cases ; Cheers, Janos
Have a awesome evening, i so enjoyed this.
Glad to know I am not the only one suffering from “variable” audio perception. Some times I even equalize my ears by pinching my nose and applying pressure! Weird, yes but it makes a difference. By the way, awesome shirt!!
That’s hilarious… I thought I was the only one that does this. And it does work!
Hey Steve, I am a 67 year old guy with hearing aids who loves music .so don't anyone let anything hold you back from enjoying your music! The best bang for the buck in my system was a set of alphabetical dividers for my records and cds. If you can't find it, you certainly can't listen to it.
Just walk away. Great advice! I find sometimes it's best to just stay away for a week or two. When you return it is amazing.
Also great suggestion to remove the power conditioner. There have been sooo many changes made since I put in the conditioner, I may well find it's hurting the sound by now.
I had an important ah ha moment. I leave my digital powered up all the time. By accident I realize that rebooting moOde in the streamer makes a significant improvement in sound. No idea why... It's easy to simply reboot before listening. But the ah ha was that every change I'd make to the digital front end made an improvement. Duh... it was because with a hardware change came a reboot. How many times did I think I made an improvement when in reality it was just the reboot?
Oof...
McIntosh has conditioner for $4500.00 they told me not to bother
Love your shirt Steve! Chevelle, Camaro, Roadrunner/Superbird, Mustang, Charger, GTO and more.....wow! Now that's American!
Love the shirt! Perfect combination: Music and Insane speed. Had to wait until I retired and moved to Germany 7 years ago to have them both. 🤪
Great video Steve. Don't forget that Carnegie Hall is a beautiful space with great sound anywhere in the house
That shirt delivers 100W of juice, all day long.
After listening to your advice my system has improved by just moving my speakers what a difference thanks Steve!
OMFG that Threshold 4000 is the amp (and matching pre-amp) brought me to audiophilia, rescuing me from a sea of 70s/80s polished aluminum receivers. I still carry a torch for early Threshold
When I put the Xmas tree up this year I had to move my speakers closer together and the stage and imaging immediately improved noticeably. I believe the change moved the first reflection point to an opening in the room.
You are right about speaker position and if you saw mine you would cringe but for a room that's half vaulted and half 9 foot ceilings it works incredibly well. Sound stage is very wide which I like and many would suggest I am nuts for these positions in the room. They are KEF Concertos I built in the late 70's and I have a Klipsch 10 inch sub woofer and two SolarVox back speakers (for 5.1). I find , and you will think I'm really a philistine on this issue, that I love using Onkyo's surround sound setting in preference to stereo if I'm moving about the room or a party. It's amazing you really think you are in the center of the band and separation is still all there. I have no idea how they process it but I love it. Another issue I've heard discussed and it makes some sense is weather and humidity and it's effect on sound wave propagation or the effect on cone material. In the NE we are at 16% humidity right now and in summer it's at the upper 70%'s. The hardwood floors in the house change by 1/16 inch over the seasons. Maybe this is why they sound good some days and not others. Comments?
Boy, I can relate to this video Steve. I spent last night and this morning re-arranging my secondary system! I’ll send in a picture.
I discovered a long time ago that when I am tired I cannot get my guitar to sound in tune no matter how hard I try. And, only recently I discovered the same with my sound system. When I am tired and my system sounds uninspiring I have learned to ignore it and look forward to the time when I can enjoy listening once again.
Also, things like sinus congestion (due to allergy, infections etc.) Those will mess up your ears sometimes. Been there.
I know this will sound weird, BUT, I will usually blow my nose before listening. It clears any pressure that may be in my ears and seems to clear things up. All of a sudden, the sound becomes "clear".
Someone breaks into my house at night when I am asleep and moves my room treatment! You are very right to spend many days listening. Most changes day to day are in your head. (phycological or physical).
Great topic today Steve and I agree with all points made today.
A lot of people don’t see how important of a role our mental state plays in how subjectively good or bad our setups can sound. Like wise speaker placement plays such a massive role, much more so than the electronics unless the electronics are shockingly bad - which in todays world doesn’t really apply anymore.
