Synergy

[Pure_Brew]

Yes, right now I am enjoying this "synergy" with my system. Sounds beautiful to me.

However, my opinion on synergy is what happens when you take components of less then the best of quality, and use other components to offset short-comings. A balancing act. So none of the components may be representative of the highest fidelity possible, or even the end result. While it may cause goosebumps, smiles or even the occasional flatulations, the chances of high-fidelity reproduction might be lower then possible and the entire balance of the system could be negatively altered upon the removal of any components.

 

[speakerman1]

A friend and I were talking about this subject. One of my favorites. He believed in it. I told him I didn't. I told him it was common sense. He thought for a while then emailed me back. He had to agree after thinking about it for awhile.
You can believe what you want. Just to many of my gear has synergy. All my components has synergy with all my amps. Wonder why? LOL

Larry

 

[Pure_Brew]

It also means when you do actually get your hand on a truly top notch piece of gear, you might not benefit from it at all because it doesn't offset short-comings, it may just reveal the short-comings of other components. I bet that could be in part, reasons why it is so hard for people to break clean from some systems and components, because they can't realize benefits unless they get rid of everything. Wouldn't you agree?

And then, there is that taste thing, which appeals to emotion.

 

[speakerman1]

Well when you buy something you look into the future. If you put a nice component with a not so good amp. You are going to get better sound. It isn't magic. If you have a so-so system. You shop for speakers to improve the sound you are going to be shopping awhile. Just think where you want to go. I'll ask nicely. Please do not post a pic of Mac gear with ZIP CORD speaker wire. I will look like a bobble head doll. LOL Don't laugh. I have seen it. Now to find the tubes for the amps.

Once you start stepping up in the quality of components. Synergy goes bye-bye. I had a few different amps and receivers. The Shanling CDP helped even mediocre amps.

Larry

 

[Pure_Brew]

My objective is conversation at this point. Doesn't matter if you agree or disagree. I know what my long term objective is for a future system now. That took some experimentation and a great deal of auditioning. That also means I won't be spending any money for a while, other some upkeep and of couse, the most important thing, music.

 

[Elite-ist]

When I received Joe's mix tape about three weeks back I remarked to him in a PM how well his tape sounded. Part of the reason, I believe, is his present combination of components, working in unison, just resulted in a wonderful recording.

your-latest-mix-t2219-10.html

I was so impressed by the recording I lent the mix tape to my friend, Robert, to evaluate on his own system. He also owns a Nakamichi CR 1A, like Joe. With Joe's tape, I included a mix tape recording made for me by a friend, Les, who owns a very nice Sony system and a Nakamichi CR-7 cassette deck. He recorded on a Sony Metal XR-90 tape. This is a phenomenal recording, I thought, and since Robert had just purchased a Nakamichi CR-7A (which is being calibrated by a technician, presently) I wanted him to hear what his CR-7A is capable of, once he has it back.

More important than anything else, is ensuring what you have in your system is operating as well as it was when in factory-fresh condition. Once you achieve that, you can make small changes to increase the sq of your system, with a minimal or moderate expense. The same formula works for super-tuning, or modifications to a high performance car: it's more to do with the combination of the parts together, rather than the single ultra modification.

Nando.

 

[laatsch55]

For me it was when I upgraded drivers in the K-Horns. It became evident there were things there I hadn't heard before, then the Onix, then the White Oak board...then......??

 

[laatsch55]

Nando, in the owners manual for the Audio Precision Analyzer, there are 7 pages of instructions on how to align, set bias and eq on open reels and cassettes. When Nakdoc said some of it was an "art" he was right. On some eq and bias settings the numbers don't mean everything and one test called for a subjective judgement on how it sounded. Now imagine my surprise when studying a manual for all intents and purpose is for one of the finest audio test systems available and it says listen to it. Getting to that point of "listen to it" is pretty involved though. If you had not done everything up to that point the listen test was an exercise in futility.

 

[Pure_Brew]

There is that which is possible, and then, there is that which is possible within our means.

Joe

 

[speakerman1]

Joe made a funny. LOL

Larry

 

[Elite-ist]

Joe just quoted Confucius. It applies to almost anything in life: including who your can afford to marry.

Nando.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Joe made a funny. LOL

Larry

Not what I was going for. Think about what that means In the context of this conversation.

