imdskydiver
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2010
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My EQ is always turned off .
When I want to relax, I sometimes listen to recordings of nature sounds by Naturespace (check out their iPhone/iPod app in the App Store, which is what I use, and for which there are exclusive tracks to buy). Using a type of binaural recording method that Naturespace calls "Holographic Audio," the imaging on some of the tracks can, through good systems, be outrageously immersive. (It also helps that Naturespace uses much longer loops, not to mention far better recording quality, than any other such tracks I've been able to find, and I've looked.) One of my favorite tracks is one titled "Loki," which includes the sounds of wildlife and insects at night, rain and trickling water, and rolling thunder--much of it happens out-of-head if your system does it right. "Loki" through the HD598 via the GO-DAP is far more you're there than through the iPhone alone, with more happening outside of the head. It's awesome. Seriously awesome. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch--and could use an occasional meditative state to calm your mind (or just some gorgeous ambiance to work to)--download the NatureSpace app, and, from there, sample and grab some tracks, starting with "Loki."
Originally Posted by cooperpwc /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Jude, thanks for the great introduction on Naturespace. I have been collecting these ambience apps and this is by far the best.
It seems that the Headphone, not Earbud, mode is best with the ES5. Have you found the same? It is incredible how far outside the head the sound gets.
Loki is a good recommendation. Any other favourites?
Cheers!
Funny you should post this now, as, at the moment I read your message, I was listening to Naturespace through the GO-DAP driving my LCD-2. I'm glad you like Naturespace, too! I can't say I'm surprised--as you've figured out, the sound quality is out of this world. Like you, I've tried others, and, as you said, it is the best I've used by far.
Yes, headphone mode is best for me, too. I believe the earbud mode was optimized for the limited abilities of the came-with-it white earbuds, and other not-hi-fi pieces; and the other mode (headphone mode) is the straight dope (for more capable headphones). The Naturespace recording engineer, John Buehler, is intensely passionate about what he's doing. He even recorded the Michael Arnopol Trio at CanJam 2010 (Chicago), and I very much want to hear how his recording turned out, as he used one of his Naturespace recording setups to do it, and I believe he was either recording to 24/88 or 24/96 (which is, if I recall correctly, how they capture the nature sounds used in the Naturespace tracks).
As for other tracks I like: I'm partial to the storm sounds. "Odin" has amazing, distant, long, rolling thunder--it's more subtle than Loki. "Thor" brings the storm and rain sounds nice and close. "Aegir" brings mid-distance storm sounds atop wind and crashing waves--it has nice creaking hull sounds, too (at least that's what it sounds like to me). "Thor," "Odin," and "Aegir" do not have the wildlife sounds that Loki does.
I didn't think I'd like the tracks that have relaxing electronic sounds/melodies mixed in, but, as it turns out, I do like some of those a lot, too ("Newton Under Tree" comes to mind). I find "Brainwash" very nice, too. It's a track of consistent rushing, burbling river/stream sound. "Tears Of Asgard" is very subtle, very mellow, very relaxing water sounds. There are others, and I should probably write this up in its own thread at some point.
I liked the Wolves track from the itunes music store. Its not in either of the app its a stand alone album... There is another with crows thats pretty awesome too... I was avoiding the whole headphone amp deal till I saw how awesome the GO-DAP looked. Thanks Jude for both the GO-DAP review and the naturespace recommendation. I like "Aegir" better than "Loki" and yes it is hull and sails you are hearing as well on "Aegir" its on a boat.
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I liked the Wolves track from the itunes music store. Its not in either of the app its a stand alone album... There is another with crows thats pretty awesome too... I was avoiding the whole headphone amp deal till I saw how awesome the GO-DAP looked. Thanks Jude for both the GO-DAP review and the naturespace recommendation. I like "Aegir" better than "Loki" and yes it is hull and sails you are hearing as well on "Aegir" its on a boat.