DEBROX ear wax cleaner kit works wonders. Every audiophile should try it! Love the shirt Steve! Big block LS6 Chevelle up front 😎. Great video as usual. All the best
I tell my friends, the two main things for me to get the best sound from my system is 1. speaker placement, once you achieve 3-D sound stage from stereo recordings it's like the music goes from black and white to color, it's a very trippy experience, and secondly, my mood, bad mood equals system not sounding the best, good mood equal great sound. My friends also suggest using THC to enhance the sound, and from experience, I have to agree and then I'll add, shrooms also work with the added benefit of seeing the music as well.
synesthesia?:)
@@miroslavspacek5737 Ha, indeed. I have a friend that associates colours with guitar chords and patterns when he's playing, I associate lines, angles and shapes when I'm playing. A couple of times I have experienced mild auditory hallucinations when mixing music, I adjusted the e.q. knobs and thought, "that sounds better" only to realise that the e.q. button is still in the off position, ha.
@@thejoyoftaping8205 thats cool, I would like to have it as well...:D
Great video as always! listen to music on 3 sets and the smallest set is the most constant (PC, Tidal and Harman Kardon Soundsticks which still sounds amazing!). With the other 2 larger sets (using Dynaudio, Hegel and Audioquest) I am still tuning and improving (change of cables, speaker positioning, etc.). I enjoy all those 3 sets in their own way but I think I sometimes have to stop searching the ultimate sound that I sometimes don't experience but there is actually always ....Looking forward to your next video. Greetings from the Netherlands.
Btw, I love your shirts and podcasts... 😉.
Steve, there is ONE thing that a good power conditioner, AC regenerator, will do, and that is to lower the noise floor in your system. When you hear a quiet part of a piano recording, it will not hide behind the noise. In movie soundtracks, you can hear tiny sounds like dogs barking down the block, a clock ticking, or bugs buzzing around. That really enhances the experience.
That’s the reason I strive for a homogeneous and ever so slightly laid back/warm sounding system and turn my back towards a brighter and more foreword demeanour: if I am tired of work my ears just don’t work well; they don’t actively acknowledge the music, it’s more of an passiv “I have to work” experience. If the system is easy on your ears though, there still is a lot of enjoyment to have, and it’s possible to relax. Thanks and take care
Many people forget the influence of the power current. I have let install a separate power group, with audiophile earth leakage circuit breaker, upgraded fuse holder, Furutech wall socket and special powercord to
the stop meter box.
Clean power = dynamic, deep bass, more detail, better image.
If you have a more audiophile audio setup, I can only advice to take it in consideration. It's not cheap, but it is an upgrade which makes a difference for always and actually the base where everything starts with.
I have a pretty decent setup, but bad current made me miss 20 % of the potential.
Your pre- and poweramp and especially the cd player will have an enormous benefit.
You'll have no more, or far less, fluctuations in your mains - which also varies your sound. It's not always between the ears. Sometimes it is true.....
This is very timely. I made a stupid move about 2AM a few weeks ago and adjusted the azmuth on my TT. This is a clear audio performance DC turntable with the ortofon Cadenza Black cart. It took me about 20 subsequent adjustments and then pulling my TT into my other system with a test record and headphones before for it back to where it was. So ridiculous, lesson learned! If it sounds great, don't mess with it!
I always burn sweetgrass before each album -- that along with banging an old metal pot to scare the bad sounds away. Works just a good as a power conditioner.
Line voltage here at my varies house between 115-125. If you are running tube gear, that's a non trivial swing in B+ depending on Power Supply design.
Most audiophiles will probably deny this, but one's mental state greatly affects what you hear. Listen to your system for awhile then practice deep meditation and listen again. I believe slower brain waves make for much better sound.
Depends on the weather. Barometric pressure, moisture content and power stability on the grid. All act on the ear drums and the speed sound waves travel. Relieving the pressure on the ear drums by pinching your nose, closing mouth and breathing out gently helps
Took advice from Paul @ ps audio and ran a heavy gauge extension line to an outlet that is on it's own dedicated line to the electrical panel. No more anemic sound one day and music nirvana the next. Consistent power delivery to the amplifier cured whatever was giving me inconsistent performance before. Easy to do it yourself.
My studio is right across the hall from my roommates room, and usually it’s no problem cause I’ve got great acoustic treatment and good isolation tactics, but now that it’s winter, he hears everything (lucky him). when we blast the heaters, it makes a difference over time.
Makes sense, differences in temperature and air density, slight or significant, will change how sound reacts in a given space.
Great vintage viewer system.
Hi Steve. How about an episode about the best sounding venues for live music recordings and performances.
My favorites are Webster Hall (aka The Ritz) and The Village Vanguard - both in New York City.
The culprit is your power...usually. That's why systems often sound much better very late at night when the power load through the house is low. When I installed a P300 power conditioner over 20 years ago, and later a P600 for the rest of my equipment (except the amps), the "blackness" of the late-night system was there...all the time. Power conditioning may work better for some than for others, but in the congestion of a big city (or rural areas with power fluctuations), it can make a huge difference and help keep the consistency of your (good) sound where it should be.
