Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
Re: Sound Imaging
#32062 01/28/04 05:33 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
if you want a good cd for demoing, anything. get the Mapleshade music festival sampler.

unfortunatly my favorite track on there (cant remember what its called) the singer is obviosly moving his body when hes singing, which in turn moves his voice back and fourth on the soundstage. but thats what happens when you record with only a couple of mikes and no mixing or nothin

The soundquality is probbly a 5 out of 5 on most tracks,after listening to the usual suspects pop that disc in there and a haze will lift from the sound. Even if the music isint really your favorite, you can really hear what the speakers could sound like with a good recording.

Re: Sound Imaging
#32063 02/04/04 05:45 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
Just listened to my brother's copy of The Waifs - Up All Night. Excellent CD with great imaging.

I switched my M22s to large and turned off the sub because I'm doing an audition of the Cambridge Soundworks Newton M80s tomorrow and I wanted to refresh my "audio memory" as well as possible. With acoustic material on a well-mastered disc, the M22s are the best speaker I've ever heard. (I can say that not having heard the M60 or M80 .)

Those CSWs need to be damn good to leave a good impression on me now.

Last edited by pmbuko; 02/04/04 05:52 AM.
Re: Sound Imaging
#32064 02/04/04 12:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 149
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 149
A word of caution. Aural memory is notoriously short and unreliable. In addition, rooms have a much greater effect on the sound than many people realize. Thus, I'm not sure how well you'll be able to judge the CSW against the M22: different environment with different electronics. That's why Axiom offers a 30 day MBG and Cambridge offers a 45 day MBG.

Re: Sound Imaging
#32065 02/04/04 06:56 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
I'm aware that audio memory is very short (which is my I said "as well as possible"). When I listened to my M22s this morning, it was mainly for the purpose of noting passages that are especially good for testing bookshelf speakers sans sub.

I've also considered just buying the CSW M80s with the intent of returning them the very next day. (I believe CSW's liberal return policy is their in-home audition program.) That would allow for the best evaluation. I might actually do it if I don't feel the store's listening room is revealing enough for my tastes.

Incidentally, the CDs and tracks I've picked out for this test are:
  1. Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds, Live at Luther College - (6) Crash Into Me
  2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nocturama - (2) He Wants You
  3. Tom Waits, Mule Variations - (11) Picture in a Frame
  4. The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1 - (3) Louisiana 1927
  5. The Waifs, Up All Night - (6) Highway One
And the reasons for each are:
  1. This is a classic speaker test track. I know what an acoustic guitar and male vocals sound like live. The recording captures the space of the auditorium well, especially when the crowd cheers.
  2. This is a very well recorded CD. Nick Cave has haunting vocals full of emotion. I picked this track especially because of his voice, a 'lazy and flowing' piano, and a brushed drum kit.
  3. You gotta love Tom Waits. I picked this track because it uses a sloghtly detuned piano and is recorded in a way that makes it seem slightly ambient yet still right there in the room. It's a weird effect that my M22s really convey well.
  4. Randy Newman is a genius. This CD contains raw songs -- just the man and his piano. All the tracks are good but I picked this one because I'm more familiar with it than the others.
  5. This is my new favorite CD. This track features female vocals and some great acoustic guitar work. It will be a great test of the upper-mid capabilities of the speakers.
And there you have it.

Re: Sound Imaging
#32066 02/05/04 02:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 27
hobbyist
Offline
hobbyist
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 27
pmbuko, I saw in the auditions thread you're in Oakland, so I thought you might be talking about the SF csw store. that's where I picked up mine, and the in-store presentation was not good at all... In fact, at the time, they didn't even have any in the demo rooms and the M80's are just sitting in the shelf in the main store area. they sounded lousy in the store, but better at home. They actually sell the Newton line at Fry's now and that actually seems like a better place to demo, assuming it's not crowded and noisy. altough that's more south bay.

Re: Sound Imaging
#32067 02/05/04 03:09 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
I gotta disagree on Tom Waits. I just find him really painful to listen to when he's attempting to sing. That combined with a detuned piano sounds like it would be really painful. Now all you Tom Waits fans can flame me.

Yeah, I would just buy the things on credit. Remember how I had 30 days to return the Ensemble 3s I bought... while drunk?


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Sound Imaging
#32068 02/05/04 07:39 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
I cannot take music criticism from anyone who like "The Swingle Singers" seriously...

Take that!

Re: Sound Imaging
#32069 02/05/04 07:41 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
My review is posted here.

Re: Sound Imaging
#32070 02/05/04 09:07 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 639
aficionado
Offline
aficionado
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 639
In reply to:

I cannot take music criticism from anyone who like "The Swingle Singers" seriously...




Ouch!



Re: Sound Imaging
#32071 02/05/04 10:58 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
Hey, at least they can sing in clear voices that don't sound like they gargle gravel. And groove (not that I'm saying Tom Waits can't. But he can't sing.) So there :-P


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

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

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 386 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4