I've always liked the 'straight wire and gain' quote. Is that Stereophile?
Truthfully, I cannot remember where first read it. But it is an interesting concept, no?
With the HD800 and Hugo combo I sometimes feel like the bass gets a little lost in the mix. I don't know enough about impedance and such to know if there's a technical mismatch. But it's not exactly what I would call a 'party' sound.
Yes, I have wondered about that too. Not sure if this is because the Hugo + HD800 sound is too ‘clean’ (too close to neutral?) for certain recordings, usually pop/jazz/rock/rap. That said, with well-recorded classical/jazz/folk/vocal music, don’t feel that I am missing out on anything 'down there'. In fact, one often hears/discovers more low note instrumental detail.
Maybe, the Hugo + HD800 combination emphasises less on bass presence and more on lower register instrument details. Meaning: you don’t get bass where there is none... and the low notes are delivered in such a timely/distinct/accurate manner that one perceives less weight.
Perhaps, 'neutral' is not what one prefers when listening to pop/jazz/rock/rap. Arguably, some artistes/bands are not meant to be listened to in an analytical set-up.
When you go to a Rolling Stones concert you certainly hear a ton more bass than you'll ever hear from their records on a perfectly neutral system. Is that the artist's intention?
TBH, I think a 'perfectly neutral hi-fi system' is a unicorn.
Three questions: Perfect compared to what? In which kind of listening environment? What source/material/file?
To date, I have yet to have the good fortune of listening to a consumer hi-fi system that can truly reproduce the sound of a live acoustic performance - chamber music, jazz band gig, let alone an orchestra going full crescendo in a concert hall environment. For sure, some sophisticated systems come close to the real thing, and I am sure there are others out there that get even closer.
But, is there a real unicorn out there? Maybe, who knows.
Anyway, getting back on point:
I am just curious what more an amp serves up at a table, insofar as a Hugo + headphone experience is concerned, if one's headphones are not power-hungry.
That said, how does one set relatively accurate equal amp gain for headphone listening? Is there an app or a programme?
Why? A few dB of gain can go a long way in determining subjective preferences. One is more likely to prefer a louder sounding amp.
and Happy New Year.
