Audiophiles and Gearheads - is there any other hobby that has more pseudoscience?

[Doggggboy]

I think audiophile is basically trying to reproduce stage or professional experience at home by understanding and investing into the complete ecosystem from the input source downstream to speakers and even room layout. People do this based on person circumstances like time, finances and space, with all sorts of "hobbies".

I have always heard that the single biggest factor in how your system sounds is the room it is in. Flooring, shape, furniture, ceiling, wall textures, windows and their coverings, etc.

 

[architect]

Most people just hook up PC speakers to their computers or cheap headphones to listen to their Spotify.

I was on the hunt for the best desktop speakers (smaller than bookshelf) and landed on the iLoud Micro Monitors:

iLoud Micro Monitors measurements and quasi-anechoic spinorama

I've had these little monitors for a while. I'm a big fan. Their name might sound like a cheap Apple knockoff product, but for $300 a pair, they sound great so long as you intend to use them in the nearfield and don't intend to listen at ridiculous volumes. I'm a 70dB kind of guy, so that's...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I don't get into the nuts and bolts of it, but these -sound- absolutely fantastic to me when considering how small they are.

 

[architect]

I have always heard that the single biggest factor in how your system sounds is the room it is in. Flooring, shape, furniture, ceiling, wall textures, windows and their coverings, etc.

Absolutely! It's really the next factor after the speaker themselves. The iLoud I mentioned above even have a toggle depending on how the monitors are positioned, whether on the desk angled upwards, or on stands parallel to your head:





Then there's spacing and acoustic reverberation (materials) etc like you mentioned.

 

[whydontu]

IYKYK . I still have my original pair of Koss / Radio Shack silver Minimus 7s, that I sold to myself at my massive 10% staff discount.

 

[someidiot]

As mentioned previously, I've been a college DJ for 40+ years, and way back when I was station engineer as well I did the upgrade from the original 60s McCurdy rim-drive turntables to 1200s - so I know them pretty well.

But after moving the house (which is around when our girls were born too), and with all the business craziness, father on his last legs (perhaps not the best way to describe it, as he was a diabetes double-amputee at the end), etc., I wasn't really thinking of spending money on a new turntable, as I've long been very happy with my modest little Rega Planar (though it does need a new belt at the moment).

 

[someidiot]

IYKYK . I still have my original pair of Koss / Radio Shack silver Minimus 7s, that I sold to myself at my massive 10% staff discount.

I'll never walk by a pair of Minimus 7s at a thrift shop, yard sale, etc., without grabbing them up. Even better with the wall brackets.

 

[architect]

As mentioned previously, I've been a college DJ for 40+ years, and way back when I was station engineer as well I did the upgrade from the original 60s McCurdy rim-drive turntables to 1200s - so I know them pretty well.

But after moving the house (which is around when our girls were born too), and with all the business craziness, father on his last legs (perhaps not the best way to describe it, as he was a diabetes double-amputee at the end), etc., I wasn't really thinking of spending money on a new turntable, as I've long been very happy with my modest little Rega Planar (though it does need a new belt at the moment).

I remember your experience and expertise well and understand why you chose that path! I am posting the bits for the benefits of others who may desire a different sort of practicality and not know the range of available products 🙂

I'm perfectly happy with my free curb speakers for practical reasons as well.

 

[Susquatch]

Then I asked the concrete guys to make sure they had enough to spare to fill the tube. No more skips. (Yes, things are a bit messy and dusty in that corner at the moment. Summer's just about over, I'll deal with it.)

Wow..... That's amazing that you did that. I would not have even dreamed about doing that! Talk about clobbering a problem!

My bride and I are planning our last home. We favour log construction.

So, tell me about that log construction of yours. What do you like and what do you hate? Would you do that over again?

From your photo, it looks like inside walls are also that log profile. Why did you do that instead of framing?

Help me learn from you!

 

[someidiot]

Wow..... That's amazing that you did that. I would not have even dreamed about doing that! Talk about clobbering a problem!

Sometimes ridiculous overkill is the only way to go.

My bride and I are planning our last home. We favour log construction.

So, tell me about that log construction of yours. What do you like and what do you hate? Would you do that over again?

From your photo, it looks like inside walls are also that log profile. Why did you do that instead of framing?

Help me learn from you!

Well, I don't think I really have too much to offer - it was a product of a particular series of events and combination of circumstances, and one dollar.

I can get into the story if you wish.

 

[Susquatch]

Sometimes ridiculous overkill is the only way to go.



Well, I don't think I really have too much to offer - it was a product of a particular series of events and combination of circumstances, and one dollar.

I can get into the story if you wish.

Feel free to PM me any details you wish to share. We are buying. We want a log home next. We want to make sure that it's a good one as we will probably die in it.