Sda Poll

I-SIG

I know what you mean, George, but they would have kicked me off the Forum, if you catch my drift. Besides, it take forever to make all those stupid symbols for cuss words.

Wes

Aaron

Wes,
I think the reason "true audiophiles" go for that kind of music is because it presents a much more detailed, life-like projection. For example, how much detail do you really expect to get from a Pearl Jam album? Probably not a whole lot. However, you take someone like Dianna Krall where the music is basically just her vocals and a single instrument (piano), and you can really begin to pick apart the sound of equipment. Those kind of recordings seem to give a more "you are there" sound to them, a solo performance, if you will. They're also not as busy musically, so you can really listen to the subtlties of the vocals. Anyway, that's my take on.

Aaron

BobMcG

Wes mentioned, if he HAD to listen to opera or chamber music JUST so he could be considered a "true audiophile", he couldn't do it. He'd rather be shot in the head. I'm very much with him on that one.
Your explaination of the reason (you believe) certain "true audiophiles" listen to opera and chamber music is to hear more detail...??? Sorry, but that argument doesn't hold any water with me. There's plenty of music made that has nice, intricate detail to it without having to resort to those forms of music. I wouldn't search too long and hard for it in heavy metal , hiphop, or rap, but plenty exsists.
I think you're giving too many of the "self proclaimed golden eared, true audiophiles" out there, a convenient excuse for their tastes. Don't you realize they are the "trully cultured ones" in our society. It's because of this higher plain in life that a lot of them float about on that makes them and their tastes in music different from the mainstream rest of us. Face the facts man, 1) you're not cut from the same cloth as the "audio elite", and 2) you're far from alone!

BobMcG

Holy smokes gang!
Seventy four votes!!! That's a great voter turnout! Maybe in a couple more weeks we'll see the eighty mark reached?

Aaron

Perhaps I should clarify what I was referring to. I was mainly citing the example of Dianna Krall. That is, music with a solo performer and a single instrument. I believe there are certain things you'll get out of recording like that, that you won't get from other types. I think some opera lies along the same lines as this. I really can't speak for chamber music, but I woul imagine that it doesn't fall in line with my example very well.

Aaron

George Grand

That's a bunch of ****. I LIKE Opera. Sometimes she has really interesting guests.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

One of the most sought after "audiophile" records (on vinyl), is Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall. It is an RCA Victor "Red Seal" or "Black Seal", and is either a shaded or white dog (Nipper is either shaded or white) and who gives a rats **** anyway. You going to listen to "Day-O"?

gidrah

The problem with Audiophiles is that they have just too much damn money. They got tired of being called yuppies and Audiophile sounds so much more hoity toity(sp?). I've talked to people that have NO clue about the music they are listening to, and yet are doing it on a system that makes me sport a stiffy. I once overheard a guy asking about putting his Martin Logans "in-wall". The salesman promptly giggled and advised against it. I would have escorted him out the door. These are the same people that will buy a Lotus to KEEP in a climate controlled garage while they drive around in their SUV with OEM stereo. They go to the opera because they can.

I do listen to a fair share of classical and my Polks sound great. Maybe not as good as theirs, but theirs don't sound as good playing Rock n' Roll, which is what I listen to most. I can't count how many times I've heard "these are not R&R speakers", or "they won't play very loud", or "only listen to with low wattage". Thier claim to fame is mostly imaging, duh SDA. And yet,when asked for a brand that can cover an eclectic array of music at reasonable listenning levels, even Audiophiles will admit to Polk being amongst the ranks of many much higher priced systems.

Do I consider myself an Audiophile? Yes and no. I (like you) do not have a second morgage to pay for my new speaker cables, but I do have a semblence of understanding of the way sound should be reproduced, I think about it constantly, and I love the music. If that's not enough, tough luck.

I-SIG

Hell, my hole doesn't even necesarily have to be shot in! A claw hammer would also do quite nicely.

Seriously, if the recording is decent, then massive amounts of detail can be found in virtually any style of music. Persoanlly, IMHBCO, if one's stereo can image and detail a rock band well, then something like a single singer and a single instrument should be a piece of cake.

Aaron, I've found a lot of detail in my PJ albums, especially their later ones (Yield and Binaural). Alarms on watches, throat clearing, counts, drum sticks breaking, and even on their latest DVD, spitting. (Granted being able to see it helps too, but I know I heard it.) Listen to Radiohead's OK Computer. All kinds of stuff going on in that CD.

Gidrah, congrats on joining the SDA site. Excellent points about the cash and their "speakers."

