Small, minor things that turn out to be very nice.

[Pareto Pragmatic]

I know we all love big things, big improvements, big sound. Big is easy to like.

But sometimes very small things can be quite nice. Please share your experiences if you think of anything.

For example, my main music system used to put out 65db white noise at the seating position at the 50% point of the volume setting. At 60%, I got 70db. I do a lot of listening at those levels.

After changing amps to one with a more power, using a new dac for the volume control, and moving the speakers and seating area 4 feet further apart because it sounded better that way... 50% on the volume control gives me 65db white noise at my seating position and 60% gives me 70db.

So that quiet album i used to play at 63? I play it at 63.

Which is nice.

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

Hearing a small detail in a well known recording after making a change.

I heard a bass string bending a note the other day. In the past it was just a sliding note. Now, I am not sure how to describe it other than the change in the tension of the string could be heard, maybe some of the sound of the string being pushed across the neck. I can't say my jaw literally dropped, but metaphorically it did.

Which led to me being lost in music for 2 hours. So maybe that's not such a little thing.

 

[dualazmak]

But sometimes very small things can be quite nice. Please share your experiences if you think of anything.

Thank you for your starting this very interesting and exciting thread!

My recent experiments and actual implementations; wide 3D reverse reflective dispersion of super-tweeter high Fq sound ;
- A new series of audio experiments on reflective wide-3D dispersion of super-tweeter sound using random-surface hard-heavy material:
Part-1_ Background, experimental settings, initial preliminary listening tests: #912
Part-2_ Comparison of catalogue specifications of metal horn super-tweeter (ST) FOSTEX T925A and YAMAHA Beryllium dome tweeter (TW) JA-0513; start of intensive listening sessions with wide-3D reflective dispersion of ST sound: #921
Part-3_ Listening evaluation of sound stage (sound image) using excellent-recording-quality lute duet tracks: #926
Part-3.1_ Listening evaluation of sound stage (sound image) using excellent-recording-quality jazz trio album: #927
Part-4_Provisional conclusion to use Case-2 reverse reflective dispersion setting in default daily music listening: #929
- The latest system setup of my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig, including updated startup/ignition sequences and shutdown sequences: as of June 26, 2024: #931

 

[dualazmak]

Hearing a small detail in a well known recording after making a change.

Yes, fully agree with you.
We always need to maintain and use "consistent" excellently recorded "reference/sampler music playlist" consists of tracks of various genre hopefully fitting well for your/our music preferences.

At least in my case, I have been using my own consistent "reference/sampler music playlist" consists of 60 tracks as I shared here #670 on my project thread, and also I have dedicated thread;
- An Attempt Sharing Reference Quality Music Playlist: at least a portion and/or whole track being analyzed by 3D color spectrum of Adobe Audition

 

[dualazmak]

I also agree with you; generally speaking, the more HiFi audio system we would use, the higher sensitivity our system as well as our ears-brain would acquire for subtle change(s) in audio setup and in room acoustics.

Just for an example case and tip, nowadays, at least for myself, "elimination of magnetic susceptible metals in SP high-level signal chain/path" is one of the critical practices.

Spoiler: Elimination of magnetic susceptible metals in SP wiring path

In my post #931, bellow Fig.31, on my project thread, I wrote as follows;
I once have tested “Multi-Terminal Electromagnetic Relay” and “Multi-Terminal Snap-Toggle Switch” for this purpose (i.e. switching the wires between passive and active SP modes), but I found they gave some “uncleanliness and/or distortions” to the total sound. Consequently, I believe that the “physical screw-up cabling connections” like in these SP cabling boards should be the best way to go with. I carefully and completely eliminated, therefore, any magnetic susceptible (magnetizable) metal, such as screws, Y-lugs, metal plate on terminal straps, etc. in SP high-level signal wiring; please refer to my post #4, #250 and posts #013(remote thread), #023(remote thread) and here #9(remote thread).

