|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10
Knows where his towel is
|
|
Knows where his towel is
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10 |
I've come to the conclusion that, for us, there is no such thing as the original sound when playing a recording. I know that, theoretically, it's meant to be the Holy Grail for us all and that many of us spend a great deal of money in trying to achieve it. We eschew the likes of tone controls on amplifiers, pay silly money for players, amps, loudspeakers and cables etc.
Yet, for all this, studio recorded music has been through a myriad of microphones, processors, wiring, mixing desks etc and has been Eq'd and Mastered by a particular individual through particular equipment in a particular room on particular loudspeakers and particular headphones. With the exception of a full live performance (and you'd have to have been there), there wasn't even an original sound to start with, as we are presented with many individual overlaid tracks.
I know we talk about things like 'instrumental timbre', 'timing', 'reproduction of the original acoustic' etc. but I really do think that sometimes we are fooling ourselves about this 'realism' because all these things relate to our own ears, prejudices and opinions. I've come to accept that the truth of the matter, for me, is I simply try to get the sound how I like it - and I've sure spent a lot of money over the years doing it. TOTALLY AGREE! Hi-Fi is all about finding kit with the sonic signature you like the sound of. They all change the sound slightly and we all like a different signature, and for us it is Meridian.
No Darling, I've had it months!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 726 Likes: 15
Paranoid android
|
|
Paranoid android
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 726 Likes: 15 |
Isn't the (true) goal for most "no sonic signature" ? Now that I've lit the touch-paper I'm going to retreat hastily.... 
Trinnov Altitude CI-12; Meridian 861v8 + ID41 + UHD722v2 + 271, 2*SE-update DSP8.2Ks, SE-update DSP7200HC, 4*DSP3200, 4*DSP33, 218, 251
JVC DLA-NZ8; Panasonic TX-P60ZT60E; Lumagen Radiance Pro 5348
Roon [13i7 Win.11 NUC]; SKY Q; Oppo UDP-203EU; AppleTV / Fire Cube / Roku / NVidia
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 396 Likes: 2
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 396 Likes: 2 |
It depends on what I want at the time. In my main system (M analog) I turn up the volume to get the image that I like, which by the way is the best in 2-channel. But once I find that volume that i like, a bit on the high side, I can listen to random shuffle of various songs with various recordings all at the same volume level with minimal fatigue.
In multi-channel, if I turn it up, I find some songs sound great but other can be very fatiguing so turn it up and down per song to find the sweet spot for that particular song. Can't really set it and forget it at louder volumes. Therefore I find myself keeping the volume a bit on the lower side in multi-channel. But then I don't get the image that I like at the lower volumes, so I usually just listen to music in 2-channel so that I can turn it up and not have to adjust the volume.
DSP6000, DSP5200, DSP5500VC, P300W, SW1600, G68, 568.2, HD621, G57, G55, Oppo BDP-105.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10
Knows where his towel is
|
|
Knows where his towel is
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10 |
Isn't the (true) goal for most "no sonic signature" ? Now that I've lit the touch-paper I'm going to retreat hastily.... No. Every Hi-Fi company I have every spoke to say they have a sonic signature, always have and always will, as soon as they loose that we will all by the cheapest out there. People say the Meridian speakers are pretty colourless, but I disagree completely, if you listen to applause on a pair of DSP8000s it doesn't sound like your in the room with the audience in the same way as a pair of Dunlavey SC-IV's do being run through a Cinepro 3k6 Gold, and then listen to a Piano on both, the Dunlaveys sound more like a real piano imho, but the Meridians sound far nicer. I would take the Meridians every time, but they were not designed as studio monitors, and are all the better for it. I also find M speakers the best I have come across for not sounding shrill as you get louder, their sound does change as the volume increases but like most systems, it is far better controlled.
No Darling, I've had it months!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 735
Paranoid android
|
|
Paranoid android
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 735 |
My DSPs make most music a pleasure to listen to
My Quad 63 analogues make you aware of all limitations in performance and recording
A useful pairing for comparison.
518, 568.2, D6Ks, D6KC, iMac dual core, iTunes 10.1 (lossless), Apogee Duet, Kuro 500A, Logic Studio, Sound Devices 702.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10
Knows where his towel is
|
|
Knows where his towel is
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10 |
My DSPs make most music a pleasure to listen to
My Quad 63 analogues make you aware of all limitations in performance and recording
A useful pairing for comparison. Same with the Dunlavey speakers I used before. Accuracy is not always that nice, I would rather the speakers/system make every thing sound 'nice'.
No Darling, I've had it months!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 726 Likes: 15
Paranoid android
|
|
Paranoid android
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 726 Likes: 15 |
Accuracy is not always that nice, I would rather the speakers/system make every thing sound 'nice'. Each to their own of course - I'd (personally) prefer the utmost accuracy....
