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22 Tips to get better sound in a High End audio system

Özhan Atalay

Email: ozhan@atalay.biz Web: http://www.nonamehifi.com

Introduction

Basically accepted what audiophile world that is almost impossible to get the best sound by just combining only the best equipment. Much cheaper but properly selected and optimized sound system better than its expensive brothers. This system is called synergy in audiophile world. The synergy of the system is not just about combining the best equipment, but it is a kind of long and enjoyable way to maximize their performances.

The precautions and principles can be regarded as absurd and meaningless for someone who does not have solid understanding as the hi-end is.

Within the last twenty years, I spent much time, money and effort to achieve better sound (.. Or what is the best ever). I wrote a couple of important points from my perspective. Most of These points can be known by audiophiles, however, if not implemented. More important, below points consist only of my remarks. There are so many notes several changes and techniques. I have not listed here, do the things that I have not tried and / or items not work well with me. I believe that below mentioned points will somebody the to a level higher with the same equipment.

I apologize for my English. I appreciated if someone warns me about the main errors of language throughout the website.

The only truth that I learned after twenty years is that "there is no absolute truth in Hi-End" Most of the truths in High-End can not be proven by scientific measures. Very sensitive human ear hears much, interpret, evaluate and decide. In a session Listening to audiophiles three, is probably what will happen, is one of the people to find the low low, others can find lots and excessive, but the system owner think that is fine, not less, not more. This phenomenon is called "the brains of reference." (See for more details) Brain reference is a kind injury comes out of our system of tonality and timbre. This sometimes causes conflict with someone who compares best equipment against their own equipment and not may, like the sound of the others, although the other was much better.

Most of the points provided below will depend on the ability system but more importantly, depend on the experience of audiophiles. A system for the poor not differentiate points or less experienced ears can not choose them either. That is why some of the points below may not be seen by all. I will be nice if someone who reads this article that takes one or two points.

1 - Listening to Night; critical listening or test equipment should be carried out at night. This applies, of course, for someone who lives in a big city. Not clear Noise affects our city and we feel basically can not listen to what our system provides us during the day.

Thanks to the city noise is less than several times in the night, all the hidden aspects in hi-end entry in the night and the system delivers its full potential. For more information, please noise control (see for more details)

2 - Heat and moisture, humidity and heat have serious influence on the sound. Systems can not generate the best sound, power and dynamics in a hot and humid time. I do not know why this happens but it happens. There may be two reasons: The heavier the air is moist, in such circumstances, then the speakers are not able to pull enough air into the room. The speaker or materials may soften and behave differently warm. To cool the environment in the first session listening audience that eliminates effect.

3 - Darkness; Music should be heard in the darkroom. In particular, the speakers and the system should be kept in the dark and recording original location should be imagined while listening.

The objective root of a good quality hi-end system is to depart from the hardware and go to registration. Listening to music while watching the hardware physiologically demolish the virtual environment that we are going to be in. The most uncomfortable part of a hi-end is no visual images. The reality is so different meaning when participating in a live concert or hear the comments from a DVD player through a surround system.

If the listening environment is not dark, the speakers will be perceived as sources of sound.

4 - Finding the right distance listening, the sound is spread in frequency waves called. The volume of each frequency will be different in relation to the distance from the speakers. In volume terms, the frequencies will be up and down when the distance is changed. Particularly high and treble sections range from 20-5 cm. These frequency peaks can be recognized easily by listening.

a - Play a CD that contains test different frequencies test. For example, starting with mono 1000 Hz at the listening chair. Then get up and walk very slowly through your system. (Preferably with your eyes closed). You will understand immediately that the signal will have high and low in volume, while on the move, as if someone was turning on and off the volume control.

b - The frequency music and what is closest to human health of the sound is 1000 Hz 1000 Hz is your starting point. 1000 Hz will be at its peak many times in connection with the distance of your listening chair. Find the distance closest to your current president to listen to 1000 Hz is at peak. The ups and downs in that band must be changed about 50-70 centimeters. This is the best position to hear the mid frequencies, but is still not the best position to achieve the best frequency spectrum. It 's just the point.

