So can you identify with the Sad Saga Of Audiophile James Robert Johnson?

How could this Tragedy Have Been Prevented?

FIRST, realize you are not alone.

Not a criticism, just a reality check. Well-intentioned HI FI lovers, at the encouragement and glee of HI FI salespeople and reviewers have been throwing piles of money at the problem since the beginning of print media. It's those very magazines that field my love for this hobby turned profession I the first place. But it was a different time. The magazines drove you to store. They store took if from there. I say this with all sincerity, it breaks my heart that brick and mortar HI FI shops are going the way of the Dodo bird. The ones that are surviving often have to sell the latest and greatest hyper expensive products and accessories just to keep the doors open. Salespeople are talented in sales. Even the best shops still surviving simply cannot devote the time and energy required to get your system to "blossom" every single time even IF they knew how to do it. Unfortunately few do - no matter where they were trained, it is the luck of the draw. Reviewers, are also talented in sales - of magazines and advertising. Not all of them are experts in wholistic set up and integration to your specific rig. It helps to look at your system as a symbiotic relationship. It may be technically right, but emotionally disconnected and wrong. Just because it should be right, doesnt mean it is right. This is about translating the elusive "intangibles" of a great relationship. The reality is, every single "thing" you do to your system can ultimately effect and alter what you ultimately hear in your listening chair. And if that collection of frequency range doesn't arrive into your ears cohesively and perfectly at the the originally intended time - the system falls "flat". Our brains are sensitive to notice the slightest possible timing deviation - microdynamics. So, if I haven't lost you by now...

ANY HI FI system, especially two way systems, are extremely sensitive to set up integration with the room and the listener.

Every “break” in the signal chain - from master tape - to production - to source media/format - to pre amplification, to amplification, to transducer, to ear - introduces macro and micro timing irregularities that are audible to the human ear. I know. It sounds like just another snake oil, carnival barker pitch. However, when you break down music and sound to its fundamental level, it begins to make more sense. We are NOT talking about room treatment or digital room correction. That is a tool that may be necessary for some extreme circumstances, but much can be accomplished between now and then. If the front end isn't right, frankly it doesn't really matter what the room is doing - lipstick on a pig. 

Timing Is Everything

Why do HI FI systems at shows, in show rooms, and in other people's homes sound so good? Ands how can that very same equipment seem to fall apart when introduced into a new environment like your home? It’s all about the interaction of that system to the room and the set up and sum total of the system. Hours and days can be devoted to proper system setup at these shows. The difference between great and music that stirs your soul and and emotions can often be as little as 1/64 of an inch. Sound ridiculous? It is. But it’s the truth I've proven time and time again and I can demonstrate for you in your own home on your own system. More on that later.

Everything Matters

From the time the Tympani is struck in the recording studio until the time it meets the Tympanic Membrane in your ear all matters. Every single interaction with that sound signal and wave will potentially alter or distort that sound, More importantly, when combined with other notes of different frequencies it can further distort or alter the harmonic relationship with each other. From the leading edge of the note and its attack, to the texture around the note, the environment it was recorded in, and the decay all can be heard on some systems. It is a minor modern miracle we get any kind of accurate sound reproduction from a recording into a home environment at all, That being said, timing is everything and everything matters. 

Non amplified live Acoustic Sound is the Reference - Live or Memorex

Un-amplified live acoustic sound is the reference because in most cases the signal has not been adulterated in any way. With the exception of the acoustical and environmental factors, you get what you hear. The performer has a direct "main line" from them to you. The artist’s intended sound along will all of its nuances and inflections and emotions are directly transmitted and received. Can emotions be transmitted and received? I would argue, Yes. Every personal interaction of that artist into that medium - which often are very much at the micro level - can be transmitted and therefore felt. True musicians understand this. Engineers and scientist’s are only recently starting to acknowledge and understand this phenomenon.  All things being equal (they rarely are…) there are a myriad of reasons why live is superior to recorded. Audibly, if the sound engineers do their jobs right - the final live mix is often incomparable. Some things simply cannot be recreated in ANY recorded setting. I believe the ultimate reason is the fact that the performance and sound is often experiencing is least amount of interaction and manipulation. The result, especially in unamplified acoustic music - is as close to acoustic perfection as we get. Simply, your ears, brain, heart, and soul is sophisticated enough to know the difference between “real” and manipulated. The purer the sound and off of its subtle harmonics and inflections, warms the heart and produces and emotional connection that cannot be achieved any other way. That emotional connection and conversation is worth the price of admission. It is literally what makes all of the difference. 

The Fly In The Ointment - The Elephant In The Room - The HI FI System

Knowing that the nanosecond we attempt to amplify or capture and retain sound or music things start to go wrong is of fundamental importance. From the point the sound wave deflects the diaphragm of the microphone to the time the speaker cone moves the air molecules around it, too much can and often does go wrong.  The simpler the system, (Source, Integrated, Loudspeaker, Connections) the less that can potentially go wrong. The inverse is also true, the more complex the system, even the "simple" integration of a subwoofer - can drive most audiophiles into treatment. Let me let you in on a little secret - integrating a sub is the number one thing that most professionals get wrong and one of the most dramatic changes to the system when done correctly. It is literally more art and "tuning" than science and measurement. Again, I've proven it time after time to many a satisfied client. 

Myth #427 - Digital Is Not Perfect - Our Savior Has Become Our Challenge

This is NOT a statement of the merits or downfalls of digital or analog media or sources as much as it is related to digital equipment. Let’s cut to the chase. Digital is NOT real and it was never intended to be real. Digital was born out of convenience and efficiency. Some digital processing, amplification, and transmission can be extremely compelling and realistic. Computers and processors are wonderful inventions and have literally revolutionized and uber convenienced our lives. If that were the case, a completely all digital system should be perfection and audio Nirvana. If that is the case, than you are completely happy and satisfied and have absolutely no need for my services or opinions. However, what I have found in my own HI FI journey, and in those of my customers - is that even in highly advanced nosebleed technology digital systems - we are still not happy with the quality of the sound. This can be overcome.

The First Step In Audio Addiction Recovery - Admitting You Have A Problem

“We admit we were powerless over the HI FI Marketing and Sales Oligarchy and that our systems have become unmanageable.”