Trinnov Altitude CI-12; Meridian 861v8 + ID41 + UHD722v2 + 271, 2*SE-update DSP8.2Ks, SE-update DSP7200HC, 4*DSP3200, 4*DSP33, 218, 251
JVC DLA-NZ8; Panasonic TX-P60ZT60E; Lumagen Radiance Pro 5348
Roon [13i7 Win.11 NUC]; SKY Q; Oppo UDP-203EU; AppleTV / Fire Cube / Roku / NVidia
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 272
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 272 |
Same with the Dunlavey speakers I used before.
Accuracy is not always that nice, I would rather the speakers/system make every thing sound 'nice'. The last time I attended the L.A. Philharmonic it was very "accurate" and also sounded "nice". Yes you can have it all.  Gary
Last edited by GaryArthur; 2011-07-11 13:12.
My Kit: Trinnov Altitude 32,Oppo BDP 203, Sony 600es, Martin Logan Neoliths Mains with VTL Siegfried II's, ML CLX's, ML Renaissance, 5 ML Theaters,13 ML Vanquish, 6 ML Edges, 6 ML Axis' 8 Velodyne DD-18+'s, Pass Labs 600.8,Pass Labs 160.8, Pass labs 160.5, Bryston 14B-SST, 6B-SST,6 Bryston 9BSST^2's, 14' Stewart Screen, Berkely Alpha DAC RS
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10
Knows where his towel is
|
|
Knows where his towel is
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10 |
Accuracy is not always that nice, I would rather the speakers/system make every thing sound 'nice'. Each to their own of course - I'd (personally) prefer the utmost accuracy.... But we are back at 'what is accurate?'. I have never been to a concert where the orchestra, singer or band has not been played through a system and therefore coloured. A piano concert is the only thing I can think of where it is just the Piano and me. And although Meridian gets damned close to that sound with the 8Ks, I still think they calm things down a little and things like Dunlavey Audio Labs are closer, but not as nice.
No Darling, I've had it months!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10
Knows where his towel is
|
|
Knows where his towel is
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,001 Likes: 10 |
Same with the Dunlavey speakers I used before.
Accuracy is not always that nice, I would rather the speakers/system make every thing sound 'nice'. The last time I attended the L.A. Philharmonic it was very "accurate" and also sounded "nice". Yes you can have it all. Gary Yeah of course. But when you get that accurate you have to make sure all your recordings are prestine, your sources can keep up etc. etc. Again I would happily loose some accuracy to have a system that makes me smile with everything I throw at it. But I don't know what accurate is. What about the microphones? Are these artists using accurate mics?? Cables? Hope they're not using some cheap stuff that colours the sound? Producer? Who is mixing this? Someone I know who mixes thinks my Meridian is soft as [censored], where as I think his M&Ks are torture! But listen to his mixes on his system and they are not bad, but listen on mine and he has a point, but then nearly everything else on his system sounds sharp, so I think the M is closer. There is just too much in the chain to ever reach accurate, imho.
No Darling, I've had it months!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 396 Likes: 2
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 396 Likes: 2 |
I don't know what accurate is. Is accurate what the instrument sounds like in a room that adds no color?
DSP6000, DSP5200, DSP5500VC, P300W, SW1600, G68, 568.2, HD621, G57, G55, Oppo BDP-105.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 272
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 272 |
But when you get that accurate you have to make sure all your recordings are prestine, your sources can keep up etc. etc.
Again I would happily loose some accuracy to have a system that makes me smile with everything I throw at it. But I don't know what accurate is.
...microphones? ... Cables? ...Producer? ...There is just too much in the chain to ever reach accurate, imho. I suppose if you look at the strick definintion of "accurate" and the variables involved, you have a point. However, I want my system to be able to do a number of things and at least create an illusion of accuracy. If I am listening to a recording such as Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting and Yefim Bronfman playing Bartok's first piano concerto or Rockmaninoff's third, I expect to feel the hall in which the recording took place. I expect to hear and sense the piano and I expect to feel the emotion. And I expect the pianoforte, at least to my ear, to sound accurate if soft or loud. Gary
My Kit: Trinnov Altitude 32,Oppo BDP 203, Sony 600es, Martin Logan Neoliths Mains with VTL Siegfried II's, ML CLX's, ML Renaissance, 5 ML Theaters,13 ML Vanquish, 6 ML Edges, 6 ML Axis' 8 Velodyne DD-18+'s, Pass Labs 600.8,Pass Labs 160.8, Pass labs 160.5, Bryston 14B-SST, 6B-SST,6 Bryston 9BSST^2's, 14' Stewart Screen, Berkely Alpha DAC RS
|
|
|
|
1 members (ChrisSwain),
696
guests, and
2
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums18
Topics31,245
Posts297,392
Members5,503
| |
Most Online4,788
May 22nd, 2026
|
|
|
|
Google Search
|
Meridian Systems
|
Meridian Streaming
|
Restaurant
|
WiKi
|
Duncan's Meridian Info
|
Board Rules
|
Restaurant Rules