c - Stick a rope to the back wall that can come across his shoulders. Now close your eyes and listen to different frequencies, as 300-500-1000-2000-5000-10.000 Hz etc, move up your body (while sitting) back and forth. Mark the points of each peak frequency hearing on the rope. Our goal is to find a point in particular that most of the frequencies are at their peak. If you are not successful and these points are not closer to each other, move the speakers to 10 inches face (or your listening chair at 10 cm anterior or posterior) and repeat the exercise until you reach a certain point that most of the frequencies are at their peak.

It is not an easy task, in terms of time, but free. Once you have the point, there will be very surprised with the improvement of the sound of your existing system.

5 - Room Acoustics, Room Acoustics is the best known, but the least considered part of Hi-End. A conventional speaker can throw 40% of the sound directly listener; rest of sound passes through the walls from reflections. The reflection is the difference in time the original signal, and an additional noise that does not exist in the original record. Within a reflection of this complexity, a part of the original signal will be delayed because of the front wall or ceiling or etc, a part of the signal produced by the original claim, as if coming from the right speaker and vice versa. This complex listening environment demolish the stereo imaging and channel separation.

Some audiophiles are happy This event came as a result seems to be gone and better soundstage is wider and deeper. Some manufacturers add mid / high units to the rear of speakers (dipoles) to highlight these effects.

One thing must be considered that these reflections do not exist in the original sound. If something is produced by the system / room, in addition to the original sound should be named color.

If the objective of a good hi-end system is to reproduce the original sound, these reflections should be avoided as much as possible. Especially tape and electrostatic speakers suffer much from these reflections.

Carpet on the floor is a must to reduce reflections (waves) between the floor and the ceiling. Thicker curtains will help to reduce reflections of the windows. Object glass and the photos should be avoided rigid furniture.

This article is not intended to give advice on how to make a room development, the lots, but a lot of information can be found on the Internet. But it is precisely to emphasize the importance of room acoustics.

6 - Speaker precise focusing and positioning, this is also another well known, but considered less part of Hi-End. E 'of fundamental importance for both speakers to identify exactly the same distance to achieve precise focus. The distances are measured with great care and both speakers should be placed exactly at the same distance through listener.

OK, but why this important!

Sound signals are distributed on the air, as explained in section five. People who have tried the settings section of the five are realizing that peak frequency varies in conjunction with the distance from the speakers. Especially the high frequencies vary from one inch of a change. In such cases, if a speaker is only an inch closer to the listener, some frequencies will be heard much from one speaker, but will not be heard from other speakers. If the higher harmonics sound human consists of those higher frequencies, (you!) This is obvious that the sound moves from center to left or right. Moreover, in this case, Some frequencies will be collisions in the full process and will be exaggerated, some others will be in collision with reversed phase to be destroyed.

This is the exactly the same effect of losing the bottom when you connect a speaker out of phase.

7 - Mechanical vibration of the electronic units, rather absorption of vibration and feet from the platform on the market. They must be placed under the electronics / speakers. These materials are two intentions;

a-To eliminate external vibration coming through the unit

b-To eliminate the vibrations of the same unit (motor driver CD, cone vibration, etc.)

Most popular are the cones (spikes). I believe that the proper use of nails do not know very well. Instead of being an absorber of vibration, Spike is a type of transmission that transmits vibrations from a material point through the other point. In other media, vibration is condensed to a point and mechanically platform to the tip, but not eliminated. If the connection is rigid (eg marble, granite, etc.) these vibrations are passed to the surface. Under rigidity of such platforms (marble, MDF, glass, granite) must be covered by an elastically materials such as cork, mouse pad, neoprene rubber or the like.

The vibration can not switch from one platform to an elastically rigid platform and will be implemented between the heat.

