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Speaker Lexicon?
#1380 02/03/02 06:31 PM
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Can anyone please explain the meaning of the words "soundstage" and "imaging" as they pertain to speakers. I see them used all the time and would appreciate very much an explanation.

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Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1381 02/03/02 08:41 PM
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Sorry, 1 more please. What is the distinction between "HiFi" and "MidFi". I suppose this question is particularly addressed to BBIBH who just posted a list of Cdn. manufacturers according to this distinction. Why is axiom "MidFi" and not "HiFi" ?

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Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1382 02/03/02 09:03 PM
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I to want to no why Axiom is Mid-fi and not Hi-Fi!!!



Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1383 02/04/02 04:50 AM
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simply because their highest priced speaker is in the thousand dollar price range. When many speakers sell for up to ten times this amount it makes axiom fall in the mid hifi range. This is not a negative term.



Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1384 02/04/02 01:21 PM
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You are correct duff, this is not a negative comment in anyway. Those who know of my posts, know I think highly of Axiom...in their market price point (and above it actually). They are good value for the money. However, as with any product, there are products at many prices, with many virtues for their price. A low priced car has good qualities, but when you move to a very high priced car, it is outclassed. This is no different in audio. Duff mentions competitors being 10 times the price, and those expensive speakers are made without the need to produce product AND profit for $1000. Limitations at any price make it a requirement to limit the components that are installed. Truth be told, I am very happy with the sound Ian designed my Axioms to make for $1000!. But they do have limitations, and you would be less than honest with yourself if you did not believe this.

But price is only part of it, as the real test is the sound and quality of the speaker. I urge people to spend some time and find a hifi dealer. Listen to $30k systems, and see if you find the sound proper. Don't take the word of the dealer (or me for that matter), but do you like it?

Some of the most "exotic" speakers sound amazing, almost as if the band could be touched. But, speakers are only part of the equation. A quality source will bring more music to the listener than the speakers, because if the source can not reproduce the music correctly from the media (CD/DVD?Vinyl), the speakers can not add what is missing. But that is another discussion.

Regards,

BBIBH

Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1385 02/04/02 02:06 PM
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I can agree with your statements. I just got a Creek with Rega and Axioms. I listened to many stereo componenets, and in the end I bought what sounded good in my price range. I listened to some very expensive amps, and actually really liked the Linn turntable...it was amazing!

But I could not afford this amount and bought good sounding stuff for my price range.

I guess that is why my sports car is an Escort ZX2 and not a Porsche!!! I know it is better by a lot, but I can't afford it!



Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1386 02/05/02 01:21 PM
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Timely question, we are in the process of creating a glossary of terms for our website. Alan Lofft is putting it together and it should appear some time in the next month. As for you specific question on soundstage and imaging, these are very similar terms. They refer to the perceived location of the various specific sounds i.e. the vocalist. Ideally you want the speakers to be able to pinpoint the perceived location of various sounds both side-to-side and front-to-back. From a technical design perspective the relationship between the accuracy of the family of amplitude response curves and the imaging or soundstage is a know correlation. Axiom is quite sensitive to the perceived soundstage in our design criteria for the speakers.

HiFi and MidFi almost always relate back to price. Hence the Axiom products are referred to as MidFi because they are priced in that range. The most common mistake made is the belief that if the price is higher the quality of the performance is better. This is simply not the case, especially with speakers. It is very possible to spend 10 times the amount on one speaker over another and the one costing 10 times as much to have a lower performance quality. This is especially true if the more expensive speaker is targeting esthetic design criteria over performance criteria.


Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer


Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer
Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1387 02/05/02 02:50 PM
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I think that is what BBIBH has also said, that it should sound better because it is made without as many limitations, but it does not always sound better. Some expensive products must be horrible if that is the case.

Are there lower end products that are considered hifi? I thought from reading posts that the sound quality was what separated midfi and hifi?

BBIBH???



Re: Speaker Lexicon?
#1388 02/05/02 04:20 PM
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Yes, I have always based judgements on how the piece performs. Economics is a big piece of the equation, as if it is very expensive, it should be designed better, and with less cost cutting. As Ian points out this is not always the case. Some high priced gear can make wonderful sounds, but scarcely reproduce music. The $100K Infinity IRSV Reference "Monster" comes to mind. It played sounds (everyday noises and sounds) with astonishing clarity, yet was clearly out of it's element attempting to play a jazz trio!

Some lower priced equipment (relative to each person's economic situation) can sound great. This is the case with the Axiom line. But what is expensive(or affordable) to some, might not be expensive(or affordable) to others.

The main point I was trying to make is that you need to listen and determine if it is good for you. Can you afford it...well that becomes a factor. I have a friend who enjoys $200 bottles of wine, and thinks I am crazy having an expensive stereo hobby.

It is all in the enjoyment! Audio, as with most things in life, is subjective to each person.

Regards,

BBIBH


Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

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