The Old Days

[GDHAL]

@steve

+1!!!!

Looks like you and I aren't so diametrically opposed after all.

Best.

Hal

[steve]

@steve

+1!!!!

Looks like you and I aren't so diametrically opposed after all.

Best.

Hal

+1 Buddy. I just follow the science.

Be safe.

steve

[TopRound‎]

Walk around and yes you will hear the source, but set up for the seat and you can be blown away as no sound comes out of the speakers but is coming from the fireplace!

I remember the first time this happened to me at a friends house I had to walk up to the tweeter as I could not discern any sound coming from the speakers....its awesome

[steve]

Walk around and yes you will hear the source, but set up for the seat and you can be blown away as no sound comes out of the speakers but is coming from the fireplace!

I remember the first time this happened to me at a friends house I had to walk up to the tweeter as I could not discern any sound coming from the speakers....its awesome

Absolutely agree Top. +10. Great description.

cheers

steve

[_Scotty_]

Hal, try the same test with a mono signal playing and see what results you have. At one point in the 90s
I had an ear infection that poked a 6db deep hole centered at 500Hz in the frequency response my right ear. Verified by an audiologist at the time. The soundstage collapsed into the left channel. I thought something was desperately wrong with the stereo until I stood in the middle of the loudspeakers
with my back to them. The stereo image collapsed into the right speaker thus showing that I was the one with the problem and not the stereo. This is what prompted the trip to the audiologist.
 If the system is really working well a mono signal composed of pink or white noise
well it should show a strong central image with a height component that should extend clear to the ceiling.
 It is undesirable for image to be essentially at the same height as the tweeters location on
face of speaker cabinets.
Scotty

[GDHAL]

Hi Scotty. Happy holiday's. 

I certainly understand the "spirit" and validity of your post.

I'd like to preface the remainder of my reply here by reminding folks that I've previously gone on record elsewhere (another thread in this forum) to state that the number one criteria in voiceing a system is *ones own* hearing acuity AND preference (which Jason Stoddard so eloquently refers to as distortion profile).

Having stated that, in my particular case and system setup, (a) I have better than normal hearing acuity, as measured by my last audiologist visit, albeit about 2 years ago now, (b) my room set up which was professionally designed and installed by an acoustic engineering professional and treated with components manufactured by a company that purportedly develops products for an intended purpose of absorption/diffusion, and (c) I have an inborn natural affinity to sound in general, able to recognize audible frequency and sound pressure level upon just hearing it right on the spot, within a relatively fair degree of accuracy.

Of course, a mono vs stereo vs multichannel (which I do not subscribe to as far as audio playback) greatly affects the perception, as does the location of specific speaker drivers, most notably the tweeter.

However, even in the case of the tweeter, it typically has a relatively wide vertical and horizontal dispersal pattern. I'll define that even further. Usually in the high range (above 1khz) horizontal and vertical dispersal patterns can be near or exceed 45 degrees.

Hence, easy to walk blindfolded to a speaker that's firing.

Best

Hal

Hal, try the same test with a mono signal playing and see what results you have. At one point in the 90s
I had an ear infection that poked a 6db deep hole centered at 500Hz in the frequency response my right ear. Verified by an audiologist at the time. The soundstage collapsed into the left channel. I thought something was desperately wrong with the stereo until I stood in the middle of the loudspeakers
with my back to them. The stereo image collapsed into the right speaker thus showing that I was the one with the problem and not the stereo. This is what prompted the trip to the audiologist.
 If the system is really working well a mono signal composed of pink or white noise
well it should show a strong central image with a height component that should extend clear to the ceiling.
 It is undesirable for image to be essentially at the same height as the tweeters location on
face of speaker cabinets.
Scotty

[GDHAL]

EDIT to my previous post, made in a new post because of my "obsession".

Don't get me started with video, an integral part of my audio system.

Besides my reference caliber (consumer level, not scientific) monitor, it was not only professionally calibrated by an ISF calibrator, but a duvetyne tent was employed/used while doing the calibration. NOBODY - except me - would know or even ask for such a thing. Let alone pay$$$ for it.

Yeah, even $5k per hour Joel Silver (president ISF) "knows" me.
 

Because, I cannot only find "dead" pixels, I can find "missing" pixels!!!

My visual acuity is also rather advanced.