Direction of the cone is also critically important. The direction must be read in conjunction with the intention of transmitting vibrations.

It may be the last thing around the cone is the cone should be in contact with the chassis of the component directly. If any type of rubber, double-sided band, blue tack or an elastic material is placed between the cone and the drive that the material you are trying to incorporate the vibration and the cone will not work.

8 - Under Speakers Marble: A platform marble under the speakers to eliminate most of the unwanted resonances of the speaker. The thickness of the marble should be at least 3 cm and the size should be at least 10 centimeters bigger then the edges. Beneath the marble should be covered by an elastic material such as cork, mouse pad, neoprene etc.

What is its effect is sound, you are more powerful, but more clear and tight bass, a mid-term relaxation and top frequencies.

The speaker has to be connected to the platform through a cone, not a foot elastically. The abrupt end of the cone has directed for the marble, but not for the speaker.

9 - On land for metals of static electricity, particularly over time in moist environments and fully carpeted listening, static electric become an issue. The carpet is charged with static electricity that can be passed through the electronic equipment via the rack and / or by human touch. Static electricity on the table is so powerful that, when tested in the early morning someone walks on it, can be seen clearly from the simple tools sold in Radio Shack

In order to eliminate the effect of, the loudspeaker stands and equipment racks shall be connected to the ground by a thin wire. In addition, the loudspeaker and interconnect cables should be withdrawn from the plan because the same effect.

What benefits can you expect from this tweak is not know why but less blurry and lowest low tide.

10 - Distance from the front wall Speaker, Loudspeaker producers generally consider the distance of the speaker from the front wall (behind the wall crates). In general, the word should be located as far as possible from the front wall. (And side walls) You are so close to the wall, standing waves will be low Enhanced (explained in article five) and mid / high band will be compressed because of too low energy.

Some audiophiles find low volume of release closer to the front which is not correct. One thing must be considered that this increase is not low because of the original sound, but is a consequence of room response called coloring.

11 - Auto ex / Stage Line Transformer passive; New technologies developed in the area made hi-end pre-amplifiers questionable.

Before the end, the reason for a pre-amplifier has been made in four bases;

To connect to more than a whole

b-recording tape from some sources

c-low-volume output and the signal polarity turntables (as the only component)

d-Bass, treble adjustment requirements

Today, CD, SACD unit can supply 5-8 volts of outputs that are more than enough for the amps power. Audiophiles are not interested in tone adjustments but more focused on simplicity. Dedicated phono stages are in common use, as a consequence, most of the requirements are no longer valid.

The main and the only groundwork for a modern pre-amplifier is to lower the volume level is not up!

Just try to imagine a pure signal from a CD, or through the DAC power amplifier, and then cut this link, add four pins, four pins female, a pair of interconnections, a bunch of resistors, capacitors, tubes, transistors and all that stuff in the link. As you can maintain the purity of the signal and can be done something better then the original!

An active line stage demolishes the neutrality and the purity of the original sound. Such a corruption may not be so evident in most of the systems of lower resolution or ignored by some people on purpose. Each active line stage has its own hue and color. Is a fact, audiophiles generally use phases to balance the problems of tone systems. For example, a pipe-line stage is used to calm a still sound solid state or a high power amplifier line-rich phase is used to compensate for poor high power amplifier and vice versa. If this is the case, in a system completely natural line of phase and the lack of color will not be considered by the audiophile.

After me, the examination should be to change the power amp up to get the sound you want rather than play with pre-amplifier. In other words, to address the problem rather than trying to mask the problem.

This is almost a consensus that the use of a simple volume pot adds both neutrality and purity of sound. But in these cases, some other problems. A volume which is a pot of a potentiometer or an alternator works with enhanced resistance principals. Each volume step adds several resistive signal path, then lower the volume. Due to the complexity of the music signal (20 Hz-20 kHz), such as a resistive load will act as a barrier for different frequencies. For example, when we turn down the volume level, the high is lowered, and the condensate is low or when you increase the volume, mids are excessive or vice versa. Do not forget to mention is the lack of dynamic range, as well. A line stage eliminates these problems.

