Search the Community

Tuning Our Systems – The Elephant in the Room I have been prompted to write this post because of the ongoing (insert and choose your own words). There are various threads on SNA that eventually end up in the “Great Audio Debate” thread. They all end up there because the discussion at best becomes a disagreement over the Subjective Vs the Objective. Other words could be substituted for either of the two words above. To me it comes down what some of us discern through the listening experience compared to the requirement from others that the perceived outcomes be validated through measurements and or the regrettable need for the difficult to do DBT. To some opinions are not acceptable. I think that we should take everything on board and then work out what is best for our situation. Listening to music at its best is a pleasurable emotional experience. To me the requirements for measurements or the DBTs are just an excuse. It is an avoidance of the Elephant in the room. I suggest that none of us experience an identical outcome when we hear or listen to music. Our brain is the most important aspect of our “SYSTEMS”. To me there are two fundamental questions. Do we over time inadvertently tune our different systems to suit our actual listening and or music preferences? Do our respective individual listening preferences vary subtlety or even significantly to explain the differences in our respective listening and emotional outcomes and expectations? Maybe every perspective on this topic is valid. This is a link to a TED talk by David Byrne a musician from “Talking Heads” and many other things music. The subject of his talk is that music is best performed and listened to in the environment for which it is composed/written. https://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_helped_music_evolve. To me the subject of the talk helps me understand how I think that my system and my listening experience has ended up where it has. I have ended up with a listening experience that provides me with a special emotional outcome. My system would not suit some and it would please others. What I have ended up with was not planned I just move in a direction that pleased my brain. I am sure that some of you who may read this post will be aware that I tend towards the subjective end of the experience spectrum. I use the evidence of my brain. I utilise several accessories that some would consider would not provide any benefit. I also read other posts where the poster asserts that other accessories have given them a benefit. Yet I have tried some of the same accessories and to me there was no benefit at all and, in some cases, a disbenefit. I think that some people confuse difference and benefit. I once did not appreciate the distinction. I would expect that no SNA member has the exactly the same system as another member. The possible combinations and permutations are immense. Even if in the rare situation that the equipment is the same, the room and especially the listening sensory part of the brain will not be the same. There are posters on SNA have what I categorise as low end. Yet some of those posters assert that they gain benefits from some accessories. They are pleased with how their system is tuned. On the other side of the equation there are the owners of highend systems that are negative about the benefit of accessories. Between those two positions there are a plethora of outcomes. The final outcome is ultimately about system synergy and tuning. We are all different. Our respective senses vary in what we can smell, feel, taste, see and hear. In terms hearing and listening there is considerable variation in what many SNA posters prefer. For example Analogue or digital, Valve or SS amplifiers, speakers, TT or DAC, USB Vs ethernet or I2S, Silver Vs Copper etc. Plus, there are all the infinite subtle differences DACs just for instance. Is that just because of the measurements. Surely not. I would be surprised if that was the case. I expect that it is primarily to do with the listening experience. Many SNA members regularly move the chairs on the deck so to speak, until they are happy with their system tuning that satisfies and gives them the pleasure that their brain seeks and aspires to. I want this thread to be a discussion as to whether we inadvertently tune our systems to suit our individual brain psychoacoustic listening requirements. If the answer is even a qualified yes, does it partly explain different listening experiences? Does it explain why in some cases that I and or others have a listening experience that is valid in our respective systems yet others do not have the same experience with their systems and require the proverbial evidence. What is often worse, are the comments from many posters on many forums who have not heard the listening outcome and just outright deny the possibility. I do not want the above to be seen in any way that I am saying that my hearing or listening is better than others. It definitely is not. I would like it to be better. Many many times I have been asked the question when listening to another system - can’t you hear that? – The answer is no I cannot. Yet I know my own system very well and can definitely discern subtle benefits from time to time. Each few percent of benefit soon adds up. I know that this is a long post. There are more things that I could have written. If the thread progresses maybe some of things will be mentioned by others. My knowledge of electronics, the brain and psychoacoustics is limited. However, I do know when my listening experience is special. John

Hi everyone I'm trying to make a decision on a new, sort of multi-purpose, speaker setup for my bedroom. I currently have a pretty average set of Logitech's at the moment. They do ok, but I need to upgrade them. However, I won't be using these speakers purely for listening. I would also be using them for some mixing and mastering of music (I'm getting into recording my own stuff). That said, I want them to perform well as listening speakers also. I know that studio monitors are designed to have a flat response, and should be revealing, which may not be ideal for listening to music (though what I heard of the Adam A5xs in store was pretty damn good). And I know that HiFi/Audiophile speakers, including bookshelves, are designed to have varying degrees of 'colour' to improve the sound as per an individual's taste. It also appears that bookshelves seem more available second hand, compared to studio monitors, and so I suppose I get more bang for my buck there. Do you guys have any thoughts, coming mostly from the listening community? My budget is around $800-$900. I don't particularly like a lot of bass, but some is nice. My options so far are: -Adam A5x at around $800/pair. Out of all the studio monitors I auditioned, these were my favourite. Apparently their new X-ART ribbon tweeter has a lot to do with that. They have enough bass for me, I suppose, but I miss 'feeling' just a teeny bit through the floor. I can't find a lot of studio monitors second hand, so this is brand new. -Adam A3x at around $600/pair, plus work out how to add a hifi sub to this. These have very minimal bass. Midrange is also lacking a little from the A5x, but not a huge amount. I have the opportunity to buy a really really good second hand sub at around $300 as well. Not sure how to wire this in just yet, as studio monitor systems with subs run the input into the sub, and then the sub outs into the speakers. Any suggestions? -Keep my eyes peeled for a pair of second hand bookshelves and maybe a T-Amp to go along with the sub. There is a pair of Leema Xeros in the classifieds right now for $490 (jijiband) The Adams are going to be around 20% off on Sunday in store (which is much cheaper than I can find online) so I'm trying to make a quick decision, which is hard for me, because I am super indecisive. Do you guys have any thoughts, coming mostly from the listening community? Most people in the recording/mixing/mastering community have suggested the monitors. My budget is around $800-$900. I don't particularly like a lot of bass, but some is nice. I like fairly clean sound, and they are going to be on a desk, maybe 1.2m apart, maybe 50cm from my head. Thanks

Item: Designer black leather couch and armchair Location: Melbourne - SE suburbs Condition: As new - sat in maybe twice! Price: Couch $300 $270, Armchair $200 $180 Both $450 $400, Donation to SNA of 10% of sale proceeds Reason for selling: Never used and just taking up space - these deserve to be pride of place in a nice listening room (or any room needing a cool, comfy couch) Payment Methods: Cash on pick-up (local sale only) Additional information: All the cushions (base, back and sides) have zips to access seating foam, allowing easy replacement when required (or if you just want extra squishy cushions for those long listening sessions ) Kind regards, Mute-on