Best.

Hal

EDIT: hence part of the reason my "system" is approximately 15+ percent more expensive than the sum of the gear listed in my signature line. Labor and other professional services.

[TopRound‎]

Hal,
I volunteer you to host a rave!
I want to hear and really I want to see this video system.
A question from a person who knows little about video...if I may.
I bought  a samsung qled tv for xmas, do I need to have it calibrated?

I remember my friend Levi bought a gorgeous plasma when plasma was the thing, he had it calibrated and man it was gorgeous
Do we still need to do this today?

Thanks
Mike

[GDHAL]

Hi Mike.

You can take a virtual tour of my system by visiting my website and clicking the appropriate link to a YouTube video I posted of my system.

Here's the rub. I shot the A/V using the same device I'm responding to you now with, a Motorola G6 cell phone.

In my estimation, it can capture no more than 10 percent of the "quality" my system is capable of.

Having stated that, you and others (I can only host a maximum of two at a time based on condominium rules, not mine, because between my wife and I that makes a total of four) are always welcome to come by and check it out first hand.

Best

Hal

Hal,
I volunteer you to host a rave!
I want to hear and really I want to see this video system.
A question from a person who knows little about video...if I may.
I bought  a samsung qled tv for xmas, do I need to have it calibrated?

I remember my friend Levi bought a gorgeous plasma when plasma was the thing, he had it calibrated and man it was gorgeous
Do we still need to do this today?

Thanks
Mike

[GDHAL]

Mike, you've got me started 

I'll add that my PVP/PLP (primary listening and viewing position) is not randomly and flippantly plopped down. It is mathematically calculatedly to optimize both audio and video, given my preferences, monitor size, etc.

The PVP/PLP is just inside the speaker axis convergence point, and I have a secondary PVP/PLP a foot or so behind it.

And, technically I have a dance floor area behind that.

Best

Hal

[GDHAL]

@TopRound

Apologies. After re-reading your post I didn't answer the question you posed about your new Samsung QLED

No, you do not "need" to have it calibrated. Virtually every current model television is more than "good enough" right out of the box from the factory.

Calibration on a current model television will get you a mere 15 percent (approximate) better quality picture (grey scale, color accuracy, white balance, light output). Some folks can discern the difference, other can't. Some folks care about the difference, others don't.

If you do care and want to have your set calibrated, you *MUST* wait a minimum of 300 viewing hours on the set prior to calibration. Otherwise you've P'ed your time and money away to diode (any kind, led, oled both types, QLED, whatever) "settling drift".

Best.

Hal

[ejk]

No. Same tubes. Only new add is the Orchard Audio amp which was purchases after the comment. And still my speakers disappear.

Ah, glad. I was just checking as you seemed rather unsure back in Nov with the tubes breaking in.

cheers and all the best.

steve

AP speakers are known to disappear. That is one of their attributes

[Emil]

No. Same tubes. Only new add is the Orchard Audio amp which was purchases after the comment. And still my speakers disappear.

Ah, glad. I was just checking as you seemed rather unsure back in Nov with the tubes breaking in.

cheers and all the best.

steve

AP speakers are known to disappear. That is one of their attributes

I can vouch for that. I have the Audio Physic Tempo Plus and I sometimes have trouble finding them.

[GDHAL]

No. Same tubes. Only new add is the Orchard Audio amp which was purchases after the comment. And still my speakers disappear.

Ah, glad. I was just checking as you seemed rather unsure back in Nov with the tubes breaking in.

cheers and all the best.

steve

AP speakers are known to disappear. That is one of their attributes

Evan, please forgive me if I'm mistaken, but when I was last at your place, relatively recently , you weren't using Audio Physics Classic 20 speakers, as indicated in your signature line.

Best.

Hal

[ejk]

No. Same tubes. Only new add is the Orchard Audio amp which was purchases after the comment. And still my speakers disappear.

Ah, glad. I was just checking as you seemed rather unsure back in Nov with the tubes breaking in.

cheers and all the best.

steve

AP speakers are known to disappear. That is one of their attributes

Evan, please forgive me if I'm mistaken, but when I was last at your place, relatively recently , you weren't using Audio Physics Classic 20 speakers, as indicated in your signature line.

Best.

Hal

Yes. I was. Maybe the cheese cake was spiked