Hmmmm what is this SQ thing all about?
02-24-2009, 12:53 PM
#61
What type of sound an individual wants or expects from a system is a very personal choice and a subjective thing. But true SQ is not subjective, 'in the eye of the beholder', or dependent upon personal tastes in any way shape or form. It really comes down to some very simple, basic principles. Does each sound have tonal accuracy or sound the same as it would if it were being produced in real life in front of you rather than being artificially reproduced? Is the music coming from where it would be coming from if you were listening live? Do different aspects of a song sound like they're coming from the proper place on the soundstage?
The answer to all three of these is either yes, or no. That is SQ, plain and simple. You may find you like things a little different. Doesn't mean it's good or bad, it means you're not into SQ, you're into whatever other type of sound reproduction you're into.
The confusion comes because alot of people have never heard a true SQ system. It's fear of the unknown, unwillingness to try something new, and a lack of familiarity with basic principals. 'Loud music all around you' is what people know and understand. Speakers in front and none behind is contrary to the popular wisdom of what they always were taught good sound should be. Loudness controls and maxed out bass boost and treble sound 'good' to some because they don't have the resources or the time to invest in components needed for naturally accurate sound production. Or maybe they go for 2-3 sets of high powered tweeters because 'more highs are almost better.' They take something that is not SQ and claim that it is because it fits their subjective taste and/or their budget and space constraints, and they feel better defining what they have achieved as some 'variation' of SQ.
Any statement about SQ being subjective is pure BS and is usually made by people who have no idea what it really sounds like, or who have limited themselves in their ability to achieve it but would like to re-define it as something that it isn't so they can feel better about their system.
The answer to all three of these is either yes, or no. That is SQ, plain and simple. You may find you like things a little different. Doesn't mean it's good or bad, it means you're not into SQ, you're into whatever other type of sound reproduction you're into.
The confusion comes because alot of people have never heard a true SQ system. It's fear of the unknown, unwillingness to try something new, and a lack of familiarity with basic principals. 'Loud music all around you' is what people know and understand. Speakers in front and none behind is contrary to the popular wisdom of what they always were taught good sound should be. Loudness controls and maxed out bass boost and treble sound 'good' to some because they don't have the resources or the time to invest in components needed for naturally accurate sound production. Or maybe they go for 2-3 sets of high powered tweeters because 'more highs are almost better.' They take something that is not SQ and claim that it is because it fits their subjective taste and/or their budget and space constraints, and they feel better defining what they have achieved as some 'variation' of SQ.
Any statement about SQ being subjective is pure BS and is usually made by people who have no idea what it really sounds like, or who have limited themselves in their ability to achieve it but would like to re-define it as something that it isn't so they can feel better about their system.
what about music that comes from a synthesizer? thats pretty much fake music, how can you define what it would sound like live? if you go to a concert where that type of music is played its either from a DJ or the sound engineer cueing up the music, how then can you define what it is supposed to sound like? by your logic there is no way you can ever attain true SQ. live music sounds like , unless its music made by a synthesizer, because that can't change. its a lot easier for a guitar player to mess up his finger position than it is for a cd to play the wrong note. and when music is being recorded in a studio it sounds even worse, trust me i've been there. until a song is mastered there will be tons of imperfections. even on stage a band will sound awesome, but when they go off stage they often judge their own performance because they know they may have played the wrong chord at one point, added the wrong not to a melody and so on and so forth, but you being in the audience would probably not realize a mistake amongst all those little nuances.
SQ IS subjective and depends a lot more on the listener than you're trying to make everyone believe. there is a reason why Dr. Dre can produce a hit record for anyone, yet he has over 1000 tracks that could have been on the Detox album but aren't -- because they're not the quality he wants. you're putting too much on sound. Quality is subjective. You cannot lie with numbers, which is why SPL is so easy to define and see who is the best (ie with the meter). Some people like to hear every bell and whistle in a song, some people probably wouldn't know its there unless you tell them. you mention true SQ as if there was a standard, when clearly there isn't. since i've never seen an official definition for it i can easily say that true SQ is burning your mp3s at 192 kbps and not 64 kbps.
02-24-2009, 01:48 PM
#62
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 133
I think true SQ live performance has died since the 90s. Three unplugged recordings that I can't live without is Eagles - Hell freezes over, Eric Clapton Unplugged, and Dire Straits - On the Night. These are quality live recordings, especially the Dire Straits. They managed to capture the whole concert depth and sound stage and the artist did not screw up.
But yeah, if you are trying to get your setup to sound "live", you are better off just going with PA system in the car LOL
But yeah, if you are trying to get your setup to sound "live", you are better off just going with PA system in the car LOL
02-24-2009, 05:03 PM
#68
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
BUT if you like what shes saying (sex, dinner time, cold beer, divorce decree) it is SQ
02-24-2009, 05:42 PM
#69
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 52
To me Sq Is tonality and A bit of staging, Someone earlier said you should not hear the sound from behind you. Well Here we get into the personal preference. Ive never heard a Good SQ setup besides my 5.1 surround sound head phones. BUT I do know that I lovve When you get that feeling that you are the centre of the Music. The home theatre experience. I listen to Lots of house music and stuff like dj tiesto, I tell you, when those crisp clear tones that youve never heard or that neat synth roll off or that Benny bennasi Compression bass is tight even in the lows is pumpin on surround sound, I could sit in my room for hours on end. THATS what I consider SQ, And I would give anything for a car with that kind of sound system in it.
