Bi-Amping Question

[Slave IV]

If you have developed a good hearing ability, you may be able to spot very small differences in sound.
One kind are some very small samples where something doesn't sound right. This may be a real fault of some component, a speaker or amp, even CD player or DAC. Something that has keept me busy for years, trying to identify and erase these quite rare annoyances. This often consolidates with longer, relaxed listening, not in concentrated, stressing listening sessions. Like when you urgently want to hear something in a test situation, because someone tells you to decide on A or B. Even worse when some more "listeners" are trying to hear what some "moderator" presents. I still remember the paper sniplets of the Linn voodoo masters under the LP something turntable. You had to hear it or showed your incompetence.

Then there are differences in sound, that can't be put in the right/ wrong or better/ worse drawer. These may be a half dB to much on a stereo set-up or a speaker that has another angle to the listening spot. Different tweeter can be such a thing, both good, but somehow not sounding identical. Capacitors fall into this category, you often can not say one is better, you just feel a very little change in sound. Don't force yourself to put such differences in the better or worse category, just accept them, like a blonde or brunette hair color. Both can be just fine. Pick your favorite or love both...

I think this can be very important: Not any difference is a fault.

I agree with all of this and it makes perfect sense. I think I’ve been listening to different sound systems for long enough for enjoyment and critically to have developed some sense in sound and ultimately, what I’m trying to do is erase annoyances that I notice while I’m just trying to enjoy my content. I know most of the annoyances I encounter are due to limitations of my room and equipment and maybe a bit just in my head but I make small adjustments where I can to help eliminate them.

Also totally agree that some things aren’t a matter of good or bad but just the way some things work and all I can say about that is I have a preference for curly brunettes so by golly, I’m going to seek those out.

And I'm not the type to just settle, nor do I just throw money at something carelessly to get what I seemingly want. For someone who has been an audiophile most my life, I’m only on my 2nd AVR ever and my first that I bought when I was in college is still operational and in use in my garage. I pick my components very carefully with the intention that they will last either my whole life or theirs with me.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Different tweeter can be such a thing, both good, but somehow not sounding identical.

Transducers such as microphones, pickup cartridges, and drivers (headphone, bass-mid, tweeter etc.) are all compromises and will all have variations that are easily, reliably measurable AND often reliably detectable by most humans (tweeters and many 90 year-olds less so).

Capacitors fall into this category, you often can not say one is better, you just feel a very little change in sound.

Unless someone has messed up in the design, (e.g. used an suitable capacitor type for a task) the differences between capacitors in a circuit are difficult to measure with test gear and the differences are inaudible to humans.

 

[Doodski]

This often consolidates with longer, relaxed listening, not in concentrated, stressing listening sessions. Like when you urgently want to hear something in a test situation, because someone tells you to decide on A or B.

This is exactly the opposite of what should be done when comparing gear and swapping stuff. The mind's memory for sound is very short and a A-B test is the only way to accurately define anything.

 

[Slave IV]

This is exactly the opposite of what should be done when comparing gear and swapping stuff. The mind's memory for sound is very short and a A-B test is the only way to accurately define anything.

And so the madness continues....

 

[Doodski]

And so the madness continues....

LoL... The madness is trying to test listen when changing out gear over ~several minutes to a ~half hour and expecting results that matter and that are not biased by one's mind.

 

[BDWoody]

And so the madness continues....

Only for those who let it.

A little education and work goes a long way towards actual understanding, as opposed to believing whatever stories are being told and trying to reconcile various flavors of silliness.

 

[Slave IV]

I meant madness in a fun way. The goal of all this is for me to enjoy my content and that's what I'm doing. I'm not going to discount the science behind any of this and appreciate the dedication to it here. I'm also not going to let science detract from my enjoyment and even if it is just in my head, so be it because it's my head to enjoy what it wants. With the continued knowledge being shared, I might just be able to better and more efficiently direct my further improvements whether they be scientifically provable or imaginary. I've probably spent less money on my own audio equipment than most audiophiles in my life and also enjoyed audio as much as any.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

I'm also not going to let science detract from my enjoyment and even if it is just in my head, so be it because it's my head to enjoy what it wants.

Well said! That's entirely the right spirit! It sometimes doesn't come across well, but I think everyone here really just enjoys the music! I spend far more time listening than I do fiddling with things. I know my speaker and room interaction is problematic. I can even measure it to confirm this. But I'm not the only person living here, so I just enjoy the music and accept the compromise!

With the continued knowledge being shared, I might just be able to better and more efficiently direct my further improvements whether they be scientifically provable or imaginary.

ASR can often save you money! That's a great boost to the soul.

 

[Slave IV]

Well said! That's entirely the right spirit! It sometimes doesn't come across well, but I think everyone here really just enjoys the music! I spend far more time listening than I do fiddling with things. I know my speaker and room interaction is problematic. I can even measure it to confirm this. But I'm not the only person living here, so I just enjoy the music and accept the compromise!

ASR can often save you money! That's a great boost to the soul.

Thanks! Yes, I spend most my time just enjoying but every once in a while I get a chance to tinker around a bit and I'm glad this time it led me here. Someday, when I have a dedicated home theater room and more time to play is when the madness (fun) will really take off!

 

[mhardy6647]

"Damping"; "dampening" is about getting wet.

Yup. That particular malapropism is one of my (myriad, unfortunately ) pet peeves.
Glad to see the OP has a sense of humo(u)r on the matter.
We wouldn't want to damp dampen his/their spirits!