Hanging Out in Sarasota

[NightWoundsTime]

Hey now Gene is the mysterious stranger! That guy gets around.

[mikeg]

I had a great time at the meet; i.e., seeing my headfi pals is a pleasure not to be missed. As things turned out, I spent much too much time with tape measure in hand, making minute space and directional adjustment, and readjusments, of my JBL nearfield monitors. Actually, I never succeeded in fully optimizing the sound evelope, because I forgot to bring my NBS callibrated micrometer. As a consequence, I could only measure distances between monitors and listeners to the nearest 1/16 inch. But, at home, I readily achieved measurements to 1/1000 inch, with the result that my JBL LSR 6328 monitors now sound spectacular. Detailed comparisons of the monitors, with my R10 and HE90 headphones, will follow soon; i.e., after I receive my Woo GES amp.

Because I had to trot out early, and since I spent so much time kibitzing, I didn't actually sample too much gear. I did sample a few items, however, and was very impressed by them. The Yamamoto HA02 was a true highlight. It is beautiful in both appearance and performance. I listened to it through the recabled K701, and my R10. The sound of both headphones through this amp. was truly outstanding. I really look forward to comparing the performance of the HA02 to that of my SDS, for driving my R10. I was also impressed by the perfomance and convenience of the Squeezebox, and I'm thinking where/how to use one in my rigs. Finally, boomanna's headphone stands are both exceptionally beautiful, and wonderfully functional, and such stands may be in my future.

This was a marvelous get together, and I look forward to our next regular meet, in Tampa, on June 9th.

[Icarium]

This is a more general question, but I figured it might be answerable here. I know the K1000s are rated at having a lower bound of 50 hz... how far down would you say a top notch speaker amp (Whatever people think is tops, there was such an amp at the mean yar?) extend their range.

[boomana]

Originally Posted by mikeg

I had a great time at the meet; i.e., seeing my headfi pals is a pleasure not to be missed. As things turned out, I spent much too much time with tape measure in hand, making minute space and directional adjustment, and readjusments, of my JBL nearfield monitors. Actually, I never succeeded in fully optimizing the sound evelope, because I forgot to bring my NBS callibrated micrometer. As a consequence, I could only measure distances between monitors and listeners to the nearest 1/16 inch. But, at home, I readily achieved measurements to 1/1000 inch, with the result that my JBL LSR 6328 monitors now sound spectacular. Detailed comparisons of the monitors, with my R10 and HE90 headphones, will follow soon; i.e., after I receive my Woo GES amp.

Mike, I knew you were the man to save the evening's experiments, but you abandoned us! That fact alone speaks to your sanity and gives me more reason to believe that you should have stayed.

I'm real interested in your continuing impressions about the JBLs as compared to headphones. I know how reluctant you were to go that route. I wish I'd spent more time with them, but I liked what I heard. One thing though, I admit I found it odd to be sitting so close to get the best of what they offer. I'm liking my new speakers precisely because I'm not overly close to them. I feel relaxed, kicked back in my recliner, just listening to tunes. With the nearfield monitors, I almost felt like I was standing (well, sitting) at attention.

[jp11801]

Originally Posted by Icarium

This is a more general question, but I figured it might be answerable here. I know the K1000s are rated at having a lower bound of 50 hz... how far down would you say a top notch speaker amp (Whatever people think is tops, there was such an amp at the mean yar?) extend their range.

I beleive with a top notch amp like the airtight, F1 or RWA you can get the 30-40 range out of them

[mikeg]

Originally Posted by boomana

Mike, I knew you were the man to save the evening's experiments, but you abandoned us! That fact alone speaks to your sanity and gives me more reason to believe that you should have stayed.

I'm real interested in your continuing impressions about the JBLs as compared to headphones. I know how reluctant you were to go that route. I wish I'd spent more time with them, but I liked what I heard. One thing though, I admit I found it odd to be sitting so close to get the best of what they offer. I'm liking my new speakers precisely because I'm not overly close to them. I feel relaxed, kicked back in my recliner, just listening to tunes. With the nearfield monitors, I almost felt like I was standing (well, sitting) at attention.

I've only listened to nearfield monitors for less than 3 hours, while I've listened exclusively to headphones for hundreds of hours, throughout the past 6 years. Consequently, my comments regarding my JBL LSR 6328 nearfield studio monitors should be viewed as very preliminary; i.e., based on only minimal listening experience. The guidance that I've received so far regarding this topic, and these speakers, has been solely by headfi member Lloyd297, who also owns these monitors, and has considerable experience with them. I think that listening to nearfield monitors is a natural extension to/from listening to headphones. The effect is somewhat like listening to K1000's, although much more dynamic and totally enveloping. It's very very different from listening to the usual kinds of high end consumer speakers that attempt to project their soundfield over room-length distances. If listening to headphones can be described as "intimate", then listening to nearfiled monitors can be described as "immediate", while listening to regular speakers can perhaps be described as "remote". IMO, listening to these JBL monitors is not for relaxation; i.e., at least for me it's for intense listening and involvement with/to the music. Lloyd297 provided me with following link that describes these matters much more clearly:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showt...10#post1182910

[NightWoundsTime]

Originally Posted by boomana

I'm liking my new speakers precisely because I'm not overly close to them. I feel relaxed, kicked back in my recliner, just listening to tunes. With the nearfield monitors, I almost felt like I was standing (well, sitting) at attention.