You would please be reminded "the typical issue case" in this regard (even with no relation at all to my project thread) happened with first version of BUCKEYE 3 Channel Purifi Amplifier in which measurable (and I think audible) distortion was caused by iron (steel) plates at the SP binding posts, then BUCKEYE quickly and nicely replaced the parts with brass plates by a kind of recall announcement; please refer to the specific thread on that amplifier, amirm’s first review pointing the issue, as well as his second preferrable review on the fixed/revised amplifier.

Furthermore, in my post #9 on a remote thread "Ferromagnetic materials in audio connectors", I also wrote as follows;
If you take a look inside some rather high-end HiFi amplifiers, you'll see that the SP output wiring (and power wiring?) uses non-magnetic terminals and screws made of brass (no iron at all) or pure copper. However, this is also a common-sense measure to prevent sound quality deterioration in HiFi amplifiers. I remember it being pointed out and explained in interviews with a Yamaha amplifier designer and a Rotel engineer. It is frustrating when working with magnetized screwdrivers (screwdrivers) because you can't catch the screws, though. Yamaha's and Rotel's amplifier designers had a hard time persuading the assembly workers at the amplifier factories, but in the end, they convinced them to use non-magnetic terminals and screws, giving priority to sound quality; I've also heard that the screwdriver, which uses a chuck to fix screws and bolts to the tip, was devised so that it could be used in factories. In my DIY audio setup, I have the same thing; I strictly/completely eliminate/avoid any magnetizable metal/screw in my SP cabling/connecting.

 

[dualazmak]

Just for your possible reference (and interest), as I just wrote here, I do believe periodical (say, annual or semi-annual) complete cleaning (and re-tightening!) of all the metal-to-metal connectors/contacts in our audio system would be considerably better than doing nothing.

Spoiler: Semi-annual cleaning of all the metal-to-metal connectors/contacts

Please refer to my posts #671, #675, #676, #680, as well as #895, #904 and #906 all on my project thread.

I also wrote here recently regarding my semi-annual cleaning.

Spoiler

By the way, on Sunday last weekend, I did my regular semi-annual complete/intensive cleaning and re-tightening of all the metal-to-metal contacts/connectors in my whole audio system (ref. here #671 and #895); it took about continuous five (5) hours.

I use solely IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol), and I (at least I myself) believe that we should not use Caig DeoxIT DN5 and/or similar protective(?) materials (refer to posts #676, #677, #680, #682 on my project thread).

 

[boxerfan88]

Two small tweaks recently that made me wanna re-listen to my library.

1. adding noise (mdaDither) and crunch the dynamic range down to 16bits

2. change from multiple steep-Q PEQ to just one wide-Q PEQ to bash down the 370Hz peak caused by SBIR.

3. retain steep-Q PEQ for peaks <200Hz

Please don’t hammer me for saying this: can hear more details (reverb tails, echoes), low-mids sound tonally more natural; bass texture/tone movement more easily heard; and overall seem more “analog like”

 

[DVDdoug]

1. adding noise (mdaDither)

When done properly you shouldn't hear dither (or the effects of dither, or the lack of dither) at 16-bits or better and under normal listening conditions. But you are "supposed to" dither when downsampling. (At 8-bits you can hear quantization noise.)

Usually, you won't hear any difference between a "high resolution" original and a copy downsampled to "CD quality" in a proper blind ABX test?, or you'll have to listen VERY carefully. (Blind listening tests can be humbling!)

and crunch the dynamic range down to 16bits

That doesn't compress the program dynamics, it just changes the dynamic range capability on the "quiet end". Assuming you are reducing from a higher bit-depth it increases quantization noise (or dither noise) and you lose the quietest parts, which are generally below audibility anyway, and those super-quiet parts are beyond normal program dynamic range (AKA "dynamic contrast").

 

[Waxx]

just changing the position of my speakrs made a big difference. I moved them a few times in my living room untill i found the best spot (and needed the lest room correction) for it.

 

[TLEDDY]

Small thing - sort of…

I began using the Roon to make adjustments in FR suggested by amirm in the speaker reviews. Each of my headphones and my KEF R3 now have the adjustments. One can A-B with the Roon and determine the difference (if any).

A “Freë” advantage of ASR! A good reason to donate - which I did!

Tillman

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

As you sit down into the pure sweet spot while music is playing. That transition.