urban@trwspp.UUCP (02/13/84)
I've noticed that this is a peculiarly rambling message for me. It deals with fidelity for the common man, sales techniques in stereo stores, and general confusion. People might want to use their 'n' keys at this point. I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination, a "Golden Ears", nor particularly well-versed in the physics/electronics of audio. Just so you understand my level of expertise. A couple of years ago, I found myself buying a pair of speakers. My musical tastes run to (what's broadly termed) classical with a peculiar twin emphasis on romantic and early Renaissance. My experience with stereo-store sales personnel was memorably unpleasant. One guy was clearly pushing his favorite brand of speakers. He puts on a Joni Mitchell album and plays it full blast, then shouts at me "pretty good, huh?" My reaction was something like "compared to what?" to which he snapped, "What have you heard that's better?" That was Shelley Audio, L.A. people. I left the store. Digression 1: One of the reasons I don't like most contemporary music was exemplified by the record he played and the way he played it. When I hear someone singing, here, in the same room, I hear their voice. When I hear Joni Mitchell on an album, I hear whatever the microphone was able to pick up. Typical albums seem to be recorded with the performer within an inch of the microphone, so that every bubble of spit in his/her mouth is picked up by the mike and amplified. The result doesn't sound like a human being, it sounds like a huge amplifier that's imitating one. When y'all talk about a "Live" rock concert, you're talking about performers whose voices and instruments have been amplified (and presumably somewhat distorted?) by electronic equipment. So what's "live"? And why do people insist on playing even acoustic-sound-type music at volumes far above the original? Of course, even Paul Robeson performed with a throat mike -- when he was in a large auditorium. Pacific Stereo was a little TOO laid-back. "there's the room with the speakers; here's how to switch speakers; let me know if you want to buy something." Digression 2: Ten minutes of A/B comparison of 10 pairs of speakers leaves me, at least, doubting my own sanity. I can certainly hear differences between pairs of speakers. I can even guess what these differences represent. But "better" and "worse" start to get very confused. Even "like it more" or "like it less" become tenuous. I left the store somewhat shaken. University Stereo had a salesman who was pretty helpful. He had a favorite make with good bass response (another rock music fan) but happily didn't like to break eardrums demonstrating them (maybe he was hiding something, but it WAS a good demo for the level at which I would be using them). When I tuned in a classical station and pointed out that the violins were almost disappearing, he agreed and pointed out some alternative choices, then left me to my own devices. I ended up buying a pair of EPI speakers which seemed to me to have a crisp, clear sound and picked up all the instruments pretty well. I still like them. Digression 3: "I don't know speakers, but I know what I like." I know it sounds pretty know-nothing, but what ELSE am I supposed to go on? The main selling point for University Stereo, for me, was their Golden-Ears-Insurance guarantee (my term). The salesman says "you're probably worrried that some guy's going to visit you and say, `you really got stuck with junk, didn't you?' University Stereo will allow you to exchange merchandise for full value on other merchandise for any reason within a year of purchase." Nice touch. It's all a weak-link phenomenon anyway, isn't it? Your music can't sound any better than the worst link in the instrument-to-microphone-to-recording-device-to-medium- to-pickup-to-amplifier-to-speaker chain. That's why I have trouble with all this discussion of digital versus analog and so on. When John Culshaw produced the first studio recording of Wagner's "Ring" (still considered among the best, I'm told), he knew damn well it wouldn't and couldn't ever sound just like a performance at Bayreuth; he even used the stereo imaging to exaggerate the characters' motions across the imaginary stage. NO, it doesn't sound "live"; it CAN'T. YES, it's an excellent recording. In Culshaw's book, "Ring Resounding," which elucidates the trials and tribulations associated with this effort, he describes the time he played his new "Rheingold" for a group of hard-core Wagnerites. Who, predictably, disliked it. One woman disdainfully sniffed, "I always listen for the Tenor sounds in `Heda, Hedo'" (Donner's invocation of a thunderstorm). Unfortunate, since Donner is a baritone part. Not Golden, but not Tin either, Mike
scs@foxvax1.UUCP (S.C. Schwarm ) (02/16/84)
I think Mike has some good points. When I was in school I had a part time job at a small HiFi shop. I was mostly a repair person, but was involved in selling. It was our store policy to recommend that a person bring one or several of their favorite records when buying a system or part of a system. The one I used was Stravinski's (sp) Rite of Spring. We handled several different equipment lines which allowed for good A/B comparisons. The other thing we had was a sound level meter which was a real eye opening device to indicate the effect of distortion on appearant sound level. A Bose 901 owner Steve Schwarm Foxboro Co.
riner@dsd.UUCP (02/21/84)
Bravo!! I have always felt that the ultimate goal of a sound ie HiFi system was to be able to hear what you like the way you like it. Although I am in no way an expert, I don't even keep up with the lastest model numbers of anything, I am frequently asked "what hifi equipment should I get?" by neighbors and friends. I suppose this is because of the reputation of the company I work for, even though I have nothing to do with our Audio equipment. My advice is and will continue to be "Find the sound you like and buy that.". I strongly suggest that they find a dealer who will let them try the equipment, especially speakers, at home before committing to the purchase. I do enjoy the discussions of various systems, techniques, etc. on the net as these are informative of the state of the art, as long as they remain discussions or opinions(stated as such). John Riner Ampex Corp.