That was just the way we had them set up in that room though. No reason you couldn't set them up for use with your comfy recliner. Maybe even hang them from the ceiling for the proper firing angle to your ears . OK that might be hard.

Oh and on another note, I find I almost always end up more involved with music if I'm standing, or at least sitting upright. If I'm lying down it's sleepytime in moments flat, no matter what I'm listening to.

[Wmcmanus]

Originally Posted by agile_one

They laughed at Edison, too.

John, Matt, and I were hoping to do more research study, and comprehensive data analysis before publishing, but this scandalous attack on our methods deserves immediate public rebuttal.

Here is the gist of our work.

1. It occurred to us that much of the listening experience is affected by one's mood, or recepetiveness to the music at the time of listening. All agreed that there are occaisions when nothing sounds right or good with the exact same music and gear that at another session are glorious. This is considered the emotional, or subjective side of hearing and experiencing the music.

2. There was also unanimity of thought that technical factors are just as real. Higher quality parts, and better designed circuits make significant improvemments to sound quality. Proper measurement of this set of variables is best done in a double blind environment, where the lstener does not know what equipment is being heard, and must evaluate on perceived sound quality alone.

3. We concluded that we needed a properly designed experiment that a.) guaranteed that the participants wrere in the proper emotional state, and b.) had no knowledge of what equipment was being heard, thus removing prior ideas of what is best.

4. Metholodogy ...

a.) Get double blind - this was accomplished by rigorous selection and quaffing of some of the finest beers available in the city. To insure complete double-blindness, shots of Jagermeister finished off the conditioning session, as that tonic is reknowned for it's medicinal qualities.

b.) Listen to gear, and hope to remember what is being heard.

5. Results ... In a word, astonishing! A whole new line of audio inquiry was stumbled upon. Our work suggests that previously overlooked factors have great affect on sound quality and perception. Much of the original notes have been lost, but my memory may be trusted - as proof, I rarely forget my car keys, and only occaisionally forget important dates.

As alluded to above, we were hoping for more time to properly organize and present our findings, but the besmirchment of our honor cannot go unanswered. Accordingly, we list our findings.

a.) color matters - we were fortunate to have on hand some identical gear in different shades, ie: a red Hornet and a black Hornet, a black LaRocco PRII and a silver one, cables in black, red, orange, purple, green and blue. Here is the initial Naj Color Quantification List (NAJ=NightwoundsTimeagile_onejp11801):

- red is hot, slightly forward, and oh so warm
- blue is cool, moody, and just a tad laid back
- green is fun, lively, and great for pop
- orange and purple were actually quite similar, earthy, worldly, experienced
- black? what can we say of black? it combines a bit of all the others, excelling at no specific things, but the perfect all 'rounder. you can never go wrong with black.

b.) just as color matters, so, to, do shape, texture, and, yes, size I wish I could say more, but our data is still being analized, and to publish in such a learned forum as Head-Fi, we must be conclusive.

So, I trust I have put to rest any questions of our honor and intregrity raised by the scurrilous comments of our co-conspirator, boomana.


What happened to the "what happens at the slumber party stays at the slumber party" oath? Surely not worth breaking just to curry favor with the man? (or men, as I believe both Wayne and Mike are the prosecutors here)

Gene, you're a nut case! That was hysterical. It would seem that an apt postscript would be "Wish you were here. Good time was had by all."

Originally Posted by tyrion

There is no need for the witness to "curry favor" with Wayne and myself as we already hold Vicki in very high regard. She has a reputation that is beyond reproach. Can the same be said for tweedle dee and tweedle dumb (jp and agile, in no particular order)? I think not. Motion to Dismiss the charges are DENIED! I am willing to accept item 4(a) as a partial defense to the charges. I believe I may have been "double blind" at the time of filing the indictment.

You are free to appeal this to an even higher authority, Justice McManus, otherwise known as Hanging Wayne. I guess the tiltle of this thread can be taken literally.

As a retired Justice, I believe past tense applies so my correct title is now Hung Wayne.

[Voltron]

So glad I found this thread to pass my time at 4:30 am when I woke up with a tooth ache. Made the wait for ibuprophen to kick in much more enjoyable. Slightly disturbing last post there by Hung Wayne -- actually, wasnt that the name of that terrible singer on Idol a ways back?

I hope to expand my Fla horizons northward and visit Case Gene some day. What year do you think your house and spouse will be ready to host again?

This meet looks like it was a nice warm-up for San Jose, although I fear even more that the K1000 room isn't going to get going until rather late with tour-guide numbers running the show. After friday night at the Fillmore and every dank beer bar in SF, I'm just sure you guys will all make it from Oakland by 8 or 9 am...

I sure hope Vicki pulls off the trip and maybe we could get Matt to do a delivery in Cali so he can come too.

Cheers, and now back to sleep (I hope).

[tyrion]

Originally Posted by Voltron

This meet looks like it was a nice warm-up for San Jose, although I fear even more that the K1000 room isn't going to get going until rather late with tour-guide numbers running the show. After friday night at the Fillmore and every dank beer bar in SF, I'm just sure you guys will all make it from Oakland by 8 or 9 am...

Sorry to hear about the toothache. Gene and I will do our best to get him there at a reasonable hour despite numbers attempt to prevent that from happening. The only problem as I see it is that numbers has the car.