Because of these facts, the analog volume control or volume control pots CD can not be used stand-alone, as a line of stages

With the new technology, new cars and passive transformer former line phases are developed for the volume control.

This unit does not operate with the principles and the resistance does not add strength to the signal path. The only resistance of these amps is approximately 200 ohms due to the cable windings.

Transformer passive line stage consists of two processors, one for the left channel and one for right. Have a primary and multiple (12-24 steps) of secondary windings. Their main role is to lover the volume by changing the volts, instead of adding resistance. To my knowledge, There are only three manufacturers of this line phases. I used two of them. Both are providing extra ordinary natural, calm and non-distorted sound.

I heavily modified The Antique Sound Lab, which is very good and fairly cheap products too (do not underestimate its price), but Audio Consulting Silver Rock made of pure silver is something else.

It should also be remembered that such a passive line stage may not be suitable for each system. In this case, the input impedance the power amplifier should be driven directly from the output of the DAC or CD player. Input impedance of power amplifier should be as small as possible. The best way to learn this case is to write the impedance values of production and the need for assistance before you buy.

12 - Good Tubes (NOS Tubes), it is logical that to pay 100? and the old pipe, and the new costs 10? I think it is. A good tube can change the characteristics of an electronic tube replaced as if the whole unit. No tubes are not easy to find, rather expensive but worth it to use. Particularly high frequency of the whistle is much more tubes with low-nos.

13 - Very Easy Method Finding polarity, generally speaking, European (German) standard AC plugs do not have the signal direction. United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland AC plugs are a way to connect to the network, so + e - can not step. Thus, in such cases, it is not easy to find the correct polarity.

Electronic components can work properly regardless of polarity. Our television sets, refrigerators, bulbs, computers for everything. Because the network of polarity is very important in Hi-Fi!

Electricity comes from (+) electronic circuit and passes it departs from (-) Generally the the supply current reaches the power of the first unit then reduced to desired voltage with the electronic circuits. In this case, power is automatically filtered by the power supply section. The processor power supply section acts as transformer isolation, the current input and output are physically separated. If the polarity is not correct, the network will come to the system directly from the door and bring all the pollution as RFI / EMI unit. Due to the fact, it is important to find the correct polarity.

Most electronics' polarity is similar. If the drive is removable and power cord IEC type of input, the right should be the hole (+) power supply when you look at the draft in front of the front (as seen below)

Another simple method is to check the fuse network. If the unit is equipped with an external protection fuse, release the fuse and check that the electricity by a pen while the unit is connected to the electricity grid. Va (+) signal. Otherwise, reverse the AC plug from the wall

14 - Level of the listening volume, and is certainly no business to tell you what the correct volume setting is listening. Some audiophiles like to very low level of audience, some turn the volume up to the windows are broken.

If the result is to achieve the atmosphere of the place recorded, the volume should be adjusted accordingly, but no more or no less. This case is applicable to acoustic instruments, but not limited to electronic music, jazz or disco etc.

What ever heard the recording, the correct volume setting should be the one that does not enlarge or reduce the original instrument. Higher volumes may for example a guitar must be played with the original volume of a guitar the correct volume setting. If the volume level is increased, the body of the guitar that has become largest in terms obsolete, in other hands, full body of a non-Mormon choir in a realistic way with a low volume

15 - Heating spoke cables before criticism and listening; addition to the theory that "solid state electronics to provide their best sound for several minutes until the transistor has become hot." every single device audio needs a warm-up time. This time is at least 1 / 2 hours or 1 hour, despite manufacturers recommend less. To my knowledge, the reason behind This is the specification of resistors, capacitors, tubes and other things differ if cold or hot. Producers make final settings when the units are hot, otherwise it would be perfect to play the first half and worse after warmed up.

