The HiFi Myth and Professional System Design

simon ess

I'm sorry, I just have to put my two pennorth in. So with some trepidation, here goes. I know nothing about hifi. I'm an average bloke with a minimal budget for toys, but a strong desire to get the best bang for my buck. I love music and want to achieve the best sound I can in my average terraced house. I have entry level kit: CA 540a, CA 740c, MS 902Is and 309I sub. This forum taught me early on that integration with the room is very significant and, as a result, I have colour matched carpet on the walls, a rug in front of the speakers, and furniture placed to break up the walls. Now, a friend of a friend, a professional musician and producer, and a very forthright yorkshireman, came round to listen to my system. My friend had told him about my obsession with getting it to sound as good as I can. He declared it to be the best sound he had heard from a system costing less than £50,000.
I have a degree in ancient history, which largely involves studying personal and institutional motives through text, and I believe you are all being strung along. The OP must be delighted that you are contributing to the extension of his marketing strategy. Re-read his responses to posts and you will find he changes emphasis according to the reactions he receives. In other words, he is using contoversy, together with an illusion of compromise, to extend the discussion.
I find this forum both useful and interesting, even if I'm guilty of not contributing. I'm surprised the mods are allowing this to continue.
This is all just my opinion. Clearly, for the reasons stated, I will not be discussing the matter further.

alexs2

I've already asked that this thread be kept on topic,as opposed to discussing matters which are best left to the moderators,who,contrary to belief,ARE keeping a close eye on things.

craigd

Kit involved:

Lyngdorf TDAI-2200 (Digital amp, ADC and digital crossover 4th order LwR High Pass and Low Pass)Lyngdorf SDA-2175 (powering BW1)Lyngdorf BW-1 (20Hz - 250Hz)'Calibrated' Microphone provided with Lyngdorf TDAI-2200 (calibration method or accuracy not specified in the manual)Audivector Mi1 AV (250Hz - 20,000Hz)Laptop with integrated SoundcardRoom EQ Wizard Software (free at Home Theater Shack!)
The Room EQ Wizard is used to create a log sweep across the audible frequency range over a 3.5mm to RCA Phono connection in to the ADC on the Lyngdorf TDAI-2200. The microphone is placed at the listening position and is connected to the mic in on the laptop. The graph is then generated by the Room EQ Wizard.

Just in case anyone wishes to criticise my poor scientific method, I would like to make it clear that the purpose of taking this measurement was not to collect data in a scientifically rigorous manner. It was done a few weeks ago to allow me to set up the room correction on the TDAI-2200 several times over and measure the frequency response each time. This was to see if I could achieve better results for my preferred listening position by altering the positions from which the calibration measurements were taken during the RoomPerfect set up. I found that the results were suprisingly consistent if 'random' measurement positions were chosen.

I subsequently posted it on this thread as I thought it would give fellow forum members something tangible to add to this discussion.

BlueWizard

Rob, just wanted to make sure you understood that I'm not against you. I'm just trying to get you to expand on the premise you laid out.

Perhaps, we should take a step back and define what we mean by 'Room Correction'.

I see this in two forms, one is electronic magic that analyizes the room, and tries to compensate, so that the room and the audio system are as match and synergistic as possible. That they are working with each other instead of against each other.

But this, within reason, assume you are putting a good system in a good room, and maximizing the mating of the two.

But you started with the premise that a good system in a bad room, is not going to sound good (highly paraphrased), and I think you will get no argument on that.

However, no amount of electronic correction can fix a bad room. If the room is highly reflective, electronic correction can not remover standing waves, or the nulls and peaks that result from them.

Keep in mind that I am not criticizing electronic room correction, in a good room, I'm sure it can optimize a system in stunning ways. But I still say it can't fix a bad room through electronic means.

So, to maximize a room and the equipment in it, we must first put some time and effort into the room itself. Only then can electronic room correction come into play and optimize the listening experiences.

So before we go any farther, perhaps an explanation of what you mean, in the context of this discussion, by 'Room Correction'. And, how, in a very general sense, that is applied in practical terms.

Despite the degree of negativity in this thread, it is an interesting discussion based in a sound concept, and despite my own negativity, it has been my goal to steer the conversation away from 'who' and more into the realm of 'what' and 'how'.

So... "Room Correction" ?

Steve/bluewizard

Brad.F

Does this all mean that if I replace my lowly kit with Lyngdorf, i no longer need to use the anachoic chamber in my garden ?

-Ad-

If you can afford the room correction, I can only afford their budget amp

Rob Sinden

No no no you dont want an anechochic chamber.

What you want it one of these Examples

Rob Sinden

By the way if you do have bass problems Audyssey will have a Bass only Equaliser out in a few weeks. It'll be very similar to the SVS unit that they designed for them but with twice the resolution. It'll be more expensive - about £895 but should provide much more accurate results as it has to be used with the Audyssey Pro set up kit.
This costs £400 but uses a high quality factory calibrated mic and pre amp.

binbag

Or try the Anti-mode 8033 (£250 ish) from BK Electronics.  Thread on Subwoofer forum has all you'll ever need to know.

alexs2

For the last time,please try and keep this on topic or I will have no option other than to close it.