Manuel Delaflor

I have been playing around for about a week with several DSP programs like WOW Thing, Enhancer, SOrient Virtual sound and RealReverb Convolution. All this are plugins for Winamp. The more I hear the more convinced I am about the digital manipulation of data. Now, Im aware that this is subject for lots of discussions. On one hand (speaking about music reproduction) we have the "purists" who think that everything added or substracted from the original signal is an artifact and goes agains ideal "accurate" reproduction. On the other hand we encounter people who are aware that an accurate musical reproduction is imposible with current technologies, and this people is experimenting with all kind of digital manipulations to modify a signal and make it "more realistic than the original recording". This sounds weird, perhaps, but if we think that a recording, basically, is "reducing to bits" an impressive array of information, then, if we can find a way to recostruct that array of info we are, in fact, making it more real. Psychoacoustics is a science that deal with this things (among other things, MP3 are a result of some research in this area). And, as I said before, Im more and more convinced about the amazing results that can be obtained. For example, most people thing that the Wow Thing only do some kind of equalization, enhancing highs and low bass. Far from it, it uses certain algorithms to fool our brain in to feel more space between and around the speakers. In fact, I feel one can obtain an effect very similar to that obtained by some speakers, which offer a good airy sensation because they irradiate sound both from the front and the rear, tricking our ears to hear more space. What do you all thing about all this?

quote: Originally posted by Charles Turner: I wonder how many of us might be well served to spend $100 on an audiometer test to determine our natural hearing patterns before we chose audio components? Perhaps if we all knew our hearing better we could tune our component selections, interconnects, and listening rooms to our ears rather than the ever elusive perfectly flat frequency response curve. Just a thought for what it's worth. I have found myself several times thinking this very idea. In fact, I think is brilliant! ;-) Most "audiophiles" will swear that some particular system is the most "accurate", but if this were an absolute Truth, everyone else on earth will reach the same conclusion. This is not what happen, and I think one of the main reasons is the one you just exposed. Everyone of us hears different.

Amen

"Originally posted by NOS440:" "Where did you find that for $500." Here is the address: http://www.supremevideo.com/audio/acoustic_research/ars500.htm But Im aware now that they don't have it in stock!!! And I can't find it anywhere else! :-( "Why do you feel you need to go lower ?? For movies or music ?? I can't amaging needing something to go that low for music ?" Actually, I hear a lot of Classical music, and there are lots (really lots) of bass in some orchestral pieces, not to mention when a tube organ is present! This message has been edited by Manuel on 03-13-2002 at 09:48 AM

KSW12 here, not bad at all, but now I want something closer to 20Hz, or better yet something with authority to 20Hz. Im thinking in an Acoustic Research ARS500, for example. 500watts RMS Carver amplifier, 15 inch, rated at 18Hz at -2.5dB all this for 500 bucks. Or probably the DIY path...

quote: Originally posted by maxg: They go down to 47 Hz audibly at reasonable volumes - but after that there is nothing at my listening position - it is almost as if someone cut the power as soon as the sweep goes down below 47 hz. Yep, this is why I consider AS IMPORTANT AS THE SPEAKERS the room in which we will listen. I had the opportunity to test the rooms before deciding where my Heresy's would stay ;-) and the particular room I choose happens to have a big closet, that somehow, tune the room lower... that's why I get those impressive numbers with my Heresy's. Nevertheless, I also run them with a sub, to get real bass.

quote: Originally posted by Hipnotic_Tranz: My friends think I'm an idiot for spending $500+ on a sub. We'll see who's laughing after I get it, mwahahah ask for a videocamera and get somebody to film them while hearing your mighty sub for the first time... you will enjoy that movie for loong time! ;-)

quote: Originally posted by SOUNDJUNKIE: Ultrasonic waves still reflect off of objects! Otherwise we've got distortion all over again. You have to look at this, see the video also! From what I understand (perhaps Im just deluded) the sound wave takes form IN THE RECIPIENT, thus no reflection at all: http://www.atcsd.com/tl_hss.html

quote: Originally posted by TheEAR: THere in Canada it comes way under 500USD even with taxes! Hey ears, I have a brother living in Connecticut, he travels from time to time to Canada. Can you think in a way for him to buy a couple of those PW2200? Can he ask for them delivered to an hotel, or something like that, and then put both on his minivan to drive to the states? are there any taxes by doing this? any convenience? hmm... perhaps Im just tired and writing nonsense! ;-) but he will come to Mexico with all his stuff, so I can buy whatever I want for cheap this way... without paying expensive tax down here. ;-)

hipnotic tranz Im also considering a sub for less than 500 bucks, so far, this appears to be the best: http://www.supremevideo.com/audio/acoustic_research/ars500.htm followed by this: http://www.audiosource.net/sw15.pdf I don't remember the link, but you can find this last sub for less than 200 bucks, I would buy two!

quote: Originally posted by mdeneen: I think surgical implants is probably a lot closer of a technology than this would be. "Direct input to the ear's nerve" - little Firewire port/chip under the skin which attaches to an optically coupled device strapped onto the head like a headphone. This would allow you to "plug-in" to any device like a computer, CD player, telephone, or whatever. Hey mdeneen, that's really interesting! do you have a link?

