Golden ears or Golden Brain ?

[bhagwan]

c. What is your opinion on "type of speaker"? I know this is a very complicated answer and not really looking for an answer but for thoughts, opinions etc. I'm trying to understand the importance of the brand vs type of speaker (bookshelf vs tower, and bass reflex vs TL vs horn vs single driver) vs "how well it fits with the chain or even with the room". Again, not looking for a formula, just your preferences.

Here - as your rightly stated, there is no simple & straight answer.
Why are there so many speakers ?
They are all made for different kinds of people & for people with different tastes.
Every Audiophile has his own personal take on what he likes.
How the music should be played.
What he likes to hear - how he likes to hear it etc. etc.
Now, within this broad frame work, there are options & those options are exactly what you have stated :-

(bookshelf vs tower, and bass reflex vs TL vs horn vs single driver)

This list can be further expanded - lots of other things too can be included, but that is not important, what I can say, is that once you know what you like, you have your room decided, work backwards - try to fit a speaker in a room that can take that speaker.
The Room & the Speaker should compliment each other & work together - as one & not try and work against each other.

 

[Nikhil]

My experience with a power conditioner/UPS from APC has been very positive. In fact it has been the equivalent of a full component upgrade in my setup. Not only mine but also several others I know including some FMs. The APC UPS in my signature has made a huge difference to our listening experience. Typically we used to wait for night time listening to get optimal (power) conditions etc. Now with the APC UPS in the loop, clean power is available on demand and as said earlier, has made a huge difference.

 

[bhagwan]

My experience with a power conditioner/UPS from APC has been very positive. In fact it has been the equivalent of a full component upgrade in my setup. Not only mine but also several others I know including some FMs. The APC UPS in my signature has made a huge difference to our listening experience. Typically we used to wait for night time listening to get optimal (power) conditions etc. Now with the APC UPS in the loop, clean power is available on demand and as said earlier, has made a huge difference.

Interesting Observations;

Good to learn.

I have tried a few;
Servo Stabilizer
Ultra Issolation Transformers.
Pure Power [one of the best there is]
Acoustic Revive [RTP's]
Etc. Etc.

I have removed all & use power straight from the grid.
Yes, I have done some small things to ensure that I get good power into the house & the music room, but all that was done 1 decade back & it still is good.

My observation has been that a direct connection off the wall gives the best dynamics & transients - no bottle necks & nothing gets choked.

The only product I think that works & have heard the difference is Tripoint;

TRIPOINT AUDIO - PRODUCTS

However, I could never justify the price.. I recommend it & have asked some of my hi end audio friends to buy & install it, but this is way out side my league..

 

[captrajesh]

This is how a room could be - I like the idea / concept.

Isn't that close to being an 'anechoic room'!

What is your opinion on "type of speaker"? I know this is a very complicated answer and not really looking for an answer but for thoughts, opinions etc. I'm trying to understand the importance of the brand vs type of speaker (bookshelf vs tower, and bass reflex vs TL vs horn vs single driver) vs "how well it fits with the chain or even with the room". Again, not looking for a formula, just your preferences.

IMO type of speaker purely depends on your listening preferences and the type of music you listen to and also, speaker size is directly proportional to your room size.

 

[bhagwan]

Isn't that close to being an 'anechoic room'!

IMO type of speaker purely depends on your listening preferences and the type of music you listen to and also, speaker size is directly proportional to your room size.

Sir,
I can understand why you ask that question;
Yes, on 1 glange that room does look like these :-

Uploaded with ImageShack.com
Uploaded with ImageShack.com

However, it is a room that has been treated for dispersion on the outside & absorption on the inside & that is why I like it a lot.

Your observation of Speaker & the comments there on are 100 % correct & I agree with what you have to say.

 

[Nikhil]

I have removed all & use power straight from the grid.
Yes, I have done some small things to ensure that I get good power into the house & the music room, but all that was done 1 decade back & it still is good.

My observation has been that a direct connection off the wall gives the best dynamics & transients - no bottle necks & nothing gets choked.

And you have Mumbai's excellent power utilities from Tata (would Reliance qualify?) to thank.

Posting this for benefit of others - the APC Smart UPS is actually a sine wave re generator and comes with 30 min power backup (more with additional battery packs), active power factor correction and frequency locking. Its not the usual UPS used to provide power backup for home lighting etc. Its usually used in hospitals and for server backups.

Rather than spending time and money on cables, one can get excellent power for approx Rs 40k. Not to mention un-interrupted power.
Easily the best money I have spent on anything in my chain.

 

[Staxxx]

I too use the APC sine wave on-line UPS for my source and preamp.
I use a direct connection for my power amp. It seems to be working quite well, but I have not yet tried other power supply combinations.

 

[bhagwan]

And you have Mumbai's excellent power utilities from Tata (would Reliance qualify?) to thank.

I too use the APC sine wave on-line UPS for my source and preamp.

I suppose the Power in South Mumbai is 'relatively' good [clean] therefore all Power Products never made a +ve change for me.

I do understand that you need to use the products that you do - so as to safeguard your audio gear.

PurePower+ - Specifications
This is what I used to use - I still preferred the wall socket. My observations..

 

[fusspot]

The part which really confuses me and in turn frustrates me is that fact that I am very happy listening to music on my set up, the way it is currently positioned and set - but I still am in the process of spending a not inconsiderable money on some tweaks that will change it.
I tried this morning to imagine what a "better" sound may sound like - in the context of an audio system and failed....and yet I want to tweak!
It may be a mental illness as much as a mental construct!

Might not be the right thing to say, might not be the right place to say it, but I'm going to say it anyways!

You could consider developing a less expensive hobby, just to get your mind off this for a bit of time. No hobby is fun if you are not in control of it, except for maybe S&M hyeah:

No offense meant to anyone. Please don't come after me with brick bats

 

[Staxxx]

Might not be the right thing to say, might not be the right place to say it, but I'm going to say it anyways!

You could consider developing a less expensive hobby, just to get your mind off this for a bit of time. No hobby is fun if you are not in control of it, except for maybe S&M hyeah:

No offense meant to anyone. Please don't come after me with brick bats

There's a problem....all my hobbies are far too expensive for me !
Maybe I need help !