Recently, I've run across a couple of leading high-end audio designers who adamantly deny "voicing" their products. While I can understand a designer denying he or she designs a product with a certain sound in mind, they still voice a product when selecting for instance the active and passive parts. And if they mean they can tell by measurements, certainly there are two different brands of resistors or capacitors that measure the same but sound different. So what gives?
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Semantics?
Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
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Probably as it is a confusing term. They may not be doing what Carver did or shooting for a certain "sound" but if they are listening to their work and the work of others then unless they think it all sounds the same they are in a sense voicing as they are designing to their preference.Turntable: - 1. Fairchild 750/OMA slate plinth
2. Analog Engineering AE-2008 MinusK support.
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Winston Ma also pointed out to me that each country has a characteristic sound (sort of like an accent); German (fast), Italian (romantic), Japan (clean), American (bold), etc. I find that interesting.Speakers/Amps: Genesis G2.2 Jr with Powered Servo-Sub Bass, Genesis GR1440 Mono Amps, 5,000 watts total power
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Originally posted by MylesBAstor View PostRecently, I've run across a couple of leading high-end audio designers who adamantly deny "voicing" their products. While I can understand a designer denying he or she designs a product with a certain sound in mind, they still voice a product when selecting for instance the active and passive parts selection. And if they mean they can tell by measurements, certainly there are two different brands of resistors or capacitors that measure the same but sound different. So what gives?
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Originally posted by MylesBAstor View PostRecently, I've run across a couple of leading high-end audio designers who adamantly deny "voicing" their products. While I can understand a designer denying he or she designs a product with a certain sound in mind, they still voice a product when selecting for instance the active and passive parts selection. And if they mean they can tell by measurements, certainly there are two different brands of resistors or capacitors that measure the same but sound different. So what gives?
There can be other reasons for specific parts selection: availability, failure rate, spec tolerance, etc.
I remember Dave Gordon (ARC) telling me they looked at off shore transformers that were built well with tight specs that matched exactly to the American part they had custom made. But the sonics weren't the same as the part they'd be replacing. I don't know if that is voicing, but I'm glad they're particular.
The few designers I know are fastidious about parts selection.
Vladimir Lamm and Ralph Karsten talk, in so many words, about the rules of human hearing -- as assessed empirically. If ignoring those is admantly not voicing, it probably doesn't matter what parts you use.
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Originally posted by Joe Pittman View PostWinston Ma also pointed out to me that each country has a characteristic sound (sort of like an accent); German (fast), Italian (romantic), Japan (clean), American (bold), etc. I find that interesting.
If used them more as analogies when you write about audio it would lead to very funny and confusing reading ...
"The self-rightuos swedish speakers turned out to work very well with a gracious french amplifier" etc ...
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