http://popularmechanics.com/technology/audio/1997/6/Hypersonic_Sound/

quote: Originally posted by mdeneen: Every circuit has compromises and tradeoffs. This is why the interaction with amp and speaker and room is so crucial. An amp that sounds the bomb on Speaker A in room A, may sound like a dud on Speaker B in room B. Well, I am saying the obvious, but that is why I made the above comments. Interesting work, I really want to begin with tubes... and about this last comment of yours, I can't agree more. I want to stress that Heresy's are rated at 50Hz at -3dB, but they don't fall sharply beyond that. And this specs are (I think) anechoic. In my room they are able to play a 100Hz tone at the same dB than a 50Hz one, and they are able to achieve 40Hz at -5dB, or in other words, they will play a 40Hz tone at good levels.

Malcolm I still don't have time to seek the diaphragms in here, but I found them in the sites you mentioned. Will I be able to install the diaphragm or it is a complex task? Are the diaphragms for K77 and K77M different (physically) or just by brand?

Thanks ears. The specs are really good, and the price seems a bargain. That's why Im interested: High power handling 15" Woofer (110oz magnet) Frequency Response 18Hz-120Hz±2.5dB Crossover Frequency 50Hz(24dB/Oct.)~120Hz(36dB/Oct.) Continuously Variable Rated System Power 500 Watts RMS All this for 495 bucks...

Vonrebel I went to audition a set of RF7's The stick says also 150watts. Weird.

hmmm... not even theears to tell me about this sub?

quote: Originally posted by NOS440: Anyway's if anyone wants to know what we did let me know. I'd be more than happy to share Info. Craig What did you did?

Mdeneen, I have Spectralab, SpectraRTA, ETF Acoustics and RMAA & RMAA-AE. I use a SoundBlaster Live in my desktop and the internal soundcard of my notebook. ETF is an interesting software, it takes the measure against the output from the soundcard, minimizing errors. I also use an old omnidirectional Sony mic, the RS SPL Meter and I will order the calibrated mic that comes with ETF. So far, Im only playing around with the software, reading and learning here and there, and having fun. But I surely feel that an RTA could be an invaluable tool for fine tunning a system, coupled with a high quality 1/3 octave or a parametric equalizer. This message has been edited by Manuel on 03-09-2002 at 02:31 PM

quote: Originally posted by mdeneen: Manuel -- Nothing is wrong with EQ conceptually. How else would you mitigate the +/- 6dB or 10dB response variations with room and speaker? Yep, that is my point. Now that Im learning to use RTA software Im begining to be aware of the incredible dB variations I get in my room by simply changing a few variables! Now, MobileHomeless, you are right about that "the less the better" but by selecting the components you are also equalizing (the hard way) ;-) The bad part is that the equalization will only work with some recordings, leaving others as awful as they are. I plan to use a 1/3 octave equalizer, and make only small changes. But first, I want to really master the mysterious world of objective measures.

Modern Audiophiles prefer the less interaction between the equipment and the recording. The more direct the source and less "colored" by any components the best. I wonder why equalization is a don't? In my view, equalize can be the cheapest and easier way to "match" the sound system with the specific room in which we pretend to use it. Comments?

In my permanent looking for the best bang for the buck I found this sub. You can find them on the Net for around 500 bucks. Comments?

quote: Originally posted by mdeneen: I'd have to know what the sub is, what that amplifier on it looks like and so forth, but all these things are possible and easy to accomplish once some of the circuits are known. At times like this I wish I had some knowlege on electronics! :-( My sub (KSW12) have the control on the unit. What can I do to control de volume from just the Amplifier in order to avoid recalibrating the sub every time? Ah, and about the integrated you mentioned. I have a brother living in Connecticut, he can buy me whatever I want. But where in his area or in New York can he buy me a nice tube integrated?

quote: Originally posted by Ray Garrison: one of the things I would really, really like to buy myself is either (a) a Porche 911 4 Carrera Cabriolet, or ( the new Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV. Why? Not because I intend to drive through the hills of sunny Connecticut at speeds in excess of 250kph, but because: (etc) Ray, I was not attempting to say that its absurd to buy a good car in the States (and a Porsche is certainly a GOOD car!). But being as me, a speed freak, it would be next to impossible to enjoy that car! I mean, I could stare at it the whole night, right there in my garage, waiting for me to sit and just put the pedal to the metal and leave behind everything else... Man, how I love to dream... This message has been edited by Manuel on 03-07-2002 at 04:42 PM

quote: Originally posted by mdeneen: Man, you drive FAST! Yep, one of the things I like more in the hole world. I guess I am a speed freak, just as some in here (like ears) are bass freaks. ;-) Oh, I almost forgot... and the tube freaks! "freak: An eccentric or nonconformist person, especially a member of a counterculture. An enthusiast." Just to be sure Im not insulting nobody. This message has been edited by Manuel on 03-07-2002 at 02:25 PM