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Domain: goodsound.com
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Comments · 11
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Re:Could beThere is also the slight problem that the original ipod sounded terrible, it took several models to catch up with the nomad sound quality.
Stop pulling things out of your behind.
From the nostalgia machine: 5GB iPod review
FWIW, those iPods that have been criticized for sound quality, which don't include the 1G, have had very specific issues that only show up in certain settings. The 3G (and pre-photo 4G, to a lesser extent) had weak capacitors that reduced bass response at high levels. Some early 4Gs would occasionally emit hard drive noise through the earphones. That's it. iPods from day one have been famous for having exceptionally good DACs for portable devices. The lowly 1G shuffle, which has stronger caps and no noisy HD, may be the best-sounding portable device ever made.
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Re:AIFF
I agree. You don't need to spend huge sums of money on high end neutron free cables to get a good stereo system. It is entirely possible to purchase a decent new or used system. Check out this site: goodsound.com There are a number of resources available there to help out in putting together a decent system over time.
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Re:Music type...
Paradigm, B&W, PSB, NHT, or a half dozen others that make reasonably priced, but high quality speakers.
You can buy Bose. Or you can spend the same amount on a quality speaker and get far better sound. And yes, I've heard the difference.
For a starter, you might want to try this site. -
Re:How about non-perfect?
I've found that Neoseeker's Audio forum (low-traffic) tends to have interesting discussions on similar topics, and GoodSound is an interesting place to read about low-end hifi gear (as is Cheap Home Theater).
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I've been through that and lived to tell..And here's a few things I can say: 1. If you never heard a real hi-fi - ok, here I have to stop and explain. Everybody slaps hifi on their stereos, so it's nearly meaningless. So, let's put this bullshit aside and define hifi as something that sounds close to the original. That is really expensive. And buying a stereo for $140k is a wiser choice than hiring an orchestra for a year, becuase you'll be able to enjoy more diverse music, movies, and it will last much longer than a year. It's very hard to get reasonably close to the real thing here, and even buying a $140k system isn't quite enough: you have to put aside a special room for it, spend a lot of time positioning it correctly, experimenting with components and audio wall covers, and so on. Also, once you have this perfect setup it may sound great on one recording and not as great on others. That sounds like too much trouble, doesn't it? Well, you're not in a position to answer that, unless you heard either some similar setup OR a world-class performer
doing your favorite song for you in your home. I haven't, so I reserve my judgement until i have. But what's this got to do with us normal people with normal paychecks? Well, that particular elusive 'almost perfect' quality isn't for us, alas - but that doesn't mean we should just give up and go buy some pathetic sony boom box. There are companies and store chains that sell you a shiny box that sounds a lot better than the box standing right next to it that about half as shiny and half as expensive - but it's still a robbery. Equipment that gives you decent sound quality can be very inexpensive - a pair of speakers may cost $70 or $80, integrated amp - a hundred and single cd player, also about a hundred. And you know, the difference between that and a typical dept. store box that may cost twice as much (rack systems.. ugghhh) is more than anyone believes it could be before they hear it. It's big enough to make you enjoy music you could never like before (I once realized that I never liked jazz or classical
precisely because I never heard them the way, you know, they really *SOUND*). I literally had some cds I couldn't listen to at all before I got an entry-level system (worth a bit over a thousand). Here's an example - you know that alarm clock sound at the start of Pink Floyd's 'time'? Whenever I heard it on a walkman or computer speakers, I could hardly stand it - it was plain annoying. There's a lot of high frequency sounds there and cheap speakers can't reproduce them anywhere close to reality. On the new system they sound just fine - in fact, pleasant. And that's just an example from the top of my head, the most striking one, but otherwise almost every recording I have sounded much better and I heard sounds I didn't even know were there (no, not burping, the musical sounds!
if the walls of your room were removed and you're listening in a hall that's several times as deep. What's the big deal about that? Well, it makes it feel 'real' and 'alive', a cheap system is like listening with a pillow over your ears - it's just not nearly as good.
But enough, this post is probably too long as it is. Here's my advice: don't be a lazy dog, go to a good hifi store, grab your few favorite albums with you, and make an audition. Don't rush, try various combinations, don't buy anything until you're certain (even if it takes half a year or more), and don't buy anything because someone said it's good. Everybody likes different music, and even if music is the same, people may like it for different reasons. Sound also depends much on placement, a great system may be ruined if it's not placed just right. Some stores have listening rooms properly set up, others don't. Hear as many setups as you can, and your final choice will be good. Here's a site you can read about some decent equipment (but only as a starting point - the dumbest thing you could do is just rush out and buy one of these!!): goodsound.com, and good luck.
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Re:Godd sound does not lie in a computer
For some good advice on audiophile-grade systems and equipment try goodsound. I followed their advice and I got a system that sounds better than I ever imagined possible. I did pay over $1k, though - but you can go lower, about $500 for cd, amp and pair of speakers.. or even less if they're used (not a good idea generally if you're not already experienced).
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Great Site
If you are looking for stereos on a budget, look at a site called www.goodsound.com -- they have a bunch of great info (although don't deal too much in 5.1). I personally found out about a set of Vandersteen 1C's that I cannot say enough good things about.
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Re:Review sites...
Although it is more for the audio enthusiast (as opposed to home theater), I like goodsound.com both for equipment reviews as well as sound, generic buying advice.
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goodsound.com
Start your journey at goodsound.com. Finish at a local, independent hi-fi dealer. I'd recommend a Yamaha or NAD receiver coupled with PSB Alpha speakers. Don't forget the stands!
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Cheap non-computer speakersCheck out http://www.goodsound.com/speakers.html for a good list of speakers that aren't necessarily marketed as computer speakers. They don't, however, have built-in amps or subwoofers, etc.
Check out http://www.goodsound.com/other.html#receivers for a list of some low cost receivers ($250+).
$250 for a set of bookshelf speakers and $250 for a receiver -- might work for the $500 scenario.
Of course, the speakers and the receiver are a probably a lot bigger and clumsier than a set of computer speakers.
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Edward
erb@modesto.quik.net -
Cheap non-computer speakersCheck out http://www.goodsound.com/speakers.html for a good list of speakers that aren't necessarily marketed as computer speakers. They don't, however, have built-in amps or subwoofers, etc.
Check out http://www.goodsound.com/other.html#receivers for a list of some low cost receivers ($250+).
$250 for a set of bookshelf speakers and $250 for a receiver -- might work for the $500 scenario.
Of course, the speakers and the receiver are a probably a lot bigger and clumsier than a set of computer speakers.
--
Edward
erb@modesto.quik.net