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Author Topic: Sound science thread  (Read 12977 times)

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AstralStorm

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #70 on: January 11, 2013, 08:24:15 PM »

See, the whole idea is that science should use precise terms whenever possible.
Add this to the fact that each listen is not exactly reproducible, you need to have a control sample to say that "so and so happened due to burn in".
Otherwise you might be seeing the effect of:
A) expectation bias
B) listening more closely
C) humidity difference
D) temperature difference
E) different placement on head

All except A can be averted by using a control pair of headphones/amplifier.
(I do not negate the effect itself - there's enough mechanical stuff in headphones that can be affected - at least pads and headband, perhaps cups - esp. wooden, usually not the driver, except if it's really lousy material. Amps... nada, unless by burnin you mean lousy electrolytic cap burnout.)

Also: slightly more extended -> x Hz more extended OR y dB/oct less rolloff
warmer -> x dB boosted at y Hz OR more even order distorion OR less odd order distortion OR less high frequency ringing at z Hz
has more slam -> is it more subbass or what? see "more extended"
lowered noise floor -> from what dB to what dB?

Certain cooled parts do indeed change their characteristics enough. But this is typically out of their spec, so there you go.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2013, 08:35:57 PM by AstralStorm »
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omegakitty

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #71 on: January 11, 2013, 09:20:04 PM »

johnjen have you tried any vibration dampening on your amp/source?

It will bring out the blackness between notes. Put on Diana Krall after a bit of moving them around and it's like Krall in blackface... just incredible  :-*
« Last Edit: January 11, 2013, 09:26:48 PM by omegakitty »
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johnjen

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #72 on: January 11, 2013, 09:54:32 PM »

Yes indeed.  And while I can't say with assurance that the anti-resonance material I am using has resulted in an obvious change, I have yet to pull it out and test to see if that makes any difference on the flip side.

One reason for the 'lack' of discernible change is, headphones don't generate vibrations in the local sound field like speakers do.  I see this as one of the major strengths of headphones over speaker systems.  The simplicity, on multiple fronts, of the delivery of music to my ears, yields way fewer complications and compounding effects, which can and usually results in a more involving experience.

Microphonics for example, are a known issue with tubes that becomes, more or less, a non-issue with headphones.  This is a decidedly good thing in my book.

And the more resolving any system becomes the more susceptible to any and all 'external' influences it appears to be.  This has been born out by many decades of experimentation.

JJ
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AstralStorm

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #73 on: January 12, 2013, 12:37:06 PM »

In a solid state amp, the only part that's microphonic is a capacitor. Clearly better at this than valves too.
It's pretty hard to actually induce anything in a typical capacitor, even large, by mechanics. Electrolytics are the weakest to this, but they shouldn't be used in expensive equipment.
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johnjen

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #74 on: January 13, 2013, 03:17:08 AM »

You seem so sure of your statements. 
And they certainly are true for you and those who agree with you.

But there are those who don't agree and some of them know WAY more about these things than you and I combined.

I'm reminded of the accumulation of wisdom by decades that goes something like this;

In your…
20’s you know everything
30’s you know you know everything
40’s you know you know, what you know
50’s you know you don’t know shit
60’s you know you don’t know shit, but at least you know it
70’s I don’t know, I'm not there yet…

Life is about growth and part of growth is not just learning new things but UN-learning some things that need to change.

Just say'n is all

JJ
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Cristello

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #75 on: January 13, 2013, 04:37:16 AM »

there are those who don't agree and some of them know WAY more about these things than you and I combined.

In your…
20’s you know everything
30’s you know you know everything
40’s you know you know, what you know
50’s you know you don’t know shit
60’s you know you don’t know shit, but at least you know it
70’s I don’t know, I'm not there yet…

Life is about growth and part of growth is not just learning new things but UN-learning some things that need to change.
You seem so sure of your statements. And they certainly are true for you and those who agree with you... The only question I have is: what age group are you in?

A word of advice: Change is the most-certain, uncertain thing in this world...
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johnjen

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #76 on: January 13, 2013, 04:43:42 AM »

I agree.
The only constant is change.

I'm 62

What about you?

JJ
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shipsupt

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #77 on: January 13, 2013, 09:11:52 AM »

Gents, how about some sound science.  If you want to exchange bullshit take it elsewhere.
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

johnjen

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #78 on: January 13, 2013, 09:15:53 PM »

My apologies to the list for sidetracking the discussion.

JJ
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anetode

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Re: Sound science thread
« Reply #79 on: January 14, 2013, 01:31:16 AM »

Are you implying that you wish to use strictly rigorous scientific methodology and apply it to a by definition subjective experience?  I'm sure you can see where this will go.

It would be productive and informative, though a little extreme for a hobbyist. I hope that you're not under the impression that there aren't suitable methodologies for examining subjective experience which bear out verifiable statistical trends. There are whole disciplines devoted to that. Fuck, with a grant and enough time, you could even discover the nature of plankton.
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