What is to be applied to any audiophile electronics, but not always, for speakers and cables.

Speakers are very important because the passive components must be heated as crossover resistance. Their voice coils should be heated as well. The cables are important. Warm up period may not be eligible for the cables but the cables should be run for a few until they are charged dielectric.

Consequently, the time of heating should be completed before the playback (can not be listening) the entire system.

16 - The correct selection for speaker listening room, speaker should be selected in conjunction with the listening room size. Unfortunately, the general trend audiophiles in particular in the United States is "the bigger the better"

E 'as some of the new beginning skiers who choose the best ski equipment before facing the learning and with so many problems later.

Big speakers are hard to hard drives, more affected by the room boundaries. If the speaker is greater for the room, too low energy will diminish in the rest of the sounds. The largest speaker means more problems. Driving requires large speakers challenge, experience, sources, time and money.

17 - PS Audio Power Plant; Mainly I avoid giving specific brands in my non-commercial website. But PS Audio Power Plant is such that a similar product components are not comparable with. It 'a kind of power regenerator powered by electricity. P300 actually regenerates new AC for audio gear. This regenerated AC is much better quality filtered AC voltage due to the stable and near perfect AC waveform. It also eliminates 70 dB of EMI and RFI noise from the AC!

Not all friends are in agreement with me, but In my opinion, is very special equipment that raises the whole system to a higher level.

What do you expect from this sound is much more relaxed, deeper and wider soundstage layer, high crystal and more interior details. The improvements are immediately apparent. Caring for use with power hungry amplifiers. (I'm not sure about this now Note: 2005)

18 - Surface Treatments CD, There's different types of surface treatments of the CD market. They shine the surface of the CD, and laser collects more information. What can one expect from a surface treatment is the high frequencies are more cleaner and more extended. The easiest and least expensive method of treatment of the surface of the CD is the one used by tube enthusiasts. This is the oil on human skin of the face.

I apologize to optimize ugly, but our systems are personal and private, however, did not. Human is the perfect oil viscosity thin and can be absorbed from the CD surface very easily and effectively. Listen to your first CD, the CD smear across the face and spread the oil with your finger and listen again.

Do not forget to spread the oil with your fingers every time before you hear the CD.

19 - The aim of the third dimension; The objective of a stereo system is to achieve 3.rd size through two channels. All hi-end or hi-fi equipment is its character, timbre and tone. For example, titanium tweeter in a different tone then have a silk dome tweeter. Two different brands of speakers will have different tones, as if you use the same units. The hue of high-end equipment largely depends on the listening preferences of the designer. There will most likely not feel as though different shades from our equipment, even if the other system sounds much better. This case is so often in the face, most audiophiles do not like the sound of someone else, although the system is a better system. This case is also evident when the acquisition or testing of new equipment at home. We sometimes test better equipment, but they feel at home still missing something in our equipment.

I remember very well, when Sony introduced the first CD 20 Bit, most people find the sound hard, sharp and colorful. People used to listen to sound dark CD up to that time and hearing more details interior disturbed them.

I very well remember that when I changed my old B & W 801 Matrix II monitor and speakers canceled their protection units, the new sound I was very disturbed. I was displeased by this new sound and could not be heard in my system for several days. At that time, the producer said that "the unity of protection was needed because of the speakers have been designed mainly for recording studios. "They also told me that the new sound should be clearly better because of the strength of crossover that affects the upper and lower half was lowered quite low. After several days of listening, the sound has become more and better. In the end the sound was surprisingly perfect after a few weeks. In fact the sound was the same, but the perception is changing. (The my brain was changing reference)

If this is the case often, as the units are distinguished by better listen! There are several ways it, but for me the main method is the ability third dimension. This is not the only case for sure, but in general, if two units are compared, the best is the one that offers more soundstage, more depth, and height.

