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Jun 28, 1998 |
0 comments
Audio technology marches on, but reader Dave Brown wonders: Does it always increase your enjoyment of music without decreasing your bank account?
Do you get more or less for your audio dollar today than you did, say, 10 years ago?
Far more
33% (42 votes)
A bit more
31% (40 votes)
About the same
11% (14 votes)
A little less
11% (14 votes)
A lot less
13% (17 votes)
Total votes: 127
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Jun 21, 1998 |
94 comments
Many audiophiles spend thousands on state-of-the-art audio equipment, but does it really put you in the room with the performers?
How close is recorded music getting to the real thing?
It's there already
3% (7 votes)
Almost there
17% (35 votes)
Gets close sometimes
53% (112 votes)
A ways to go
18% (37 votes)
Not even close
9% (20 votes)
Total votes: 211
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Jun 15, 1998 |
0 comments
With the single-ended triode resurgence of recent years causing much debate about tubes vs. transistors, what has been your experience?
What type of amplifier technology do you prefer?
Solid-State
48% (93 votes)
Tube (non-single-ended triode)
23% (45 votes)
Tube (single-ended triode)
16% (30 votes)
Combination/hybrid
7% (13 votes)
Other (please explain)
6% (12 votes)
Total votes: 193
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Jun 07, 1998 |
145 comments
With the proposed DVD-Audio format comes the opportunity for multiple channels of high-quality sound. But would you even consider adding more speakers to your two-channel system?
Do you want surround-sound in your audio system?
I want it now!
12% (35 votes)
Sounds like a good idea
14% (40 votes)
I'll wait and see
30% (89 votes)
Not so interested
28% (84 votes)
Never!
16% (47 votes)
Total votes: 295
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May 31, 1998 |
125 comments
Mellow jazz and small-combo instrumental music is frequently the material of choice in audio stores and at hi-fi shows. But audiophiles enjoy a wide variety of music. Reader Richard Horan wonders: what's your favorite?
Which genre of music gets the most playing time on your system?
Classical
24% (78 votes)
Opera
1% (3 votes)
Choral
0% (1 vote)
Show tunes/soundtracks
1% (3 votes)
Jazz
23% (74 votes)
World music
1% (3 votes)
Country
2% (5 votes)
Rock (all variations)
29% (95 votes)
Pop
3% (11 votes)
Blues
7% (24 votes)
Folk
2% (7 votes)
Other . . .
7% (22 votes)
Total votes: 326
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May 24, 1998 |
119 comments
The high-end audio business has been around for less than 40 years, with new generations signing on each year. When did you join?
How long have you been interested in quality audio?
Less than a year
2% (7 votes)
1 to 3 years
10% (29 votes)
4 to 6 years
9% (28 votes)
6 to 10 years
10% (31 votes)
10 to 20 years
28% (86 votes)
20 to 30 years
28% (85 votes)
30 to 40 years
11% (35 votes)
50 years or more
1% (3 votes)
Not interested . . .
0% (1 vote)
Total votes: 305
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May 17, 1998 |
147 comments
It's been a decade since the analog vs. digital debate began. Where has your system ended up?
How would you categorize your audio system?
All analog
2% (6 votes)
All digital
25% (80 votes)
Mostly analog
22% (72 votes)
Mostly digital
27% (88 votes)
Even mix of the two
23% (75 votes)
Total votes: 321
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May 10, 1998 |
136 comments
Maybe it doesn't really matter how much music you have if you've got those three great albums that do it for you every time, but some folks just can't stop collecting. How about you?
How many CDs and LPs are in your collection?
Fewer than 100
2% (8 votes)
100-300
21% (73 votes)
301-600
27% (92 votes)
601-1000
20% (68 votes)
1001-2000
17% (57 votes)
2001-5000
8% (26 votes)
More than 5000
5% (16 votes)
Total votes: 340
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May 04, 1998 |
99 comments
There are some wildly different speaker technologies out there with one common goal: accurate reproduction of music. In your experience, which approach works best?
Which speaker technology do you prefer?