Maybe I've been influenced too much by some of the yahoos on this Forum (insert joke here), but my idea of a serious listening rig had better have at least 200W/ch, not this 3W ****. It's got to play fairly loud to hear all the details. The exponential listening curve that a human hear is tuned to makes it so. (certain frequencies have to be played louder (more amplitude) to be heard at the same level as other freq.) The little bit of classical music I listen to brings just as big a smile to my face as my Pearl Jam collection.

Or maybe I just don't know any better

Wes;)

TroyD

...just out of curiosity, where abouts in Atlanta are you? My wife has a bunch of family in Canton, a few clicks north of the city....

Troy

I-SIG

I'm from Douglasville, but when I'm at Tech, I live on campus. I live at home when I co-op. I took a pistol class in Canton this summer, as a matter of act...

Wes

TroyD

Next time I am in town, to save me from another trip to the freakin mall or wherever, I'll sport at the Varsity if that works for you....

Troy

I-SIG

Sounds good to me. If you want to do better, let me know and I can come up with manner of places. Not complaining about the Varsity, in fact I had supper there last night, just saying. How often are you in town, just out of cuiosity?

Wes

TroyD

Sounds good to me....We usually go about every six months or so. The thing that irks me is that I am the only male on the trip so the estrogen level is pretty high. Only so many craft sales, antique shops and crap like that a guy should have to endure.

Troy

I-SIG

Troy,

Just send me a "heads up" e-mail, I'll work on the schedule and a place.

Wes

rmh1

I don't know if I would consider myself as an audio enthusist or an audiophile, maybe a little of both. A while back, years actually, when I made recommendations to folks interested in very clean accurate sound reproduction, I told them to total up the amount of money they have spent on the pre-amp, amp, turntable, cartridge, cassette recorder. Then take that amount of money as the amount to spend on one speaker. Then the same for the other. My point is that you don't listen to the electronics, but the sound from the speakers. Another way to look at it that going by specs on the electronics, most folks cannot tell the difference in a spec stating .001% THD and .1% THD even though that is a factor of 100. BUT, there is a huge difference in the actual sound reproduction side. Polk, by far, IMHO, gives everyone the best sound for the money spent. Even still, I believe the axiom does holds true today on how much to spend on speakers. I saved for about two years to purchase the 1.2's.

BobMcG

It looks as though a lot of us are on the same wave-length with this whole "audiophile " lable thing.

I don't want to give the wrong impression though. I do have a small collection of classical music CDs (a dozen) that I occasionally enjoy. However, I'm certainly not buying a pair of speakers or building a system that specializes in reproducing this type of music. I like rock and roll and will build around that. I don't feel guilty about the type(s) of music I prefer either. Nor should anyone else for that matter, to each their own. I'm just not going to be bothered knowing my system doesn't do "The Dance of the Fairy-assed Pixies" as well as it can be done. I'll leave that problem to others to do it justice.

Aaron

I'm just not going to be bothered knowing my system doesn't do "The Dance of the Fairy-assed Pixies" as well as it can be done.

Bob, I must have missed that issue of Stereophile. Can you tell me which issue that's from? I was just thinking the other day that my CD collection lacks some fairy-assed pixies, especially dancing ones.

Aaron

TroyD

I think it is the same issue that they reviewed "Duets by Fat Hairy Broads"

Troy

BobMcG

Aaron,

Good question...

I'm looking, I'm looking, I know it's here somewhere...

BobMcG

Oh well, it's been two weeks now and the vote came close to eighty but no cigar. With seventy seven showing and not accepting one vote for some reason making it seventy eight.
Any newcomers that haven't voted on this yet?

Nashvilletitans

Hi everyone,was just scanning the post's here and think I'm joining to enjoy this place alot.
I have a pair of SDA-2b's,CS175 center and M3's for the rear speakers . I used the have a pair of 10's for the front before I bought the SDA's. I sold them really cheap to a buddy along with a pair of walnut stands I had made. I have some 4.5's in the den for my Cd player also.
I reckon all of that was just to say.....I'm a big Polk audio fan.
P.S.
If anyone knows where I could get any oweners manuals or even any reviews on the SDA's,please me me a shout,I think mine are put away at my folks house in the attic.
Adios,
John

BobMcG

Thanks for the vote.

I'll be able to get you a copy of the SDA-2B owner's manual sometime soon if you haven't gotten one yet.
If you'd like, join the Club at the link Wes (I-SIG) gave you and contact me from there.

We're over eighty now, GREAT!

Lets keep it rolling!

BobMcG

...the 100 mark hit. Eigthyfour showing and one it won't take puts it within stricking distance of ninety. Any more newcomers who haven't voted yet? (Any others holding back?)

Thank you all voters!

John,

Are you still looking for an owner's manual for your SDA-2Bs? I can make you a copy if you'd like n/c.