When I made that tape for Nando, I put everything I had into it. Out of pocket: $60 for the pre, $8 for the deck and $0.50 for the tape. $300 for the CDP, $100 for the TT, $200 for the cart. The playback system cost a bit more mainly because of the amp.

While any of these components would loose in a shootout vs the best, some people lack the sensitivity to understand how to use the best. ( or basic gear for that matter )I had at my disposal for example 4 pieces of gear that could provide preamp level switching to the Nak, or I could have gone directly to the Nak from the source as a 5th possibility ( CDP, not the TT of course ). However, I chose what sounded best among all those choices. That's what I mean when I said I put everything into it, not the money invested.

Measurements and money play a role in audio, and so does listening and the sensibility to understand what you are hearing.

 

[speakerman1]

I don't understand?

Larry

 

[speakerman1]

I have been smiled upon getting gear. Not sure if I know how to listen though. I know pretty much if I see a certain thing and it is close to my price range I'm going to get it. Have you tried the other tube yet? The LPS is a nice tube. I read for days about it. The way it was described by everyone. I knew it was a sound I was looking for. Well it is time for bed.
Night Everyone.

Larry

 

[Elite-ist]

Nando, in the owners manual for the Audio Precision Analyzer, there are 7 pages of instructions on how to align, set bias and eq on open reels and cassettes. When Nakdoc said some of it was an "art" he was right. On some eq and bias settings the numbers don't mean everything and one test called for a subjective judgement on how it sounded. Now imagine my surprise when studying a manual for all intents and purpose is for one of the finest audio test systems available and it says listen to it. Getting to that point of "listen to it" is pretty involved though. If you had not done everything up to that point the listen test was an exercise in futility.

Lee: It's all those incremental changes which can make the largest difference in what we ultimately hear as an improvement in sound quality. Just as with your K-Horns: you didn't stray far from the engineers initial design, just found raw drivers which improved the sonic quality to your liking. I can't say how your changes would have related to formal anechoic measurements, but for your room's particular acoustic environment it works well.

Nando.

 

[laatsch55]

Nando, in other rooms as well, I believe the bass response was so much better it would have been noticed anywhere. I talked tro Ed Blackwood about it and he personally knows the founder of Speakerlab, Pat Snyder, (hope that's right). Ed worked at Boeing with him. Ed said it never came up in conversation about the Eminence driver being wrong for the cabinet, but Pat did mention that was the best"value" he could find for it.
PWK got the bass bin right and had he been a better filter designer, the 1" throat horn may have been gone a lot sooner.

 

[Pure_Brew]

I have been smiled upon getting gear. Not sure if I know how to listen though. I know pretty much if I see a certain thing and it is close to my price range I'm going to get it. Have you tried the other tube yet? The LPS is a nice tube. I read for days about it. The way it was described by everyone. I knew it was a sound I was looking for. Well it is time for bed.
Night Everyone.

Larry

In the current speaker rotation the LPS seems the best out of the three. If I had tried the different tubes with the other speakers back in the system, I might have opted for one of the others which was originally why I wanted them. Either way its a good pick on your part.

 

[speakerman1]

In most instances to me it is what goes in must come out. I can't say the speaker doesn't make a difference because they do. I am trying to get my thoughts across and I don't know how.

Larry

 

[Pure_Brew]

In most instances to me it is what goes in must come out. I can't say the speaker doesn't make a difference because they do. I am trying to get my thoughts across and I don't know how.

Larry

I think I do understand. You're basically saying you can do more with more. Correct? I'm saying you can do more with less. I don't think either concept is new or invalid.

 

[speakerman1]

No not really. More isn't exactly what I'm trying to say. I'm saying you have to start some where. You could buy 10,000.00 speakers and if you don't have a good base. They aren't going to sound like 10,000.00 speakers. You don't have to spend lots of money if you shop wisely. You just have to set a goal. It has nothing to do with synergy. Right now I wish I had the money for some B&Ws. Or the open baffles that Danny has. Man these speakers have come to life. The PL did not give me the bass I am hearing right now. Hearing things I never heard before.

I'm not very critical about my systems. I do however know what I like. I know their flaws and I know their pluses. Maybe I look at it as the glass half full. Each system I have has its attributes. I look at the pleasure it gives me. I do think how I can improve the sound at all times. It has nothing to do with synergy though.

Larry