equipment race - get out out it
06-25-2004, 08:39 AM
#62
Guest
Posts: n/a
the question isnt if he won the finals, its if his car could have sounded better with more "expensive" gear, the answer is yes, it could have sounded better, assuming the install was optimized, but that has been the assumption here all along, and btw, the best sounding car doesnt always win the finals
06-25-2004, 08:50 AM
#63
Why hasn't anyone mentioned "System Matching"?
For example, I can think of a popular headunit line that does not work well with a popular amplifier line and vice versa -- why? Probably because of impedance/resistance issues in the pre-amp/pre gain sections.
In home hi-fi, matching a source/pre-amp/power-amp to the correct speaker combo is critical.
Half the time in car audio, we buy the stuff we think "sounds best", maybe focus on building a good sub enclosure (seldom do average consumers though) and maybe having it installed well (again, many average consumers don't) -- without any regard as to how the components work together as a "system".
For example, I can think of a popular headunit line that does not work well with a popular amplifier line and vice versa -- why? Probably because of impedance/resistance issues in the pre-amp/pre gain sections.
In home hi-fi, matching a source/pre-amp/power-amp to the correct speaker combo is critical.
Half the time in car audio, we buy the stuff we think "sounds best", maybe focus on building a good sub enclosure (seldom do average consumers though) and maybe having it installed well (again, many average consumers don't) -- without any regard as to how the components work together as a "system".
06-25-2004, 09:13 AM
#64
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Mike, I think that you have a very good point there. I've actually experienced what you speak of with home audio gear. That is, a pre-amp sounding a certain way with one model amplifier,and differently with another. Yet when placing another pre-amp in system, the differences between the exact 2 amps is different yet again. Note that I"m saying the differences between the amps, not the differences in the over all sonic signature of the 2 pre-amps.
For example, amp A sounded warmer than amp B with pre-amp 1. With pre-amp 2, amp A was not warmer than amp B and had less weight to it's bottom end than amp B.
Funny stuff.
For example, amp A sounded warmer than amp B with pre-amp 1. With pre-amp 2, amp A was not warmer than amp B and had less weight to it's bottom end than amp B.
Funny stuff.
06-26-2004, 12:20 AM
#65
Interesting; however, in my experiance people often undervalue the pre-amp section of a system. The best explaination I ever received from someone was the simplist -- the pre-amplifier can sometimes "tame" a source that could possibly overpower the amplifer.
As has been discussed to death on threads previously -- the amplifier has the least effect on the sonic signature in a system (especially if it is biased for accuracy) -- There are some obvious exceptions -- ie tube amps -- that are more the outcome of an amplifier being biased in such a way as to have a "sound".
As has been discussed to death on threads previously -- the amplifier has the least effect on the sonic signature in a system (especially if it is biased for accuracy) -- There are some obvious exceptions -- ie tube amps -- that are more the outcome of an amplifier being biased in such a way as to have a "sound".
06-26-2004, 12:24 AM
#66
PS -- This is not to say that the sound of tubes is not accurate or good -- it is more of a comment towards accurate sinewave measurements.
For the record, I'm a huge fan of tube gear -- can't think of any quitar tracks of any noteworthiness (pun intended) that were not recorded with tubes somewhere in the chain (seriously, were any?).
Also -- in most of the systems I have evaluated over the years -- the most significant improvements that tubes can make to a system are when they are used in the pre-amp or source sections of a system.
For the record, I'm a huge fan of tube gear -- can't think of any quitar tracks of any noteworthiness (pun intended) that were not recorded with tubes somewhere in the chain (seriously, were any?).
Also -- in most of the systems I have evaluated over the years -- the most significant improvements that tubes can make to a system are when they are used in the pre-amp or source sections of a system.
06-26-2004, 06:58 AM
#68
Guest
Posts: n/a
i used a califonia audio labs tubes d/a converter in a car before, but it also used a cutsom 1 off, tube amp as well, im pretty sure mike remebers the car. i agree with the analysis of tube gear, be it amps, preamps, ar d/a's, they add a sonic charateristic that cant be easily duplicated by standard solid state amlifier, a charateristic i really appreciate
