What happened to the High Fidelity oath?

[synsei]

Perhaps a more accurate term for what is being discussed here is True Fidelity... I'm more or less happy where I am, or at least I will be once my DM2's are sorted and seeing as I can no longer get out to live concerts I have no basis for comparison, thankfully

[kenworthy100]

The main element for me is a system that provides enjoyable and listenable music within the constrains of my room and environment. Whether that falls within the rather legal sounding pledge in the first post I wouldn't have a clue. All I can say is that after a hard day I can play a cd or download, sit in a comfy chair and thoroughly enjoy the music.

[synsei]

I don't remember taking any oath. Is this some sort of Masonic thing?

What, you haven't learnt the secret handshake??? Philistine...

[John]

I guess times change from a idealistic view point to one based on reality. In the end we end with a system based on our own perception of the truth
At the end of day of the day its about enjoying the music

[Marco]

I guess times change from a idealistic view point to one based on reality. In the end we end with a system based on our own perception of the truth...

Precisely (as that's all that is currently possible), unless you believe that our presently accepted measurement parameters tell all and have created the perfectly 'transparent' hi-fi system, which I'd suggest is no more than wishful thinking on the part of those who obsess over oscilloscopes and can't live without 'certainty'!

Marco.

[Oldpinkman]

I guess times change from a idealistic view point to one based on reality. In the end we end with a system based on our own perception of the truth
At the end of day of the day its about enjoying the music

Just noticed the Rodrigo y Gabriella. I hope you get to enjoy the truth according to the gospel of DaCapo of that recording on Saturday. I'll tie a knot in my hanky to bring it.

[Welder]

Nope, there was no oath and I’m happy to state that no secret handshakes are necessary.

The truth is of course in this instance as others have noted whatever is on the chosen media.

When I first got into Hi Fi (Hi Fi is a hobby and isn’t necessarily related to my enjoyment of music) the goal was for the enthusiasts I knew to reproduce as faithfully as possible what was on the media. Digital recording studios hadn’t become the norm and audio enthusiasts had record players and tape machines. Some systems got closer than others. We read the various electronic journals of the day, viewed the increasingly popular Hi Fi magazines with deep skepticism and learnt how solder and built our own kit. I dare say many of my generation are now the designers of much of the non mainstream kit many of us now value and prefer.

At some point and I’m not exactly sure when but a bit before I gave up vinyl (I’ve been clearing out and dug out my old Decca London Gold cartridge which brought on a burst of nostalgia) I resigned myself to the conclusion that absolute fidelity to the media was virtually impossible. Even if one could make or afford equipment that got close to true transparency (I feckin hate that term) then the room the system played in would make a mess of the sound so what was the point. My interest in audio reproduction stayed with me and when I went digital I set about trying to learn a bit about that.

Digital equipment I would argue has developed at an astounding rate. I am constantly being pleasantly surprised by its abilities to tailor sound and dismayed by the abuse this often leads to

I’ve listened to a fair number of pre and post studio mixes over the past few years and had the opportunity to see and hear what can be done with digital mixing equipment. anyone who has spent a bit of time playing with one of the pro DA converters will have a good idea of just how powerful these machines have become. The ability to manipulate audio in such a manner used to require racks of kit, now you can get a fully fledge mixer on a USB stick thanks to the ubiquitous computer.

There are now some very good room correction programs and other programs still under development that will allow astounding levels of fine tuning audio that could be used to compensate for playback equipment anomalies, or if one wished, tailor an audio file to sound like tape or vinyl for examples.

Perhaps, if the audiophile community isn’t too entrenched the pursuit of true audio fidelity isn’t such a pipe dream after all.

Hello Brian.
Because I want to hear what’s on the media and quite often given current recording practice it isn’t that pleasant to listen to.

Hello Clive.
I wish I could write that it’s sunny and warm but it isn’t. Next week will be better apparently but its still bloody cold at night up here in the hills.


Honestly Marco, you crack me up. What are you like?

[Marco]

Lol - always pleased to entertain!

Marco.

[brian2957]

Good to hear from you John , hope life ( and music ) is good to you mate

[walpurgis]

I don't know about High Fidelity Oaths, but 'Rule One' is 'There Are No rules'. Each to their own and do and choose whatever you like and use it in any way that suits you.

I'm not sure equipment has to measure flat. That tells you little about what something may sound like. Seventies KEF speakers were tailored to have as flat a response as possible within their frequency response envelope and to me that's how they sounded, a little flat! Decca cartridges have a very flat measured response and somehow they don't give that impression on hearing. Some very fine sounding gear can have departures from level in response.