Why Audiophiles resist change?

[Ambio]

Your interpretation of the motivations is entirely wrong. And in some cases who is resisting change is also wrong in your analysis.

True audiophiles are looking for better sound quality that holds to the essence of the original performance. Many of the "new technologies" are convenience oriented but do not enhance the musical experience. CDs are an example.

SACD is still hanging in there. It failure (which is not yet final) is because of no adoption among the masses. Audiophiles, in general, like SACD though it still doesn't better vinyl when it comes to recreating the essence of the musical experience.

The best digital to date does not outdo the best analogue. I am a vinyl guy waiting for the digital world to surpass what I can experience on my mid tier high-end turntable. Digital, in all forms, as gotten considerably better but for the best sonic/musical experience its vinyl that continues to rule.

I agree there is something magical about vinyl. I have had the privilege to listen Grande Utopia, Krell Evolution Monoblocks, ClearAudio Statement turntable setup. The gentleman's speaker cables alone cost more than my entire retail price of my Classe, Harbeth and Theta Digital setup.

It was setup in a large dedicated room and it worked fine. The room was well tuned to play the large speakers to their maximum volume without any issues. Too loud for my liking and I doubt he plays at that volume on regular basis unless he wants his hearing damaged.

Yes, I have experienced them all. And after experiencing, I still say Ambiophonics would be still the best upgrade that you can do to your system. The 3D effect and ambiance that you get in Ambiophonics can never be matched by the above setup at the same loudness level. That's a bold statement and I stand by it.

 

[arj]

For years, I was resisting a subwoofer simply because I did not try them and believed that not much low freq in real music. It is only when I added up one and spend many weeks fine tuning them I realized what I have been missing all those years. It doesn't mean if you have floorstanders going below 30Hz you are going to get the low bass right. Until you do a room measurement you will go on wild goose chase looking for the so called synergy and matching between Amps/speakers/cables. Of course, the sub only enhances certain genre or tracks. It is a complicated topic...maybe another time.

completely with you on that. i used dual RELs for some time and the tone it added to not just the bass but the midrange as well was surprising. the whole quality of notes changes ..one where all those sub harmonics started getting presented.

But getting the position right is a real pain.

I have been reading up on Ambiophonics..would like to try it out on my HT sometime. although for my stereo any DSP is a no no..i really have built it around keeping the signal path as short and simple as possible.


Any pointers on implementing it around a Mac ?

 

[manoj.p]

Ambio,

Even for movies, you consider 4 speakers are enough and 10.2 is not needed. Others may consider 2 channels is enough for music. This explains people put a number to what will get the best experience and don't want to deviate from it.

Don't get me wrong - I listen to music in multichannel with subwoofers. Not ambiophonics though - came across first time now.

 

[Ambio]

I have been using ambiophonics for quite sometime, started with PC, now in my ipad, in my android phone (NMP) to play on my home stereo.
Ambiophonics may have its limitations with tonality, however widens and deepens the stage like no other I have experienced, all these without bothering about room imperfections.

I tried the iPad version but didn't sound that well. I listened with the physical barrier and downloaded the preprocessed Ambiophonics files. Once I am assured of myself of the true potential of Ambiophonics I bought the Miniambios. It was supposed to be a temporary solution till I buy the TaCT but it worked fine with my DSD/SACD collection without any loss of resolution and since TaCt already closed shop it is now my permanent solution.

 

[Ambio]

Ambio,

Even for movies, you consider 4 speakers are enough and 10.2 is not needed. Others may consider 2 channels is enough for music. This explains people put a number to what will get the best experience and don't want to deviate from it.

Don't get me wrong - I listen to music in multichannel with subwoofers. Not ambiophonics though - came across first time now.

Hi Manoj,

In fact, even the two speakers Ambio give me a better sense of 3D then my Multi channel AV system. I notice that you are in US. Maybe, you can get a few friends and visit the institute and share your experience here.

Try classical music in Ambio (2 speakers) and you can judge for yourself. Please do not try some pop recordings for now. Try good classical recordings. Like Decca, Miles Davis Kind of Blue sounds excellent, most of the Linn recordings. Yesterday I was listening Telarc Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra ? Ein Straussfest and the decay after the pop in track 12 was giving me goosebumps.

 

[Kannan]

I tried the iPad version but didn't sound that well. I listened with the physical barrier and downloaded the preprocessed Ambiophonics files. Once I am assured of myself of the true potential of Ambiophonics I bought the Miniambios. It was supposed to be a temporary solution till I buy the TaCT but it worked fine with my DSD/SACD collection without any loss of resolution and since TaCt already closed shop it is now my permanent solution.

Do post a pic of your setup, especially interesed in having a look at the front speaker placement.

 

[Ambio]

completely with you on that. i used dual RELs for some time and the tone it added to not just the bass but the midrange as well was surprising. the whole quality of notes changes ..one where all those sub harmonics started getting presented.

But getting the position right is a real pain.

I have been reading up on Ambiophonics..would like to try it out on my HT sometime. although for my stereo any DSP is a no no..i really have built it around keeping the signal path as short and simple as possible.


Any pointers on implementing it around a Mac ?

Just like your subwoofer, it takes patience to get it right. The painless way is the Miniambio.


And regarding your

although for my stereo any DSP is a no no..i really have built it around keeping the signal path as short and simple as possible

As I said before audiophile resist change. You may have read in magazines that DSP would degrade the sound. Have you tried them? Is it audible? I don't hear any degradation. I have used Theta Digital DAC, Marantz SA11S2 SACD player, MYtek DSD DAC. I only hear enhancement and so too the college boys that I do my double blind tests on.

 

[Ambio]

Do post a pic of your setup, especially interesed in having a look at the front speaker placement.

Please see here http://www.hifivision.com/av-lounge/52933-introduction-ambiophonics.html

 

[square_wave]

Humans are generally resistant to change. But having said that, if something is worthwhile, hobbyists will pursue it.

Also, it is wrong to assume that multichannel in its current form and trend is a next step in evolution for recreation of music.

 

[Ambio]

....
Also, it is wrong to assume that multichannel in its current form and trend is a next step in evolution for recreation of music.

Probably not. I was just using the numbers of total AVRs and dedicated stereo setup sold worldwide and thought that's where the world is heading to.

 

[square_wave]

If we see information with the right filters, it will give more insight.

-Music enthusiasts usually buy specialized two channel gear

-Multichannel enthusiasts (most are movie enthusiasts too) buy specialized multichannel gear.

None can replace the other except in a cost no object custom installation.

A few decades ago, only 2 channel gear existed, so all people who aspired for some sound quality in their entertainment used to buy them. Now the market is more specialized. The number of multichannel gear is more purely because 2 channel is specialized and is not very multi-use friendly. The demographic who wants multi-use is bigger ( the household help, mother and father in law and all friends are entertained ) hence the market for multi-channel is bigger..

Also, a cheap multichannel sound system is seen as a mandatory piece of gear that accompanies a flat television in a living room. People can mistake this as a trend..however these are fringe equipment bought by people who are not really into sound quality but just wants the job done..This also adds to the illusion of a very large multichannel market.

 

[deba]

Why Audiophiles resist change?...........because they are audiophiles .......)

 

[Dude111]

In my long journey of music listening, the first thing I noticed was, people resist change.

Because WE DONT WANT THINGS GETTING WORSE!!!!

Nothing better than analogue for video OR sound!!


CHANGE USUALLY IS WORSE.....