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  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 7,103
    I'm Rob.

    Default Sonic Signature

    I have often seen people say that when they get a new component or up-grade an existing one "it does not seem to add or subtract anything" which suggests that what they are hearing is to them a purer representation than what they were hearing before.

    How do you know?
    Buy Bose...And get your parking validated!.

    https://youtu.be/ZCBe7-6rw4M

    No Highs...No Lows....It Must Be Bose!

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2009

    Location: gone away

    Posts: 4,870
    I'm joe.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Puffin View Post
    I have often seen people say that when they get a new component or up-grade an existing one "it does not seem to add or subtract anything" which suggests that what they are hearing is to them a purer representation than what they were hearing before.

    How do you know?
    Always cracks me up, that one. Unless you were present at the recording session, the only insight you have into the recording is listening to it via one or more different systems. There's no way of knowing what a particular component has added, taken away, or changed.

  3. #3
    RothwellAudio Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe View Post
    Unless you were present at the recording session, the only insight you have into the recording is listening to it via one or more different systems. There's no way of knowing what a particular component has added, taken away, or changed.
    For the majority of music bought today there never was "a recording session", or at least there never was a complete band performance recorded in a single take. Even if there was, it's irrelevant anyway.
    If you can hear two instruments playing in unison where before you thought there was only one, or you can hear three voices doing harmony vocals were before you could just hear "some" harmony vocals, then the new piece of gear is more transparent than the old. However, it gets complicated by the fact that our brains have the ability to learn. Having heard the new details revealed by the new kit, you will still hear the new details when you switch back to the old kit because your brain has learned what to listen for.

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 7,103
    I'm Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RothwellAudio View Post
    For the majority of music bought today there never was "a recording session", or at least there never was a complete band performance recorded in a single take. Even if there was, it's irrelevant anyway.
    If you can hear two instruments playing in unison where before you thought there was only one, or you can hear three voices doing harmony vocals were before you could just hear "some" harmony vocals, then the new piece of gear is more transparent than the old. However, it gets complicated by the fact that our brains have the ability to learn. Having heard the new details revealed by the new kit, you will still hear the new details when you switch back to the old kit because your brain has learned what to listen for.
    Very interesting Andrew.
    Buy Bose...And get your parking validated!.

    https://youtu.be/ZCBe7-6rw4M

    No Highs...No Lows....It Must Be Bose!

  5. #5
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

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    Box swappers can tell.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Toulouse, France

    Posts: 6,562
    I'm Kevin.

    Default

    X swappers can tell it sounds different from the last system they heard it on.
    Kevin

    Too busy enjoying the music....

    European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    If you hear more detail, more transparency, tighter bass and so on. Has something been added? Or has something been taken away?
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  8. #8
    Join Date: May 2009

    Location: gone away

    Posts: 4,870
    I'm joe.

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    Quote Originally Posted by CageyH View Post
    X swappers can tell it sounds different from the last system they heard it on.
    Different, maybe. Closer to the original? How can they tell, apart from a vague feeing that 'it sounds so good, this must be how it was meant to sound'?

  9. #9
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    You really want a serious answer to this question? Okay,

    1) we are attempting accurate replay of the original recording post mastering, not re-creating the original performance. No need to have been there for any of it.

    2) If it sounds good you are on the right track as almost all recordings sound good if the kit isn't cocking them up.

    3) All recordings have to sound good not just girl with guitar or bloke playing cello - no exceptions. If so you are on the right track. If not and only some recordings sound good that is because the kit is faking it by adding 'sonic signature'. All kit has sonic signature, especially speakers, we can't get away from that but the less signature the more likely all recordings will sound good.

    4) 'Sounds good' does not mean you decided you liked it. If you have to analyse then it isn't that good. You know good when you hear it. No thinking needed.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  10. #10
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 7,103
    I'm Rob.

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    It is all subjective though isn't it?
    Buy Bose...And get your parking validated!.

    https://youtu.be/ZCBe7-6rw4M

    No Highs...No Lows....It Must Be Bose!

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