Audio knowledge

Oldfatdogs
Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
edited May 2011 in The Clubhouse
I'm curious, where did everyone get there audio knowledge?Did you work in this field,hangout at the stereo shop,read ?Some of you know way more than the average Joe.What I know I have learned here and google.I try to read here every day hoping to absorb some of this.
Post edited by Oldfatdogs on
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  • On3s&Z3r0s
    On3s&Z3r0s Posts: 1,013
    edited April 2011
    I'll go first since I don't have much audio knowledge to account for. Mine comes from a few friends who are far bigger audio geeks than I am or work in the industry. But all of it as applies to Polk speakers comes from this forum. A few of them have said they are impressed with the ones I own but still refuse to surf CL for a pair.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,004
    edited April 2011
    You willing to read what would amount to a condensed 50 pages or more of a particular members audio journey? Personally, I wouldn't even want to type it. To me, it all boils down to one thing starting the flame at age 8.

    Experience.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,766
    edited April 2011
    I made up absolutely everything I post, except the stuff I cut and paste from Wikipedia.

    The next best thing to so is find a local brick and mortar store, or a local bunch of hobbyists, and hang around and listen. A lot.
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited April 2011
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I made up absolutely everything I post,
    I learned everything I know by reading mhardy's posts.:wink::smile:
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited April 2011
    treitz3 To me, it all boils down to one thing starting the flame at age 8.
    I dont think I can read 50 pages per member,Just a general answer will do.But if you would like to say more please do.
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  • greybeard
    greybeard Posts: 60
    edited April 2011
    This forum is about audio? OMG, no wonder I've been confused.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,004
    edited April 2011
    Oldfatdogs wrote: »
    I'm curious, where did everyone get there audio knowledge?Did you work in this field,hangout at the stereo shop,read ?Some of you know way more than the average Joe.
    I'm not trying to be a pain and/or avoid your question. I'm dead serious. I could probably condense it to 25 pages but there would be so many holes that it wouldn't be worth the aggravation and more typing to explain the holes as to how I got from one spot to another. You may want to rely on someone else for that answer. Until then, experience.

    If you have a while and you would like to talk to me via the phone, that's one thing and I'm more than welcome to chat to you about it. PM me if you are interested but it is of no desire to me to type it all out. That would be like asking Ronald Reagan how he started at....and got knowledgeable in politics. You know what I mean?

    Just take your own personal audio journey and embrace it, learn from it and enjoy it. Along the way will come the knowledge. The only other thing I'd like to type about this right now is that one should not ever have complete faith in magazine reviews and don't ever believe everything you read on the internet.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited April 2011
    reading everything you can.. listening to as many different pieces of equipment (and in as many different combinations) as you can.. asking as many questions and talking to as many people as you can...
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited April 2011
    and listening, and trying to comprehend, the answers..
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited April 2011
    I don't know jack. I just listen to music.
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

    The SRT SEISMIC System:
    Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,393
    edited April 2011
    I just close my eyes use my ears....

    This technique does not lend itself well to my other nocturnal activities:eek::tongue:.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • audiobilly
    audiobilly Posts: 351
    edited April 2011
    Time in the seat my brother. You gotta do the time to pay for the crime.:smile:

    It's about what makes you happy. Sound can make you happy or not. Is it pleasing to you, or not. When you listen to something, the music can make you happy, and then the "sound" can make you happy. Laymans' terms, but that is the essence of what audio does. The creations of the "sound" of the music, or the reproduction of that "sound" of music.

    I digress,,,. The "70s" sound, brilliant writers of music and lyrics. Now how can I reproduce that sound. IMO! I am trying to quantify a very large idea to laymans' terms.

    Yes, you must use "Your" ears. What is it that is pleasing to "You". At the end of the day, that is all that matters,,,, YOU!

    Now you have to determine which or all of these aspects of this environment of the process that intrigues you, if all. You MUST do the homework of any of these aspects that intrigues you to get what you want!

    Good luck on your journey by brethren. What, if all or not, makes YOU happy!:biggrin:
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited April 2011
    What he said.

    Find a old timer, start having a music night with him, or other friends. You'd be suprised what you can soak up.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • WGDB
    WGDB Posts: 162
    edited April 2011
    I had a paper route in 1974 and bought a Realistic 8 track tape player (radio shack) that pumped 80 watts per channel w am/fm and installed it in my Dad's 62 Ford Thunderbird. and, the road goes on forever and the party never ends...................
    Pioneer Elite SC-35, Polk RTA (Real Time Array) 12's,
    Polk Monitor 40 surrounds, Polk CSiA4 Center,
    Polk PSW125, Sharp LC-46D62U,
    Panasonic DMP-BD85, Harmony One,
    iMac streaming an Apple TVII, or Squeezebox Touch
    Bedroom Rig~Sony STRDG-920, Polk Monitor 60 fronts, Polk RM6750 Satellites and Sub, Panasonic DMP-BD85
    Rabbit Hole Rig~Yamaha CA1010, Yamaha CT1010, Polk SDA 2A's, Teac A1500 R2R
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited April 2011
    I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

    Lots of books and decades in the sweet spot. There is no substitute.
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  • byfthalone
    byfthalone Posts: 345
    edited April 2011
    I came to audio very late in life....59 years young this coming Friday, and have found this site so very helpful. It is amazing how much good info in on these forums and how much you learn just by doing. I don't have expensive equipment but I can see upgrades coming sooner rather than later. Lord this is fun AND addictive.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,766
    edited April 2011
    In a more serious vein than my earlier post...

    Engineer/designer/DIY enabler Pete Millett has given the world a fantastic collection of scans of audio and technology books and papers in the public domain at www.tubebooks.org Yes, it is focused on vacuum tube audio and technology, but the basics of analog audio reproduction have not changed since the 1930s.

    A tyro could do far worse than to download and read Norman Crowhurst's "Basic Audio" series:
    http://www.tubebooks.org/Books/crowhurst_basic_1.pdf
    http://www.tubebooks.org/Books/crowhurst_basic_2.pdf
    http://www.tubebooks.org/Books/crowhurst_basic_3.pdf

    Oh, there's also Robert Hartley's Guide to High Fidelity (I think that's the title). There have been numerous editions. It's not bad, as I recall.
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited April 2011
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Robert Harley's The Complete Guide to High End Audio There have been numerous editions. It's not bad, as I recall.

    Corrected, and an excellent read! It has good info, on the differences of audio equipment out there, how an audio system actually works (what makes sound), and how the soundwaves coming from the speakers work and interact with the room/furniture/ears.

    As far as gaining knowledge as a whole...I think most have learned from experience on here - I know I have. Very few actually work in the industry. Years of trying out different pieces of gear will yield the most solid knowledge and that takes time and a willingness to experiment. If you get lucky enough to meet someone that has the bug and has a-lot of experience, or a good brick and mortar store, than you will learn a tremendous amount in a much shorter timeframe. Otherwise, like Tom said....experience.
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited April 2011
    Thanks for your comments and links,I'm trying to soak all this information up. Treitz3 I would like very much to talk to you about your experiences.I will p.m. you soon. Mhardy6647 you have been very helpful answering my questions that I have asked in the past.To the rest of you thanks again for your responses I know you are all busy with life.This forum has been very helpful to me. Thank you all. Dan
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,766
    edited May 2011
    fishbones wrote: »
    Corrected, and an excellent read! It has good info, on the differences of audio equipment out there, how an audio system actually works (what makes sound), and how the soundwaves coming from the speakers work and interact with the room/furniture/ears...

    Thanks for the correction; I was too lazy to check before posting! :-(
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