What does Flat earth mean to you?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Ha, if I'm beating other people to understanding this then I would politly suggest that they are fucked... Gimmi a sec let me re read some stuff!!

[Steve Toy]

I'm going to do some searching and linking to stuff on PFM.

[alfie2902]

Kind of, Alfie, but there's a little more to it than that. You're getting there, though (although I think Hamish is beating you to it)!

Marco.

I'm not getting anywhere, I'm fine & happy where I am, Somewhere in the middle of what I understand as 'Flat or Round Earth' I will, & always have, used my ears to chose my Hi-Fi but I also read the measurements too. I want 'PRAT' but also the 'Hi-Fi' attributes!

[Steve Toy]

I'm not getting anywhere, I'm fine & happy where I am, Somewhere in the middle of what I understand as 'Flat or Round Earth' I will, & always have, used my ears to chose my Hi-Fi but I also read the measurements too. I want 'PRAT' but also the 'Hi-Fi' attributes!

...and here's the rub and why many flat earthers have gone down the valve route. Valves give you better PRAT, dynamics more tune and to boot all the presentational aspects like soundstaging etc.

I'd regard tonality and texture to be communication rather than presentation though as they convey the musical message with even more impact.

As for detail, surely this, over some notion of measured accuracy brings greater insight into the music, does it not?

Alfie, your sig definitely places you firmly in the flat earth camp according to our definition and in accordance with the poll results so far.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Hamish,



Yes, and that there are now other (better) ways to 'skin the same cat'...

Answer this for me: Is there anything, sonically or musically, that your new valve amps can't do better than your Naim amps did?

As Steve has correctly said, having met you, heard your system and identified your listening priorities, that you appreciate music through the ears of a typical 'flat-earther', yet you abandoned a brand of equipment synonymous with offering a presentation best suited to satisfying your listening priorities, in favour of valves, yet have succeeded in retaining the very priorities you value and expanding on them.

Yes?

If so, that's exactly what happened to Steve and me when we switched from Naim gear to valves, so join the 'flat-earth club for lateral thinkers'!

Is it sinking in more now?

Marco.

Ok, I can see a lateral conection to flat earth.
But guys seriously if you are asking for constructive critism then take my confusion as that constructive critism! I know I am not the most well informed audiophile, but I'd like to think that I like the others who haven't grasped what you are getting at arnt the least well informed! And if we aren't the least well informed then there are going to be a lot of less well informed who might well be even more confused!
If the idea is to put accros you stance on hifi, then it might be worth coming up with an easier way of describing it!
It's your call at the end of the day, but like I say your current flag colours are a bit to blurred to make out ... In my view at least

[Marco]

I'm not getting anywhere, I'm fine & happy where I am, Somewhere in the middle of what I understand as 'Flat or Round Earth' I will, & always have, used my ears to chose my Hi-Fi but I also read the measurements too. I want 'PRAT' but also the 'Hi-Fi' attributes!

LOL... I meant "getting somewhere" in terms of seeing how we (AoS) define the term 'flat-earth'

The systems belonging to Steve and I major more now, sonically and musically, on traditional 'flat-earth principles' than they ever did when we used Naim or Densen - two brands synonymous with the stereotypical 'flat-earth' sonic approach to audio.

That is largely the point we're trying to get across.

Marco.

[Steve Toy]

LOL... I meant "getting somewhere" in terms of seeing how we (AoS) define the term 'flat-earth'

The systems belonging to Steve and I major more now, sonically and musically, on traditional 'flat-earth principles' than they ever did when we used Naim or Densen - two brands synonymous with the stereotypical 'flat-earth' sonic approach to audio.

That is largely the point we're trying to get across.

...and in addition we derive more in the way of texture, tonality and harmonics (musical communication) as well as imaging/staging (presentation.)


I guess it's a case of getting the best of both worlds, or earths.

There is a loose correlation between flat earth/round earth and subjectivism/objectivism.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Best if both worlds.. Now see, there's a nice litle tag line! That would make much more sence to me... Perhaps it's a bit obvious, but maybe that is what is needed??

[The Vinyl Adventure]

As a side note (I do like my side notes ) confusion can lead to people feeling departed from a veiw, am sure most of the regulars wouldn't hold it against you but you don't want new comers not understanding and feeling separated from what might apear a shared view! It could also lead to people seeing you as being elitist or snobby (not that you are being at all) and it would be a shame to give off a false view of something that I have recently experienced as benificial to my music enjoyment... Especially as the main thin I love about this forum is that it is about getting great sound for pound! Sound for pound ideals could be blured and you could be left with a forum that doesn't have a solid and easy to understand reason for people to stay... Which is so far something that I personally think you have achived quite well!!

[alfie2902]

...and here's the rub and why many flat earthers have gone down the valve route. Valves give you better PRAT, dynamics more tune and to boot all the presentational aspects like soundstaging etc.

I'd regard tonality and texture to be communication rather than presentation though as they convey the musical message with even more impact.

Alfie, your sig definitely places you firmly in the flat earth camp according to our definition and in accordance with the poll results so far.

Hi Steve,

It all depends on where we see the lines drawn between the two camps! I believe things aren't so clear cut anymore YMMV. As I've been saying peoples definition of 'Flat Earth' varies as there is no clear cut definition. We all know what we think it means!

Where does the Linn front end thing fit in these days! 'Flat Earth' theory had you spending the lions share on the source even if it meant having quite poor amps/speakers. Just a few days ago I listened to a system with a 5K source 80k worth of amps & 190k (I think thats the final price) speakers. It was awesome, breathtaking I have never been so emotionally moved by recorded music ever! Totally unattainable system for me & for most! Couldn't be further away from Linn 'Flat Earth' hierarchy though.