Having a standard stereo setup, I I would like to make two suggestions for enhancing the perception of a sense of realism in Jazz music in hi-fi. Anyone may shoot at it, maybe it leads to a better idea.
I would like to start with the first and probably most obvious recommendation I would like to make; adding a subwoofer.
My loudspeakers (Wharfedale Evo 4.2) seems to have some favorable elements already. A broad vertical image with its midrange dome and a well configured AMT-tweeter, they go quite deep and the bass blooming character of the Sansui AU505 is welcome. But a subwoofer literally adds a bit of pressure to the floor directly, which kind of emulates the realism of the upright bass in a live concert. I have been to some Jazz clubs and I think it is a layer that should definitely be there. Not in the overdoing sense, but just a fraction.
The second recommendation is one that I tinkered with and might repeat in a different way. That is bi-directionality with treble focus, utilzing the back wall behind the main loudspeaker for reflection.
Adding a second set of the smallest (but decent) bookshelf loudspeakers and face them to the wall, with a focus on treble. I currently have two integrated amps (one class D), so it is also possible to control bass, midrange and treble, including the gain of both.
Why treble focused?
When I did a test once, I simply hooked up two sets of loudspeakers and pressed outputs tot speaker 1+2 simultaniously. All frequencies reflected without gain control for seperate sets. Which kind of gave an live-like picture. And this all seemed in place as when playing most accoustic instruments the waves go in all directions. But when it came to vocals it was out of place as someone singing or talking does not send the waves out (at least not much) to ones back, maybe a small fraction, but definitely not like a piano. Bi-directionality in parts of the midrange for vocals in even gain seems to be a little uncanny. (I don't know if real bi-directional or omni-direction loudspeakers fix this, but that is another topic)
I assume that using simply the volume and tone controls of the amp controlling the bi-directional loudspeakers and cutting away the midrange might give already give the right effect. I will not start with it anywhere soon, I think I only start with it at the point when I stumble onto a kind of right format secondary set of loudspeakers for this. Also want to hide them out of sight : )
I would like to start with the first and probably most obvious recommendation I would like to make; adding a subwoofer.
My loudspeakers (Wharfedale Evo 4.2) seems to have some favorable elements already. A broad vertical image with its midrange dome and a well configured AMT-tweeter, they go quite deep and the bass blooming character of the Sansui AU505 is welcome. But a subwoofer literally adds a bit of pressure to the floor directly, which kind of emulates the realism of the upright bass in a live concert. I have been to some Jazz clubs and I think it is a layer that should definitely be there. Not in the overdoing sense, but just a fraction.
The second recommendation is one that I tinkered with and might repeat in a different way. That is bi-directionality with treble focus, utilzing the back wall behind the main loudspeaker for reflection.
Adding a second set of the smallest (but decent) bookshelf loudspeakers and face them to the wall, with a focus on treble. I currently have two integrated amps (one class D), so it is also possible to control bass, midrange and treble, including the gain of both.
Why treble focused?
When I did a test once, I simply hooked up two sets of loudspeakers and pressed outputs tot speaker 1+2 simultaniously. All frequencies reflected without gain control for seperate sets. Which kind of gave an live-like picture. And this all seemed in place as when playing most accoustic instruments the waves go in all directions. But when it came to vocals it was out of place as someone singing or talking does not send the waves out (at least not much) to ones back, maybe a small fraction, but definitely not like a piano. Bi-directionality in parts of the midrange for vocals in even gain seems to be a little uncanny. (I don't know if real bi-directional or omni-direction loudspeakers fix this, but that is another topic)
I assume that using simply the volume and tone controls of the amp controlling the bi-directional loudspeakers and cutting away the midrange might give already give the right effect. I will not start with it anywhere soon, I think I only start with it at the point when I stumble onto a kind of right format secondary set of loudspeakers for this. Also want to hide them out of sight : )
