Simple rule of hifi listening

TBH I'm not a great Dylan fan ...he is a bit love or hate ... But he is obviously popular so I will leave it there..

Adam Meredith posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

Adam Meredith posted:

Japtimscarlet posted:

For me ...Bob ONLY sounds good when on acid ...

When was he on acid?

Japtim didn’t say when Dylan was on acid...

I know - but we've hardly given him time to reply.

No. 94 in the continuing "Being deliberately Obtuse for (attempted) humorous effect" series.

Maybe he has taken the US fifth amendment.

Japtimscarlet posted:

TBH I'm not a great Dylan fan ...he is a bit love or hate ... But he is obviously popular so I will leave it there..

Personally I’ve only liked a small proportion of Dylan stuff I’ve heard - and none sufficiently to buy. Whether listening on acid would have made me like his music more I have no idea!

Linnie do tune dem.

Naimees do boogie and PRAT.

US high enders do walk around soundstage and slam.

The OP does lyric clarity.

I think we all probably do a bit of each at different times. But for me, I want my hi fi to entertain me, move me, keep me listening. In our screen rich world it increasingly seems strange to be entertained without visuals. Surely a good system is one that can do that? I think listening to music as a hobby rather than a distraction is increasingly anachronistic. But that’s me...

Stu

stuart.ashen posted:

Linnie do tune dem.

Naimees do boogie and PRAT.

US high enders do walk around soundstage and slam.

The OP does lyric clarity.

I think we all probably do a bit of each at different times. But for me, I want my hi fi to entertain me, move me, keep me listening. In our screen rich world it increasingly seems strange to be entertained without visuals. Surely a good system is one that can do that? I think listening to music as a hobby rather than a distraction is increasingly anachronistic. But that’s me...

Stu

Never done tune dem (the conceot diesn’t fit with how I hear music).

Not interested in boogie, and PRaT only in balance with all.

Never walk around stage, and slam is only for drums and doors.

Not over-fussed by lyric clarity per se.

So why do I agree in full with the final paragraph? Oh yes, because if the music is good, and is presented well - clearly, accurately and fully, sounding natural - then that is what music does!

I am having a Yes fest this afternoon courtesy of Steven Wilson. I can understand every word Jon Anderson is singing. Absolutely no idea what he is banging on about though. I guess that is what you mean by per se IB?

Stu

Innocent Bystander posted:

I make it 10: That is 10 simple rules of hifi listening:

1. Turn on system if not already up to full working temperature.
2. Chase anyone not joining you out of the house, or othewise to areas where they will not be disturbed, and issue strict orders not to disturb you unless the rest of the house has burnt down and the fire is about to engulf the listening room.
3. Get a ready supply of drink - maybe a bottle of wine, but tea or even water will do if desired.
4. Adjust heating and lighting.
5. Check seating for comfort, plump up the cushions if necessary.
6. Sit down*
7. Select music
8. Turn ears on
9. Start playing
10. Adjust volume - as loud as the music needs to be for maximim enjoyment

*This may need to be later in the sequence if you use physical media and/or dont have a remote control for 7, 9 or 10. 

 

Have you been to Asgaard?!!

Loki posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I make it 10: That is 10 simple rules of hifi listening:

1. Turn on system if not already up to full working temperature.
2. Chase anyone not joining you out of the house, or othewise to areas where they will not be disturbed, and issue strict orders not to disturb you unless the rest of the house has burnt down and the fire is about to engulf the listening room.
3. Get a ready supply of drink - maybe a bottle of wine, but tea or even water will do if desired.
4. Adjust heating and lighting.
5. Check seating for comfort, plump up the cushions if necessary.
6. Sit down*
7. Select music
8. Turn ears on
9. Start playing
10. Adjust volume - as loud as the music needs to be for maximim enjoyment

*This may need to be later in the sequence if you use physical media and/or dont have a remote control for 7, 9 or 10. 

 

Have you been to Asgaard?!!

Physically, no, but mentally...  the music takes me!!!

Don't come waltzing into a listening session if you intend to put on something 4/4.

Understand your natural biorhythms in the moment and select accordingly.  Changing later to other tempo once you've got your ear in.

Given that, for me, 95%+ of lyrics consist of banal tripe, I have little, if any , interest in their intelligibility. Vocals are simply another instrument in the mix. I’m just as happy listening to instrumental recordings.

I agree that Intelligible lyrics and distinguishing between multiple singers is one of several characteristics (some others mentioned above) of good music replay.  As my system has improved (at the expense of my bank balance), I have enjoyed improvements in the separation of voices and instruments, in the revelation of musical subtleties, harmony and rhythm.  Music has sounded more convincingly real and, with good recordings, “complex passages” many instruments and voices are revealed.

There is another essential quality, also mentioned or alluded to above, where the music is enjoyable and “draws in” or “engages” the listener, and the equipment disappears.   This is a sort of “balance” of many criterea which must be achieved in any system from entry level to top tier.   

Charlie

Innocent Bystander posted:

Japtimscarlet posted:

TBH I'm not a great Dylan fan ...he is a bit love or hate ... But he is obviously popular so I will leave it there..

Personally I’ve only liked a small proportion of Dylan stuff I’ve heard - and none sufficiently to buy. Whether listening on acid would have made me like his music more I have no idea!

You can relate to him better on acid. ????

the Dates of the posts are interesting. 10/13/18 to 10/12/18 to 10/11/18 who’s on the acid running the forum?????????

I agree voices are key to great hi-fi but it is more the naturalness of the voice that is important.  Some time ago Duffy always sounded as if she had a cold but as my system improved that disappeared.

For me the first level is being able to distinguish between bass guitar and drums though.

Sounsfaber posted:

the Dates of the posts are interesting. 10/13/18 to 10/12/18 to 10/11/18 who’s on the acid running the forum?????????

Some of us are just coming out of it. ????????

Stevek posted:

In conclusion IF you can understand the vocals all else will follow music wise.

 

steve

 

What happens to those who listen to Thrash, Death or Black Metal? Or even to Foo Fighters? Or to songs sang in a foreign language? Or to opera and symphonic? The moment I think that a violin's vocals are talking to me (literally) I will hand myself in to the nearest psychiatric hospital.