A couple of Audio Pet Peeves...

nathanm · « **Reply #40 on:** 3 May 2005, 07:16 pm »

I agree with comic book guy, "musical" is a much abused description. Calling something musical only makes sense if you were describing something other than music. Like "The bellows from the humpback whales were almost musical." I would expect that yes, even the much reviled BOSE components sound "musical". Should we also describe movies as being very "movieal" or "cinematic"? Well, duh.

Other than that one most of the flowery subjective terms I don't have a problem with. Your mind has to come up with words to describe sound which is challenging enough, but these may not mean anything to someone else. Since most reviews are for Entertainment Purposes Only I don't see the harm. No matter how good the writer is you still have no solid idea how the thing sounds unless you know the writer and have been in the same room he's describing. Still, we read them anyway for whatever its worth.

lgeis · « **Reply #41 on:** 3 May 2005, 11:26 pm »

Someone needs to come up with a Lexicon for audio snobbery...terms like "transparent" and such. Of course, I've never actually seen sound waves anyway, and if I bought a pair of speakers that produced sound with any opacity I'd probably contact MIT immediately and call for an Exorcist.

This Lexicon would afford some commonality to our reporting...perhaps mitigate the natural ambiguity of language.

That's my cardinal peeve, in the first place. There's no real audio-disciplinary convention to so many of the terms used to describe sound. It seems folks want to use terms associated with shower curtains, food preparation, and mechanical failure...and I can't empathize with that.

Will the thread be split to begin building the Lexicon? I have a submission: "Flaccid" (as in, "cognitive flaccidity"). Audio Adjective; The dulling or rounding of sound event dynamics effected by lethargic, lazy electrons, hyposensitive transducers, or crappy performances. Or speaker elements slathered with Vaseline.

Feeling a bit nauseated? I don't blame you in the least...

Steve · « **Reply #42 on:** 6 May 2005, 01:35 pm »

A room with a very loud resonant echo. A descent, accurate demonstration of the components is, of course, impossible.

Left and right wing extremists. The truth is almost always towards the middle.

tubeytubeamp · « **Reply #43 on:** 6 May 2005, 02:11 pm »

A major complaint I have is when a manufacturers products are not available in certain countries or regions.

For example. I have been a long time Harman/kardon fan. I can care less for their Av receivers. The last time they offered a two channel integrated amp in the us was 1997. Yet in Europe they have a line of two channel amps and single disc Cd-players. This transcends the industry, especially with the mass market companies. Unfortunatley is is all about supply and demand and the bottom line.

Dennis

John Ashman · « **Reply #44 on:** 6 May 2005, 02:14 pm »

Quote from: lgeis

Someone needs to come up with a Lexicon for audio snobbery...terms like "transparent" and such.

This Lexicon would afford some commonality to our reporting...perhaps mitigate the natural ambiguity of language...

It exists - Robert Harley's "Complete Guide to High-End". I think it even has the word "bouquet" in there

thepogue · « **Reply #45 on:** 7 May 2005, 09:07 pm »

under the table...TWICE!!....I'll kill that lil SOB if I get me hands on him!!!

gggrrrr

jt1stcav · « **Reply #46 on:** 22 May 2005, 08:26 pm »

I guess making statements like "it sounds great", "realistic", or "life-like" are terms that are too generalized (and a moot point) to the golden-eared audiophile.

powerbench · « **Reply #47 on:** 23 May 2005, 02:55 am »

Has any one ever thought about getting their hearing tested?

How about a good ear cleaning to get rid of excess wax??

Id bet their OWN (built-in) equiptment could be improved by a few dollars!!Then concentrate on the external gear!!

fabaudio · « **Reply #48 on:** 17 Jul 2005, 07:46 pm »

CD,CD-R,CD+R<CD-RW,CD+RW,DVD,DVD-R,DVD+R,DVD-RW,DVD+RW,SACD,DVD-AUDIO,HDVD,DIVX,VCD,SUPERDVD-A,SVCD,HDCD,HDAD,DVD-D,AAC,MVA,MP3,MP3VBR,OGG,MMV,RMJ/RMX,HDMI,DVI-D,DVI-I,ATRAC,WAV,PCM,JPEG ,MPEG2,MPEG3, .......................AAAAAAARRRRRGH!!!

PhilNYC · « **Reply #49 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:05 am »

Quote from: fabaudio

CD,CD-R,CD+R<CD-RW,CD+RW,DVD,DVD-R,DVD+R,DVD-RW,DVD+RW,SACD,DVD-AUDIO,HDVD,DIVX,VCD,SUPERDVD-A,SVCD,HDCD,HDAD,DVD-D,AAC,MVA,MP3,MP3VBR,OGG,MMV,RMJ/RMX,HDMI,DVI-D,DVI-I,ATRAC,WAV,PCM,JPEG ,MPEG2,MPEG3, .......................AAAAAAARRRRRGH!!!

I guess the answer to all that is..."vinyl"...

thepogue · « **Reply #50 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:27 am »

Quote from: PhilNYC

Quote from: fabaudio
CD,CD-R,CD+R<CD-RW,CD+RW,DVD,DVD-R,DVD+R,DVD-RW,DVD+RW,SACD,DVD-AUDIO,HDVD,DIVX,VCD,SUPERDVD-A,SVCD,HDCD,HDAD,DVD-D,AAC,MVA,MP3,MP3VBR,OGG,MMV,RMJ/RMX,HDMI,DVI-D,DVI-I,ATRAC,WAV,PCM,JPEG ,MPEG2,MPEG3, .......................AAAAAAARRRRRGH!!!

I guess the answer to all that is..."vinyl"...

GOOD WORD!!...vinyl fer-ever!!

Pogue

fabaudio · « **Reply #51 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 11:55 pm »

Quote from: PhilNYC

Quote from: fabaudio
CD,CD-R,CD+R<CD-RW,CD+RW,DVD,DVD-R,DVD+R,DVD-RW,DVD+RW,SACD,DVD-AUDIO,HDVD,DIVX,VCD,SUPERDVD-A,SVCD,HDCD,HDAD,DVD-D,AAC,MVA,MP3,MP3VBR,OGG,MMV,RMJ/RMX,HDMI,DVI-D,DVI-I,ATRAC,WAV,PCM,JPEG ,MPEG2,MPEG3, .......................AAAAAAARRRRRGH!!!

I guess the answer to all that is..."vinyl"...

That's exactly what I was thinking of!

I miss the days when I would manually plunk that tonearm on the lp -hear the thump- then revel in the delicious fat sound,scratches and all!

Problem is that it is a niche like SACD and DVD-audio (1 vinyl for 99 cd's I purchase).