No, but is that really important?

Posted by John C. - Aussie on July 21, 2000 at 19:49:58

In Reply to: Is there such a thing as" the absolute sound?" posted by Steve on July 21, 2000 at 11:43:27:

Any sound heard at a concert or elsewhere is always a combination of direct and reflected sound. Any recording of this captures the sonic picture of that sound at the point where the microphone is placed + a few artifacts involved in the mic iteself, the connectiong cables, associated electronics etc.

That same recorded sound in the home is the recorded signal +the artifacts involved in the home audio components, their connectiong cables, the power supply and, most importantly, the reverberations involved in the listening room.

There is absolutely no way that reproduced sound can be the same as the original by the time it reaches the ear in the home room. The original sound is never absolute in the first place because mic positioning, the number of mics etc etc all "skew" the sound in the first place - sometimes rather horribly.

So what are we on about at AA?

I suggest we are looking for -

* recordings of moving artistry in the first place

* recordings which have the least objectionably coloured artifacts so are technically superior

* equipment which adds the least possible sonic signature and makes the listening experience a moving one

Bottom line: if you are enjoying the performance that is all that really matters, be it with the best home equipment possible, in a car or on the beach with a boom box. It is easy to become mesmorised by the hype of hi-fi. It is the music that matters.

It is not hard to suspect that the mags out there feed the hype. Wish I could stop reading them!!!

Peace at AA

John

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Is there such a thing as" the absolute sound?" - Steve 11:43:27 07/21/00 (21)

Re: Is there such a thing as" the absolute sound?" - Silfver 08:54:36 07/23/00 (0)

Re: Is there such a thing as" the absolute sound?" - hifitommy 08:47:01 07/22/00 (0)

what about standards for sound reproduction? - chris e. 20:37:36 07/21/00 (0)

No, but is that really important? - John C. - Aussie 07/21/0019:49:58 07/21/00 (0)

You answered your own question.... - Jim Bookhard 19:30:44 07/21/00 (7)

Re: You answered your own question.... - Silfver 13:59:32 07/23/00 (0)

Re: You answered your own question.... - Dave-A 22:36:39 07/21/00 (5)

Re: You answered your own question.... - Johann E 08:57:57 07/22/00 (1)

Re: You answered your own question.... - Dave-A 15:21:22 07/22/00 (0)

Hey, what's wrong with dog's playing cards? n/c :-) - Emit 06:45:49 07/22/00 (1)

Re: Hey, what's wrong with dog's playing cards? n/c :-) - Dave-A 15:26:47 07/22/00 (0)

Re: You answered your own question.... - Jim Bookhard 06:31:45 07/22/00 (0)

" The absolute sound" of an electric guitar - Charles Houston 18:00:14 07/21/00 (1)

There is an "absolute sound" of an electric guitar - phenderson 18:17:18 07/22/00 (0)

Re: Is there such a thing as" the absolute sound?" - R.Hertz 17:19:06 07/21/00 (2)

The Obsolete Sound. - Johann E 09:05:00 07/22/00 (1)

Buson: - StephÃ¦n 14:26:50 07/22/00 (0)

the absolute that there are no absolutes is absolute - late 13:27:43 07/21/00 (3)

We all know where THIS thread is going... - Simon Linton 13:32:16 07/21/00 (2)

Re: We all know where THIS thread is going... - Les Lammers 17:12:46 07/21/00 (1)

Re: We all know where THIS thread is going... - Jim Lee 19:35:09 07/22/00 (0)

Follow Ups

No, but is that really important? - John C. - Aussie 07/21/0019:49:58 07/21/00 (0)

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