What makes an audio system revealing?

I am getting close to publishing my memoir! It's called 99% True and it is chock full of adventures, debauchery, struggles, heartwarming stories, triumphs and failures, great belly laughs, and a peek inside the high-end audio industry you've never known before.

[jcfelicekeys]

Forty years ago, I had owned Magneplanar Tympani 1-D's. For the past 20 years or so, I owned Ohm F's and Ohm Walsh 4's for their more palatable "Wife Acceptance Factor" in my living room. Little did I know that I had swapped my previous system's resolution capability for individual sets of speakers that only fit better into the living room, but did not help with the sound.

It wasn't until 2 years ago that I had acquired a mint pair of used B&W Matrix 801 Series II speakers and mated them with Krell electronics that my wife and I caught on to what a highly resolving system really means. What became immediately apparent was that even my wife would remark, "I NEVER heard that <phrase or detail> in the 30 years of owning/playing this recording!"

What became more apparent to me was I could hear singers take a breath before singing, the same thing with brass players in orchestral music, and there was far more detail in the instruments' placement and surroundings than ever before. Moreover, individual musical phrases became apparent I had never previously heard in the same recordings. The best part of this is that I did NOT have to crank up the system to ear-bleed levels to hear these nuances!

Cheers,

Joe

[Funkbus]

Some of the nicest people in audio. You can feel the spirit of this company in the people and their line of world class products. I think that energy transfers to your listening experience. Spending a moment in listening room 1 you can feel the passion and history, not to mention life changing imaging. Check out PS audio in your hifi adventure.

[russmaleartist]

It is always interesting to hear what you have to say. There may be disagreements, but that is not the point; but rather, it is to compare point of views, investigate theories, and see what we derive as feasible and usable for our needs.

[mcsniper]

I do not know where I read this but it truly resonated within. "Some people use audio gear to listen to music, others use music to listen to audio gear".

[manleys]

These videos are really good, sharing knowledge & enthusiasm for all things audio. Helping people make choices to get the best from there equipment.

[catified]

A highly resolving system will instantly reveal the difference between a good recording and a poor one. You will quickly understand that 80% of your favorite music was recorded poorly. Highly resolving systems punish bad recordings and greatly reward good recordings. It's that simple. And for the people that want everything to sound good on their system, stay with a budget system where everything kinda sounds the same and save your money. You have been warned!

[scotts]

As Paul states he doesn’t want to get off on a rant after the said rant is finished, I find myself doing it all the time. Thanks Paul. Good discussion.

[RadioHamGuy]

You are right on there Paul when you say most or a lot of us listen to music in the background most of the time but then turn some things up and really listen to the full sound at times. I am one of those. I listen to music a good part of the day just in the background on many different set ups while working or doing other things, but then when I come in to my main room at night and hear something I like I will turn it up and really get into it and feel the music.

[charlesludwig]

An OPPO UDP-205 enabled me to get the inner details and audible cues, even from iTunes delivering AAC material. In fact, I'm so deep into recordings now that I can actually get the recording artist's autograph while I wait for the next set.

[toast]

What is the advantage and disadvantage of an unshielded speaker, specifically in production settings, such as the Yamaha HS8 studio monitor?

[dubment]

Very well said, plus mentioning the subwoofer that always needs to be added, its like the pwm feature on synths :)

[tcngr]

from background listening (have sound) to casual and conscious listening (musical sound) and hifi (musical + accurate sound).... where do you want to stand?

[lwdp]

If you’re looking for a song you crave the resolution is second to the memories or experiences. I have a few MP3s😊 of vintage songs that I love. I’d like better copies but I’m just glad they aren’t unlistenable. Still enjoyable.

[carolineleonard]

When listening like this my family says that I'm "Away with the faeries".

[lwdp]

Sometimes it feels like it’s almost impossibly, there in somebody’s ’s room, Ella, Louis, Bing, Oscar or Frank almost coming alive in front of you. Or Diana. That’s revealing. That’s the hobby.

[PrezidentHughes]

Spotify is low res? I thought it was just my car system. I was thinking it didn't sound much higher than a 192 kbits/s MP3.

[russredfern]

I own a luxman D404 cd player, it outlasted all the others. I had a R 406 also had a very warm sound. Lux still has some very end equipment though very expensive.

[Justwantahover]

3:05 I have a fairly run-of-the-mill stereo system ($330 amp and $200 CD player and home built speakers) and I compared the CD to the phone (on Spotify) plugged into the same system (playing exactly the same song) and the CD was MILES in front for resolution (way more). And imagine the difference with a hi-end system (the difference you are hearing). If you don't a-b compare them (I suppose) what you don't know won't hurt you.

[tacticalAV]

I have had the KEF LS 50 and KEF Q 100 speakers, dramatically different prices, but similar sonic signature. The Monitor Audio gold series actually sounded just a tad bit more revealing than the KEF LS 50 speakers. Revealing can be thought of as detail to some people as opposed to sensitivity. Not to be confused with how loud the speakers play... that is a common misconception a lot of people share, thinking that the power of the speaker determines how loud it will play.

[birgerolofsson]

Very high resolution systems is like a double edged sword. Often you (I) hear things that you shouldn't hear, that shouldn't bee in the recording and that makes you loose your focus on the music and you start thinking (to much) on what you just heard.