If you look at the one variable that changes depending on the day, or time...it is indeed power. So eliminate (or at least control) that variable and your system will sound as good in the morning as it does late at night.
Thanks for taking on the philosophy of audiophile OCD Steve 🌞
Exactly, Steve. In my experience, bad mood equals bad sound. Also, alcohol rips off the warmth and boosts the treble. These in a emotional or psichological level, of course. From 6 to 10 pm it seems the sound quality is degraded, probably because of noise in the AC mains. And so on ...
Try to smoke some weed and listen to your music my friend. You will double your impression for sure at any hours, with any album)))
If I wake up in the morning and can breathe through my nose then my system gonna sound wonderful today.
Steve, you're right about bad concert sound.
But modern systems used in pro audio are very high quality. Recent history (~20yrs) has blessed the industry with phenomenal advancement in both gear quality, but also the measurement/alignment tools at the disposal of the FOH engineering team.
The primary challenge to overcome lies in the venues decay times and the seating location of the listener... and operator error/apathy.
Ideally the listener needs to be inside critical distance in an area whereby the subs/mains alignment is tight.
You're right; most arenas (12k-18k ppl), basketball/hocky type venues, offer up significant obstacles to overcome.
Stadiums (60k-80k), on the other hand, can be much better in the best case seat and much worse in the worst-case seat.
Stadiums vary dramatically due to type. I spent a decade in both the RCA Dome in Indianapolis... I was intimately familiar with the acoustics.
Then, we built Lucas Oil Stadium across the street to replace the Dome. We quickly discovered that acoustically, the difference was staggering.
The RCA Dome was similar to a handful of 80's stadiums, whereby they were an inflated Teflon fabric roof, held up 24/7 with air pressure. Minneapolis, Detroit, Syracuse, and Indy all shared near identical designs.
60k ppl. tightly packed, and no empty seats, combined with the fabric roof... Low frequency decay times weren't the big problem... as a good bit of the LF buildup with simply pass thru the fabric roof.
When we opened LOS across the street, the acoustics were atrocious. We hosted a big multi-act summer stadium tour, and unfortunately, if you weren't in good seats, vocal intelligibility was non-existent.
This resulted in bad press and was a major black eye for our brand new $750m venue.
The concert was five of the biggest names in country music, all together on a single night... the sound was terrible.
We re-booked the tour for the following summer, however with contingencies;
- We had the acoustic consulting team return and perform more analysis.
- We installed hundreds of thousands square feet of acoustic absorption materials and lapidaries covering all possible surfaces.
- We booked an entire day(!) pre-show, just for system tuning... ie., after the typical load in build out (takes several days for shows this big), after EVERYTHING is entirely set up, we utilized ANOTHER day simply to further optimize the sound (this is unheard of).
I was one representing the house, we had dozens of stage hands, an Electro-Voice engineer, the PA tech engineer, and the main act's FOH engineer... tweaked the system all day and into the night. I was no small expense paying and feeding all involved.
It helped, we had fewer complaints about intelligibility, and we re-booked the annual tour for future dates.
𝙋𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜;
𝙎𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩* 𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮.
Outdoor festivals or amphitheaters can offer up superb sound, that's not plagued with LF decay times that destroy articulation.
*(just returned from Key West, one night was spent in Sloppy Joe's, their most famous club ... absolutely pathetic sound quality, inexcusable... I politely tried to help, they declined... It was a shame as the act was solid).
Love the Shirts Steve That Chevelle SS reminded me of my 71 Chevelle.. Awesome Video...
Spot On , Steve !
Great system of the day. Threshold amplifiers ruled in those years. I had a model 4000 and it was spectacular.
I love podcasts - I’m in!
Thanks
Hello Steve.
Great insight into a great topic.
Thanks.
It canbe beneficial to have 2 reasonably good systems with different characteristics. When you get sick of one, the other will sound liek a breath of fresh air. When you get sick of that, switch it up again. You could try switchign components in a single system, but liek Steve points out, that can put you on the A/B comparison train of more frustration.
Matbe if I had a couple of your shirts my system would sound good all the time,
I concur! Just as Steve says... make sure you have it long enough so it becomes the norm! Great advice. I sometimes used to wonder why my system didn't sound as good as it did last time I heard it! Well anyway, since I purchased a audiophile grade power conditioner... I don't have to Wonder No More 🥳
Don't bother with a cheap power conditioner, in my experience... they're just glorified powerstrips.
