Is anyone else Ok with less than perfect performance?

[Tom C]

Seems like drop on bed would give a soft landing

 

[Indy]

Aren't most affordable loudspeakers a compromise of less than perfect?

 

[Sgt. Ear Ache]

Aren't most affordable loudspeakers a compromise of less than perfect?

I'd say most speakers in general are a compromise of imperfections. I don't think there's a "perfect" speaker at really any price point. Luckily, they don't have to be perfect.

I often listen to music on one of a number of bluetooth speakers I have. None of them are even close to perfect...but they still sound good and the convenience is just hard to beat.

 

[ThatM1key]

It really depends. I loved my Sansui 2000A and used it for years. Eventually the pre-amp section bridged itself into Mono, I couldn't stand that. Luckily I got use an outside pre-amp, which I used my Topping L30. It was a lot cleaner but the low volume channel balance was very horrible. Used it like that for a few months, but during the Sansui 2000A started to lose power fast. So I eventually I gotten a Yamaha A-S301, in some ways I felt like I should've gotten the Topping PA5. The Yamaha A-S301 is mostly likely less clean then the Topping PA5 but I'm certain the Yamaha A-S301 can still do CD quality well. Personally I'm still fine with my Yamaha, CD quality is enough for me.

 

[Axo1989]

I had an experience a bit like the OP when I damaged some speakers mid-pandemic. Setting up in a new space I accidentally sent a full-range signal through which caused the cat to leap from the upstairs window and one tweeter to stop omitting sound altogether. Shortly thereafter the woofer on the other side developed an audible vibration (secondhand speaker so may have been weak already). They were dark days.

While I was far from ok, the result was interesting. Tweeter crossed over around 4 kHz and I was initially surprised that the difference wasn't as devastating as I expected. But it did alter stereo image etc related to those frequencies and render the overall sound less bright/airy. Like a valve amp—or old age—maybe.

It also changed my listening. I'd re-discovered Lana Del Rey during lockdown, but stopped enjoying that material as the off-kilter stereo image wasn't so good for sparsely rendered audio poetry. Non-realistic electronic music fared better. As did lo-fi and frenetic hyperpop/digicore.

On the bass side, there was enough effective distortion when low notes excited the rattle to completely localise everything sub-100 Hz (the low crossover in a four-way) over to the left. I also took more of a liking to shoegaze and hardcore-adjacent genres with lots of deliberate distortion that masked the untoward speaker sounds.

Like @mononoaware perhaps, I was surprised at how much I could still enjoy a lot of music. Which was just as well as lockdowns and psychological inertia delayed the repairs. It was pretty educational though, about those aspects of sonics. The other lesson of course—never rely on software attenuation when setting up gear—was most pertinent.

 

[tomchris]

It is not that hard getting enjoyable performance out of any reasonable system - this from a subjective standpoint. The frustrating part is realizing how flawed/different various music releases can be - due to the different choices in mastering.

So, compromises are not only related to the playback system, but to the “quality” of the source material as well.

 

[RayDunzl]

Is anyone else Ok with less than perfect performance?

I thought the subject would be music, not gear.

In which case I'm concerned first with the composition, then the interpretation, and maybe then the performance.

So, yes, depending, if I answer the question I thought was being asked.

Gear?

Nothing's perfect, so, again, yes.

 

[Snarfie]

Yes with my horrible room modes without DSP i would not listen. That would not imply that making use of DSP is perfect not by far compard to live music.

 

[Bleib]

I'm not sure anything is truly perfect

 

[Tom C]

May I say. Nothing is perfect.

 

[coonmanx]

I have to say that when I first came across this thread I thought it had to be an avertisement for Viagra. But then I figured that it was more likely referring to a sort of "happy ending", but in an audio sense...

So since I have never experienced that... I am OK with "less than perfect performance"...

I guess the term would be "audiogasm".

 

[valerianf]

During 10 years long I stopped listening music because of my less than perfect equipments.
But, a few years before the launch of Amazon HD I decided to give it a try again.
I updated/changed/tuned some of my equipments.
Successfully I then subscribed to Amazon HD.
Now, again, I am enjoying listening to music.
I now what I still have to upgrade but free time is missing.
My guess is that I am on a good track.
Perfection in audio does not exist but a minimum of sound quality is needed.
Amir is helping us with metrics.

 

[audiopile]

Dealt with a lot of customers who were seeking something like perfection (at least within their price range). Guess that's why I'm happy with LP's -plain n simple-never expect perfection-but better is really nice.

 

[Chrispy]

Considering there's always a compromise yeah I'm good with less than perfect as there isn't such perfection yet. We can certainly enjoy various reproductions of the events in our homes, tho....imperfect as they are.

 

[Soandso]

For the most part my audio gear is a bit old and still sounds good enough for me. The most modern item I've bought is a Fiio A5 portable headphone amplifier (based on Amir's review). Reading ASR did inspire me to try improving acoustics for my main listening position, which I did somewhat with assorted re-purposed materials.

 

[mononoaware]

Speaker drivers are more of a challenge to repair than electronics, but sometimes you can buy replacement drivers from the manufacturer. I use my system as part of my work, so it has to perform to its original capabilities.

Yes that is what I was thinking at the time.
I am aware I can replace a driver as well, but I have chosen not to.
Well if you are using your system for work that is definitely serious and I can understand your need to have everything perfectly operational.
In my case is just for personal use, so a completely different scenario. . .

 

[mononoaware]

Define perfect and I can answer.

I just realised my grave mistake of using the word "perfect" and not defining it.

I will post the same thing at the beginning and end of this thread, but my perfect I meant "as a product performs out of the box without any fault".

 

[mononoaware]

Seems like drop on bed would give a soft landing

I thought so too. . . I put one of the speakers down on the bed carefully. Then got lazy and plonked the other onto the bed.
Turns out those single full-range drivers are more fragile than I thought. . .

 

[mononoaware]

Question, are you the Incredible Hulk?

No but I am clumsy and have issues with sensing my extremities. I am not exactly old but I often injure myself by using too much force and only realise hours later. I also "power walk" into the corners of doors, doorhandles and walls very often hitting my hips so hard that it hurts like hell.

And before you consider I am overweight or built like a body builder, no I am quite average in terms of dimensions.

 

[mononoaware]

Apologies to all for not defining "perfect".
By "perfect" I mean "as a product performs out of the box without any faults".