Dynamic/Cone drivers
47% (108 votes)
Electrostatic
7% (16 votes)
Electrostatic/Dynamic hybrid
18% (41 votes)
Ribbon
7% (16 votes)
Ribbon/Dynamic hybrid
7% (17 votes)
Horn
3% (8 votes)
Horn/Dynamic hybrid
2% (5 votes)
Other
3% (6 votes)
No preference
5% (12 votes)
Total votes: 229
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Apr 26, 1998 |
62 comments
Many audiophiles are also record collectors. There are many ways to add to your collection. Which one works for you?
Where do you find the best bargains on quality used LPs?
Music retailers
12% (14 votes)
Specialty audio stores
4% (4 votes)
Used record shops
45% (51 votes)
Flea markets or swap meets
6% (7 votes)
Garage sales
10% (11 votes)
Estate sales
3% (3 votes)
Auctions
0% (0 votes)
Thrift stores
4% (4 votes)
Radio station changeovers
1% (1 vote)
Library sales
1% (1 vote)
Publications like <I>Goldmine</I>
2% (2 votes)
Other (explain)
14% (16 votes)
Total votes: 114
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Apr 19, 1998 |
0 comments
Audio amplifiers are now available in power ratings of as low as a few watts. At the other end of the scale are gigawatt amps of 1000W or more. Most fall somewhere in the middle. How much power does a good system really need?
Assuming you have good speakers of average sensitivity, how much amplifier power is necessary for good imaging and dynamics?
10 watts or less
3% (10 votes)
20-30 watts
2% (7 votes)
30-50 watts
10% (36 votes)
50-100 watts
20% (70 votes)
100-200 watts
36% (124 votes)
200-500 watts
13% (46 votes)
500-1000 watts
2% (8 votes)
Other (explain)
14% (47 votes)
Total votes: 348
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Apr 13, 1998 |
0 comments
WIth DVD-Audio on the horizon, the standards wars have led to a dizzying number of new format variations. Not only do we have different data-rate proposals, we're not even sure how many channels we need. Which do you prefer: a universal audio standard, or a niche-market approach?
Do we need to settle on one format, or should there be many?
One standard
74% (164 votes)
Just a couple
20% (45 votes)
Wide variety
6% (13 votes)
Total votes: 222
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Apr 05, 1998 |
112 comments
One of the keys to enjoying the tweak audio hobby is having a good place to learn about the art of sound. A good dealer can also help you make good choices for your personal needs when it's time to buy.
Do you have a local audio shop that you like?
Absolutely
53% (102 votes)
Pretty much
17% (33 votes)
They're okay
9% (17 votes)
Not really
13% (26 votes)
Absolutely . . . NOT!
8% (16 votes)
Total votes: 194
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Mar 29, 1998 |
0 comments
A continuation of last week's discussion of low bass. Many audiophiles agree that powerful, well-defined low bass is desirable, but they have many opinions about how to get it.
In your opinion, which of the following methods is the best way to obtain powerful, well-defined low bass in a typical listening room?
A good pair of full-range loudspeakers
31% (79 votes)
Satellite minimonitors with self-powered subwoofer
4% (10 votes)
Minimonitors with externally powered subwoofer
3% (8 votes)
Full-range speakers with subwoofer
19% (49 votes)
Minimonitors with twin subwoofers
2% (6 votes)
Multiple subwoofers
2% (6 votes)
Electronic crossover with multiple amplifiers, including subwoofer
7% (17 votes)
Electronic equalization (bass boost) applied to full-range speakers
1% (2 votes)
A listening room with optimum dimensions for good bass
6% (15 votes)
Some combination of the above (explain)
20% (51 votes)
Other (explain)
4% (11 votes)
Total votes: 254
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Mar 22, 1998 |
0 comments
Low bass is probably the most difficult part of the audio spectrum for loudspeakers to reproduce accurately. Most speakers with "quick, tight bass" don't go very low. Conversely, most speakers that <I>do</I> go low sound muddy and undefined in the bottom octaves. A good subwoofer is the usual solution, but is deep bass really necessary for musical satisfaction?
Assuming your system sounds good otherwise, how important is accurate, powerful deep bass for satisfying musical performance?
Extremely important
45% (182 votes)
Somewhat important
25% (103 votes)
Moderately important
17% (69 votes)
Not important
6% (24 votes)
Important only with specific types of music (explain)
7% (29 votes)
Total votes: 407