Linn speakers

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Originally posted by garth:
"I do feel I know something about how live acoustic - particularly classical solo piano - music sounds and it seems to me that it exhibits both "round" and "flat earth" characteristics. I agree that rhythm, pace, timing, and dynamics etc., are more important than tone, timbre, weight or physical prescence, to the reproduction of music in the home. However acoustic instruments do have certain specific tone colours, weight, frequency response, and timbre, and do not sound like they are coming from 2 boxes. Surely the best playback systems would incorporate elements of both "flat earth" and "round earth" criteria?
Garth

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Garth

Thanks for your contribution to this thread. I just wonder if another simpler term like 'enjoyment from listening' is more important. I have an 'entry level' hifi system and I usually listen to music for enjoyment, entertainment, and for relaxation - like most people. Some music I enjoy more than others and some performances I enjoy more than others. We listen to music through our systems - not live music - and so all sorts of technical factors affect the 'output' and will impinge on our ability to enjoy the 'output'. Does it matter what gives us the enjoyment?
What I am questioning - in the context of listening to and enjoying an experience presented by a hifi system - is your statement:
'I agree that rhythm, pace, timing, and dynamics etc., are more important than tone, timbre, weight or physical prescence, to the reproduction of music in the home.'
I think that it is the overall or holistic experience which is important - not just rhythm, pace etc or timbre, weight etc. Personally I don't usually analyse what I hear in detail. Most of the time I enjoy but don't analyse because that would make the activity quite a different activity. Occasionally however a recording is so good that it makes me sit up and say - 'why did I feel that that is special?'. Sometimes I suspect it is the 'non-musical' criteria (round earthism?) which are at play and sometimes it is the 'musical criteria' (flat earthism?) which are imposing. Whatever it is I don't really care as all I am looking for is enjoyment, entertainment, and relaxation. I know however that I can get greater enjoyment etc from better equipment (Naim) and 'better recordings'. Last week another regular contributor to the Naim Forum sent me a test disc and one track on that CD just made me sit up and say 'that was special' and ' why are they not all like this?'. Enjoyment but what were the criteria????
Perhaps I am just agreeing with your analysis.

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Please note that I think the preoccupation with "soundstage" as espoused by Stereophile et.al. has nothing to do with music and I would take a good mono recording anyday over one of those artificially mixed stereo-soundstage specials anyday. I also think that my Rega/Naim/Linn system sounds very natural, and most importantly, involving - I gather that these manufacturers are generally considered in the flat earth camp. I don't find the PRAT elements hyped up nor do I find it lacking in tone, timbre, etc. although, of course, all elements could no doubt be significantly improved as mine is a modest and somewhat imbalanced system. In contrast, I think many of the far more expensive systems I have heard at dealers are bloated, disjointed, embalming devices.

Garth

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I liked your description of other systems - bloated and embalming devices. I recently auditioned fairly expensive speakers but they were not powered by Naim equipment and the CD player was not Naim. I was somewhat surpised at attempts made by a £2000+ CD player -which will remain un-named - at attracting my attention and retaining my interest.

Terry

[This message was edited by plynnplynn on SUNDAY 07 April 2002 at 12:01.]

Thanks for your input and reminding us what it really is all about - the personal enjoyment of music.

I was just saying what criteria "I" would apply if I had to somehow judge the objective goals one might try to attain in a system. When its all said and done though what I really want is a system that makes me want to listen to, be moved by, be grooved by, and generally get off on my music collection and stoke the desire to explore more new music.

Allthough I listen to an incredibly wide range of music, the music I listen to the most seriously to and am the fussiest about is solo classical piano, chamber music, and accoustic jazz. Much of this music is on pretty low quality vinyl. - Those 70's and 80's Deutche Gramaphon recordings?...Ouch -
This is the music I use when I audition components and so obviously influences my decisions.

As someone once said to me, "If you want your system to sound better buy more great music. As I write this I am in my office listening to my dinky little office system. Onkyo mini system - AR turn table that I bought new in 1975 and B+W DM302's(?). BUT, I am listening to Art Pepper's "Smack Up" on vinyl and I am constantly having to get up to sit in the not-so-sweet spot, crank the volume, and just totally get into the music. Appalling but wonderful, isn't it.

Cheers,
Garth

Loud & Clear at the mill (0131 555 3963) have a pair of piano-black SBLs at their store in Edinburgh - I don't think they're new, but I'm not sure - so you could always give them a buzz from Wednesday onwards - they are shut Monday & Tuesday.

Godawful looking things, though

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

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Originally posted by Top Cat:
Hi.

Loud & Clear at the mill (0131 555 3963) have a pair of piano-black SBLs at their store in Edinburgh - I don't think they're new, but I'm not sure - so you could always give them a buzz from Wednesday onwards - they are shut Monday & Tuesday.

Godawful looking things, though
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Thanks
I haven't yet heard SBLs but I did see a pair one lunchtime in Loud and Clear, Glasgow. The shop was too busy, I had no spare time, and I hadn't made an appointment. The SBLs also were black and I now have some sympathy with your feelings about their looks. The cherry ones look nice though although I have only seen pictures. No doubt when the time is right for purchase of speakers (if I ever decide finally to purchase other speakers) I will will try to audition SBLs, Isobariks and a few others. Thanks for your helpful contribution.
Terry

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Originally posted by Jez Quigley:
All due respect to the opinions of others etc, but Kabers are to briks as Herman's Hermits were to the Rolling Stones.

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