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Now for something completely different , I was talking to an audiophile friend and mentioned the experiment of cupping ones ears while listening to music . I sometimes suggest this to non-audiophile friends who ask for my opinion or advice on the systems they've set up in their living rooms , family rooms or wherever . Many if not most , prefer what they are hearing but seem reluctant to accept ear-cupping as a long term solution for improved sound . My friend reminded me of the leather " rabbit ears ' that were on sale years ago and you may recall the "tent" that was demoed at Axpona several years ago . Both the rabbit ears and the tent seemed to enhance the listening experience in what are admittedly poor listening environments . But here is the thing , most people are listening in poor listening environments . They don't have dedicated listening rooms . They haven't spent tens of thousands of dollars on room treatments.Are there inexpensive alternatives to dedicated sound rooms and room treatments that might mitigate poor listening environments ? Am I losing my mind or should I be developing a new tweak that doesn't put you in a tent or have you wear rabbit ears or make you look strange by cupping your ears while listening to music ? We spend large amounts of money on racks to optimize our components performance but there doesn't seem to be much out there to optimize our performance as listeners .
Seems to me THE MOST OBVIOUS Listening Environments would be either building a Home Theater OR a Recording Studio. BOTH Listening Environments would have THE MOST PERFECT ROOM ACOUSTICS AVAILABLE!!!
I own several movie theaters . One of them had 3+ days of Dolby consultancy to set up their 60 channel Atmos system . Sounds great but far from “ PERFECT ROOM ACOUSTICS “ . Similarly , recording studios use near field monitoring using speakers with which the engineer is most familiar . This may lead to good recordings but not necessarily to good sound in the studio . I’m not sure about Home Theaters as good for music playback . Just this morning I received some information on a custom built , dual purpose room using Magico M9s for the L and R channels and other Magico’s for C ,Lr ,Rr . I suspect the screen and the passive interaction of the unused speakers during 2 channel playback has got to create problems . Monty Python would put his hands behind his ears and wouldn’t care how dumb he looks . This is an amazing coincidence, I’m wearing my “ I’m not dead yet “ Monty Python teeshirt .
If you own "several movie theaters" you must have access to Professional Acoustical Engineers in order to keep your movie theaters's Sound Systems Updated to Commercial Industry Standards.
You should be able to consult Acoustical Engineers in order to implement tweaking your own Home Sound Dynamics.
I’m in New Orleans . The movie business is largely dependent on the quality of product . Covid , strikes and strife all cause disruptions . In some ways I'm fortunate because of our large tourism industry ,i.e. , 25-30 million tourists a year , and sub-tropical climate . Most of my screens are in The French Quarter , we get our daily deluge of heavy rain and people go to a movie to wait it out .
I have separate sound and video rooms in my home . My 5.5.3 home theater was set-up and is subject to ongoing tweaks .
My sound room is extensively treated - - a combination of absorption , diffusion and reflection .
You’ve got to be careful with acousticians . If they are striving for a flat frequency response at your “ sweet spot “ , your music may end up sounding dull and lifeless . I’m extremely fortunate in having been , and continuing to be , assisted by MBL in the initial set up of my X-tremes and their frequent adjustment as I change equipment .
More obsession than disposable income . I usually attend CES , Axpona and MOC ( next year off to Vienna ) . I'm of mixed feelings about the complimentary nature of A/V and high end audio . Dynamics are very important for A/V and dynamic range is what can raise the hair on the back of your neck when listening to a good audio system but that audio system needs to be good at so much more , e.g. , soundstage .
Now for something completely different , I was talking to an audiophile friend and mentioned the experiment of cupping ones ears while listening to music . I sometimes suggest this to non-audiophile friends who ask for my opinion or advice on the systems they've set up in their living rooms , family rooms or wherever . Many if not most , prefer what they are hearing but seem reluctant to accept ear-cupping as a long term solution for improved sound . My friend reminded me of the leather " rabbit ears ' that were on sale years ago and you may recall the "tent" that was demoed at Axpona several years ago . Both the rabbit ears and the tent seemed to enhance the listening experience in what are admittedly poor listening environments . But here is the thing , most people are listening in poor listening environments . They don't have dedicated listening rooms . They haven't spent tens of thousands of dollars on room treatments.Are there inexpensive alternatives to dedicated sound rooms and room treatments that might mitigate poor listening environments ? Am I losing my mind or should I be developing a new tweak that doesn't put you in a tent or have you wear rabbit ears or make you look strange by cupping your ears while listening to music ? We spend large amounts of money on racks to optimize our components performance but there doesn't seem to be much out there to optimize our performance as listeners .
What would Monty Python do John?
Seems to me THE MOST OBVIOUS Listening Environments would be either building a Home Theater OR a Recording Studio. BOTH Listening Environments would have THE MOST PERFECT ROOM ACOUSTICS AVAILABLE!!!
I own several movie theaters . One of them had 3+ days of Dolby consultancy to set up their 60 channel Atmos system . Sounds great but far from “ PERFECT ROOM ACOUSTICS “ . Similarly , recording studios use near field monitoring using speakers with which the engineer is most familiar . This may lead to good recordings but not necessarily to good sound in the studio . I’m not sure about Home Theaters as good for music playback . Just this morning I received some information on a custom built , dual purpose room using Magico M9s for the L and R channels and other Magico’s for C ,Lr ,Rr . I suspect the screen and the passive interaction of the unused speakers during 2 channel playback has got to create problems . Monty Python would put his hands behind his ears and wouldn’t care how dumb he looks . This is an amazing coincidence, I’m wearing my “ I’m not dead yet “ Monty Python teeshirt .
Thanks for your Reply John!
Where are you located?
I'm located in Cambria, California.
How's the Movie Theater BIZ?
If you own "several movie theaters" you must have access to Professional Acoustical Engineers in order to keep your movie theaters's Sound Systems Updated to Commercial Industry Standards.
You should be able to consult Acoustical Engineers in order to implement tweaking your own Home Sound Dynamics.
I’m in New Orleans . The movie business is largely dependent on the quality of product . Covid , strikes and strife all cause disruptions . In some ways I'm fortunate because of our large tourism industry ,i.e. , 25-30 million tourists a year , and sub-tropical climate . Most of my screens are in The French Quarter , we get our daily deluge of heavy rain and people go to a movie to wait it out .
I have separate sound and video rooms in my home . My 5.5.3 home theater was set-up and is subject to ongoing tweaks .
My sound room is extensively treated - - a combination of absorption , diffusion and reflection .
You’ve got to be careful with acousticians . If they are striving for a flat frequency response at your “ sweet spot “ , your music may end up sounding dull and lifeless . I’m extremely fortunate in having been , and continuing to be , assisted by MBL in the initial set up of my X-tremes and their frequent adjustment as I change equipment .
Sounds like you have PLENTY of Disposable Income to Invest in High End A/V Components John!
Do you ever attend National/International A/V Industry Conventions?
I imagine A/V Industry Component Venders would be a good source to consult for tweaking your Home Sound Dynamics.
More obsession than disposable income . I usually attend CES , Axpona and MOC ( next year off to Vienna ) . I'm of mixed feelings about the complimentary nature of A/V and high end audio . Dynamics are very important for A/V and dynamic range is what can raise the hair on the back of your neck when listening to a good audio system but that audio system needs to be good at so much more , e.g. , soundstage .