From experience, I believe lower temp or humidity does affect the sound of your system
Interesting.
Same with car performance. Although that is scientifically proven
and barometric pressure on speakers and ears
As a car guy that just maybe the coolest shirt yet..
Cleaning your ears is important too..
Here is one for you, My dad was in the industry and knew many major players in the late 60s & 70s..my dad was talking w Paul Klipsch about a man he worked with that argued/disagreed about everything..most everything & it was very unlike him. Everyone would be raving about a new speaker ..the LA Scala was one of those components. 😳
While on a flight from the East to West coast, this colleague of my dad's experienced sudden loss of what he thought was his normal hearing..he had severe wax build up in his ears..when the plane took off the change in air pressure pushed the wax into his ears. Once he had the problem taken care of, he made a lot of apologize to a lot of people..Paul Klipsch in particular !
I wonder how close he was to being fired for being so negative & argumentative.
I like Scotch Whisky once in a while, but somedays it really tastes harsh. No matter how much ice I put in, how long I let that ice thaw, it keeps tasting really harsh. Same scotch bottle, same glass, same ice. That is just life.....
The fact that the music changes during the day is also largely due to the fact that we share electricity with industry and other electricity consumers near our homes. My system always sounds optimal in the late evening hours, but I have to show consideration for my neighbors because , I live in an apartment.There is an incredible smoothness over the sound at these times of the day compared to the daytime hours where the sound is more harsh.
Interestingly, since I added a PS Audio regenerator to my system (one of my two systems), it sounds the same day in, day out. And yes, it sounds better in every respect, no downside whatsoever. I used to wait until too late almost at night, then found it impossible to turn off the system (well, I still have that problem…), listening into the wee hours. Today, all it takes are maybe 20 minutes of warmup for the amp(s) to get the most out the system, the sound quality is absolutely consistent and stable. So I don't feel "forced" to make time during a specific time of day, or stay up until I nod off and have a hard time getting up for work. Big improvement. Having said that, I have a power conditioner in my other system, and no, I'm not getting the same effect. As good as it is, that system still sounds different (to me better) late at night or during weekends, so no, it doesn't do the same thing a regenerator does.
Id like to build the Guttenberg Hall of Sound, a dedicated space for audiophiles to bring there gear, listen and compare to other gear, meet other audiophiles and have fun.
I think we owe it to Steve.
The first, the best and the only Audiophiliac!
I can't get my mind around room treatment. I've always thought the idea was to bring the music into my home, my space. Trying to recreate the room acoustics of the recording studio or live venue for every recording is a non-starter. I'm content just to not have neighborhood dogs barking while I'm listening.
I get doubts about the sound of my system when I happen to pick from my collection 2-3 records in a row that all sound mediocre. Then I have to put on something I know to be good to calm me down.
Whoa... that shirt! 👍🏻👍🏻... I couldn't help but wonder if muscle car owners obsess about their cars running better on some days more than hifi owners.
When haven't heard my system for some time, it sounds better.
That's because I'm reminded of how great it actually is after having to listen to crappy sound from the PC speakers for a while.
Your sinuses from mild allergies (undetected) depending on the season. Low air pressure from that hurricane in the Gulf. Air temperature (40-50F) causes some frequencies to carry so you're hearing more road noise. Your capacitors flex from that high/low pressure (the sun came out/went in).
Cool Shirt Steve! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
The noise floor of my home makes the largest impact on enjoyment of music.
(No traffic noise here:-)
I enjoy early morning music room classical sessions best. My mind is rested, the furnace has clicked off and the available dynamic range is 50db (-35-85db) or more. That lets me hear subtle differences between DACs if I feel the need to find tune the presentation.
My next audio upgrade for the living room system is a SILENT FRIDGE!
The current one can be heard from the living room (That breaks the spell).
🎶🤫🎶
Ambient sounds in the living room effect sound, too. At evening time, when the forced air heater kicks in, the sound gets muffled. On a sunny Saturday morning my system sounds best.
Simply. Put: after a certain point it’s the music. And oh my Miles, Seventh, it is what it was…. Aren’t we so blessed to have all this music without the cost. Miles would have been amazed
I just yawn and keep my ear canals clean🤷🏾♂️. Whiskey in hand and a warm blanket🙌🏾
Perhaps perceived changes in system performance and sound quality can sometimes be a result of changes in barometric pressure within the listening room or physiological changes that affect the hearing. Day-to-day changes in the central nervous-system that effect the hearing may also be a possibility.
