Random Thoughts (Audio Related)

[Sebasistan]

But point being, do ears "stretch" even a bit to accommodate those larger IEMs, or is it simply about me getting used to it and then preferring it from then on? I guess luckily there isn't a size increase in sight, this is pretty much what the "mid-fi and above" segment generally offers in universal IEM size. Though I have to say, I have some interest to try a high-end "one dynamic driver and nothing else" IEM but many of them look kind of small

I mean, the real issue is usually the nozzle size, right? And that's fairly standardized between IEMs. So whether you have a humdinger like the TRI-3 ( <3 ) or a smaller potato like the BLON BL-03 or Moondrop Starfield, what's going into your ear channel doesn't change. But this is of course about circumference, not length of the nozzle. Something like the etymotic IEMs hit different there I think (never had one myself, just judging by what I read / specs I've seen).

@Sebasistan, yeah, there's definitely some music that sounds like you're only supposed to listen to it over the road noise of a '77 Toyota Corona that's going 10 MPH over it's top speed. But I'd kind of like to hear this Turkish rock, anyway. I don't think I know any Turkish music.

I highly recommend the "Bosporus Bridges" compilations. They are actually pretty well mastered - unlike the ones I talked about earlier.

And if you want a more modern take on that particular genre, Altin Gün from Amsterdam has you covered. They meticulously recreate the sound and feel of 1970s Turkish psychedelic funk rock, but they're contemporary.

 

[Sebasistan]

Slightly related to "doing audiophile wrong":

When you listen to certain genres of music, especially stuff that includes a lot of distortion and noise and whatnot, odd things can happen.
I have had several instances where I was like "ugh this track causes a sibilance / distortion spike with this equipment" only to realize that this distortion was - apparently - built into the music and not in fact "naturally occurring." Unless of course it IS still naturally occurring and just appears across ALL gear I have...

Worst offender in my collection: the first track on Justice 2018 live album "Woman World Wide" - Because it is the first track on the album and the distortion spike happens within the first ten seconds it is quite noticeable. But it appears to be part of the actual track, unless I just lack the gear to play it properly.

 

[GREQ]

Slightly related to "doing audiophile wrong":

When you listen to certain genres of music, especially stuff that includes a lot of distortion and noise and whatnot, odd things can happen.
I have had several instances where I was like "ugh this track causes a sibilance / distortion spike with this equipment" only to realize that this distortion was - apparently - built into the music and not in fact "naturally occurring." Unless of course it IS still naturally occurring and just appears across ALL gear I have...

Worst offender in my collection: the first track on Justice 2018 live album "Woman World Wide" - Because it is the first track on the album and the distortion spike happens within the first ten seconds it is quite noticeable. But it appears to be part of the actual track, unless I just lack the gear to play it properly.

0_0 ... the crackling at 25-28 seconds is just offensive.

 

[Sebasistan]

0_0 ... the crackling at 25-28 seconds is just offensive.

And honestly, in this case it really doesn't sound like it's... Intentional? Like, it doesn't sound like they went in there and thought "well let's add some crackling to the mix because that sounds cool!" It sounds more like... A bad master? Loudness Wars? Something along those lines...

 

[megabigeye]

You guys piqued my interest. I was all set for some serious ear offense.

You guys are some distortion wusses.

Should I be worried that I really like some obnoxious distortion sometimes? Really gets my blood flowing, in a good way. = =

 

[Sebasistan]

I mean if you like distortion, you should listen to Burial. But his distortion, clicks and pops and hisses are all intentional.

 

[Taz777]

Why is vintage HiFi equipment so expensive? Even brands that no audiophile would buy back in the 70s and 80s have high asking prices these days on auction sites. And some of the kit is in such poor condition that back in the 70s and 80s, it would have normally have been binned!

I guess there are enough people willing to pay for it.

 

[IEMusic]

Why is vintage HiFi equipment so expensive?

I guess there are enough people willing to pay for it.

Exactly, the price is whatever people are willing to pay. You wanna pay $1000 for a piece of toast that looks like something/someone meaningful, be my guest. To each their own.

 

[Whazzzup]

Vintage cars vintage audio, seems rational enough

 

[Sebasistan]

Nostalgia is a helluva drug.

 

[IEMusic]

What’s the difference between “old” and “vintage”?

 

[Sebasistan]

What’s the difference between “old” and “vintage”?

If I want to be snarky, I would say "condition."

 

[IEMusic]

If I want to be snarky, I would say "condition."

Snarkiness is welcome!

 

[ChrisOc]

What’s the difference between “old” and “vintage”?

The sales man or woman.

Once the sales man has sussed out their customer they use the word which the customer wants to hear.....outcome sale!

Have you noticed how all the IEM manufacturers say in their blurb on phones with Est, the particular set "has been in development for...", take your pick, 2,3,4 years. The fact is the drivers may have been in development for however many years but the particular set was dreamt up recently because those drivers now exist.

My point is those selling to us will dream up the angle on which they can sell their "vintage" product. Such as "in its day no other product could match it, today you have to pay a fortune for quality like this vintage masterpiece". Solid 1920s bakelite....in reality plastic in its infancy.

Edit: prematurely posted - please reserve your comments on that.

Have you noticed painting are old but not vintage. Whereas cars are vintage but not old.

 

[GREQ]

Strictly speaking...
Vintage = 20+ years old
Antique = 100+ years old

...but these days language-abuse is rampant, with the perpitrators defending their violations with the barbaric excuse of 'semantic broadening'... for shame...