John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

[scott wurcer]

Originally Posted by RNMarsh

Just short-cutting the in between stuff (EQ, Compresssion etal) -- direct download from master tapes takes care of that and is growing in popularity by 'early adopters'. That helps a lot even with 2 - 3 channels. But there's more work to be done. Thx, RNM

If you want to talk abut this, then I will just observe. I have no interest in this stuff I still have not even listened to an SACD comparison. More channels, no thanks.

[RNMarsh]

Originally Posted by SY

You may. Most people don't. That's the problem. When I make recordings, they sound quite realistic compared to stuff from the studios, but they are utterly incapable of competing commercially with the highly compressed stuff that most people listen to. Once you get used to Tang, orange juice tastes funny.

I dont think you know 'most people.' but otherwise, i agree. maybe we need to be more vocal about the miserable state of recording processing. If that is the main problem with getting more realistic sounds from our systems. We have slipped backwards in quality sound. but at your level of knowledge we need to go further.... just getting back to HiFi of a few years ago wont cut it. It still isnt as good as real or even close. What ever happened to the sound-field microphone and why isnt it more popular? Two channels not enough to make it work at its best potential?

[Wavebourn]

Originally Posted by RNMarsh

Sigh..... this way -> what you do to design a product nor the tests involved. Unless you can successfully relate them to their perceptions, you wont be convincing. Just a fact of life. Fortunately for those in science for a living it isnt an issue. But if you want to sell an idea or product, you have to be convincing and that means considering thier perceptions. So how do you be true and honest and still convincing to the lay public listener?

It is simple: I let them experience the sound. If it is more natural than what they heard before, they will go for it. Of course, if they value more natural sounds. I do. And I know which measurements how do correlate. However, I can't tell that I know the whole truth, but I know enough to design the gear of top quality of natural sound reproduction.

Also I know that if somebody heard new level of realism of sound reproduction he / she will shift expectations forever and start hearing more of "differences".

[RNMarsh]

Originally Posted by Wavebourn

Like in medicine, the same symptom can lead to different diagnoses. What damages mostly my amps is obviously different from what damages mostly your amps. "It does not sound real" equals to "I don't feel well". Then the doctor ask questions, do measurements, and orders specific tests. The same here.

I was specific. All you have to do is listen to live in your own home (known acoustic environment) and listen to it as compared to hifi. Thats the problem, doctor. What's the cure?

[RNMarsh]

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

I direct your attention to the Beast With a Thousand Jfets

(actually somewhat more than a thousand pairs of 2SK170 / 2SJ74)

And..... ?
Therefore.....?
Thus.... ?
??
What...?

[Wavebourn]

Originally Posted by RNMarsh

I was specific. All you have to do is listen to live in your own home (known acoustic environment) and listen to it as compared to hifi. Thats the problem, doctor. What's the cure?

The cure is to show you how your subconscious, reflective reactions happen way before you realize that sounds are reproduced by my system.

It is a good cure against endless discussions about tubes/semiconductors, sounds of resistors/capacitors, speed of diodes, and other lengths of wires. Once one of famous designers of graphics adapters for computers criticized me for too thin ground trace on PCB, despite the trace leaded to some few kiloohm resistor. The same person said that he likes how frogs sing on the creek on backyard, when actually frogs were accompanying piano recorded on CD. In that particular case beliefs and perception were independent from each other. So probably such people as potential customers need some jewelery added, but if people need realistic sound reproduction they don't care about all that measurement mumbo-jumbo.

Speaking about listen to live in my home and compare to reproduced, you probably don't know that I had some home concert in my home, and once a person started arguing with a singer who was sitting near the table, when he spoke from the speakers, recorded half an hour ago. She was professional musician, who played piano accompanying him.

[Wavebourn]

Originally Posted by RNMarsh

And..... ?
Therefore.....?
Thus.... ?
??
What...?

Nelson's is bigger.

[Nelson Pass]

Originally Posted by john curl:
You should see one of my latest designs! Paralleled fets, 50/channel, rows of resistors...

This being John's thread, I merely speak to his point.

[john curl]

Wow! Nelson, you be crazier than me! We are NOW going to run out of jfets in future, so your 1000 jfets are going to be worth something in future.

[sofaspud]

Artificial flavors and IMAX in HD leave something to be desired also, so I don't see the problem as being limited to audio reproduction.
But I'd bet everyone here has heard a phone ring or door knock on TV and looked around the room.