Step away from the system when it sounds very bad. You are correct. That being said, if you are a tube gear person, those damn tubes can fail or begin to fail and effect the sound. But you can usually determine tube failures by the type of errors, crackling, flashing etc. But the real truth is it's a matter of perception which can be effected by mood, attitude, but more often biological issues. Blood pressure, inner ear pressures, ear canal contamination and more serious problems are to be the most common issues. Find your time of day which seems to work best for you. Mine is the wee hours of the morning for many reasons. Also be careful with CBD/THC use ( as well as other meds). It can change your hearing drastically. My system sounded so bad a few days ago that it was obvious it was me and not the system. I also have a tiny high end system in a very near field configuration that is an absolute reference system. It did not sound correct. The next day a flu bug from hell hit me and it was 3 full weeks before I could even listen to music, the longest time in my entire life and I'm 70 this year. How ever I am hearing quite well again, so be patient and take good care of yourself and your perception both mental and physical will return. And be sure and keep specific recordings and system setups for absolute verification that something is actually wrong. Diana Krall has some great recordings that you hear the saliva in her mouth.Yuck but it's a known detail. Oboe image on St Martin of the Fields Mozart music is another consistent high quality detail. And of course any favorite that you have. But. I no longer use vinyl for testing due to the stylus wear factors and other setup issues that can change a lot. I am spoiled rotten using great hi def vinyl rips and true 24/192 files taken from the original masters. I only have a few but oh man are they good and consistent. I have known power issues, and bought a PSaudio regenerator, it sounded worse when I used it because certain amps did not like being connected to it at the same time creating noise and hum. So I sent it back with regards but it didn't work for me. I'm sure there are places with horrible power issues, like the videos we see with city wiring all dangling in massive bunches at poles etc. that can seriously use one. As far as room treatments, my room is a bust. It's a grossly over crowed multi purpose room. I solved this by building the most massive nearfield system ever which completely negates the room acoustics until you start getting over 100db, which I don't do anymore. 75-85 db overall spl is glorious and nearing perfection based on my personal criteria. But one damn issue keeps kicking back at me. I have been trying to retire the tube components from my system. They suck power and require more maintenance than any quality SS gear. About the time I feel I have been successful, I swap tubes back for 2 of my amp positions, the 811 Altec horns and the Tekton array. Yes they do sound better and I cannot ignore it. So now I am designing a switching system which can easily select ss or tubes hopefully without any deleterious effects. This audio hobby/lifestyle never ends, and for that I am truly grateful. Thanks Steve for all your work and contributions.
I've noticed the power coming out of the wall makes the biggest variable in the sound fluctuations
You are so right, bwiz! The voltage change is important, as is the amount of dirt on the mains supply. That said, mood and psychology play their parts too. Unlike Steve to be so dismissive. If it doesn’t sound right, maybe you should just try letting it warm up, or just find something else to do. He does get more constructive half way through, however. Dismiss nothing, try everything. Try room treatment in stages, tackling specific areas individually and appraising each time. A panel here and there can make a big difference if your room needs the treatment.
The Bottom Line did have an incredibly consistent sound and I found this pretty much same at the Village Vanguard. Probably the fact that I had a special table right up front most of the time and at other times I was sitting with Max at his table with my cousin having a great time.
Webster Hall in New York City has been my favorite place to hear music along with the Village Vanguard.
Many great recordings have been made at these two venues.
@@robertyoung1777 I’ve never been to Webster Hall. Have a strange question to ask you. I have a cousin name Robert Young… Could you be him. He would be in his life 30s early 40s.
It’s you, it’s your head, it’s your mood…yes it is. Nothing will feel good when one’s not in the mood
When I had an HK 3490, it would sound better at night but flat during the day. With my Hegel and Keces E40, both never disappoint. Never. Both great.
Love your videos Steve, all the best from Scotland.
Thanks so much!
Off subject but many thanks for the David Lindley suggestion!! What an underrated guitar player.
In order to get into the garage and main bedroom, I have to keep my Maggies against a wall for storage. I drag them back out for listening sessions. Wife won't let me put marks on the new carpet so placement is a relative guess at first. I know the general locations and can get them in the general area immediately. But it can take an album side or two to make the minor adjustments to lock in the sound stage! I have found even a couple degrees of rotation or a few inches in a direction can have very noticeable and predictable effects. I can move the singer's face up or down by twisting one speaker a couple of degrees compared to the other. Minor distance changes between them seems to affect low end depth and resonance.
That is one bad ass shirt !