This is also the theory of Peter Quodrup from Audio Note United Kingdom and I am one hundred percent agree with him.

The distortion of an electronic device is not the effect of tone of the equipment, but above all interior effects details. Soundstage province and height are such factors hidden in data centers that will be affected first. If the unit provide lower distortion, more precise soundstage, more depth, in particular be provided.

20 - The Less powerful link in a chain, Hi-Fi is a sort of chain. Strength of a chain depends on the less powerful ring. Taking a water pipe is made of wide variety. Water capacity will be derived in accordance with Part more subtle.

A system should consist of similar level of equipment. If you add the best CD transport to a standard level of system, we will be some changes, but not as expected. Even a poor digital cable compress the sound quality of a good system.

A long term plan should be prepared before you create a system and the pieces must be purchased in time. Hasty purchases can be for costs within one to two years.

21 - Do not just judge a Unit, to give a chance; Each system is capable of sound and time. Synergy System is a kind of time-dependence which sometimes takes months, even years. Sometimes we make quick decisions and fast prejudices for the good of the products and immediately make unfair comments. In my opinion, the main element of hi-end chain is the loudspeaker. If the tone and characteristics of the speaker is generally good, or if the tone of the whole system is generally good, the system can be exercised for several more steps to play with the cables, tweaks, leases, pipes etc.

22 - Critical adjustments must be made Listen to music from symphonic and choir music; Once we decided on the major components of our system, to play with cables, pipes, and other changes until the desired hue. Adjusting the tonal balance of a single instrument or listening to jazz trios May lead us into error.

The upper half and senior bands sound is easily disappeared if someone is from the original signal. This is the case, if you listen to a live concert or listening in a hi-end. If this is the case, for example, instruments such as saxophone, guitar, violin, even a human voice is darker and far, if you listen to live an excellent record. Each time we increase the medium / high bandwidth of the system changes, these tools have become more open, detailed and dynamic. But one thing must be borne in mind that you can add a subtle amount of color to the sound unconsciously. If an audience is trimmed with small trios or single instruments, singe item, this is really great. This system can not play a classical music performed by a great orchestra. If that is heard symphonic music, the system can reveal the roughness and brightness.

It is often someone said that the system plays well in the classic sounds quite dark but in jazz, or someone else the system is very revealing of jazz, but very bright and glass music classic. I think this is the main reason for these phenomena

END

Hi-End is a passion that many opportunistic business and people are added each year, despite high-end community is not growing enough. The prices are multiplied by 3, 5, 10s each year. Each producer pretending to be one of the best in the world, or at least in particular the level of prices. Manufacturers issue review reports prepared by some of those!

No equipment test today's technology is able to demonstrate that their claims are correct or may not invalidate the test equipment that their claims are wrong. In no way the equipment can compare two units of each other and demonstrate that one is better then the other issue. Pretend the world's best equipment / cables often aspire blind test. If this is the case, it is easy to claim to be the best in the world because nobody can prove otherwise.

The price of the precious unit can go down to 1 / 3 of the purchase price within a few years by the addition of MK-II MK-III, special editions, and signed versions

While the best speaker in the world has been sold by 7000? Twenty years ago, the best speaker is now more than 200,000? A bad line stage is used to lower the volume is spent by 40,000.

Hi-end technology does not grow for years. Most manufacturers of hi-end are very small businesses that targeting family very few rich niche of people. They do not have adequate research and development laboratories. Design and properties are the priorities.

I have a strong impression that Hi-End is digging its own grave with pricing policy. Let's see what will happen to hi-end, after 30 years.

This is a deep hole not. My humble recommendations for the start-up is only going on the market with second-hand products and go from a reasonable price to minimize the equipment for the loss of years. Never look for the perfect sound that does not exist in any money. Keep in mind that a 300,000? Amplifier by 2-3% can be better then 5000? Worth of his little brother.

Sincerely, with lots of music ..

Ozhan Atalay