The Dark Side; Digital audio equipment recommendations and setup.

[Angsty]

I don’t doubt that those measurements are of something and that they can be read to mean something.

My question is: What is the hypothesis? If you are seeking to hold them up as a measure of reviewing a piece of gear then how do they inform why it sounds good and why you can recommend that someone else might think that it sounds good. And if you can’t is it really a scientific approach or is it in fact a pseudo-scientific approach.

The hypothesis is that minimizing the measured difference of the input to the output is what constitutes better sound reproduction. Artifacts such as distortion and noise increase the difference between input and output. Those things can be fully measured in the electrical realm. In the acoustic realm, other physical phenomena come into play because now you are moving air between an audio source and your ears.

Why something sounds “good” to you may have less to do with electronics than with psychoacoustics. Ears and brains are not strictly linear detectors of sound. Which is why I say, play and use what you enjoy, not just what measures the best.

 

[Nee Lewman]

might should be a new thread, but here seems logical. Has anyone ever done like a wireless hdmi connection? My wife is redoing the living room and I think we are gonna end up with a wall mounted tv and I am certain she will want the wires hidden… so it’s something I am thinking about. Does anyone have any experience in this realm?

 

[Joe Mac]

might should be a new thread, but here seems logical. Has anyone ever done like a wireless hdmi connection? My wife is redoing the living room and I think we are gonna end up with a wall mounted tv and I am certain she will want the wires hidden… so it’s something I am thinking about. Does anyone have any experience in this realm?

I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I’ve always seen those distances covered by in wall cables. Over 5m for 4K+ you need glass fibre optic cables and they are very expensive.

The Samsung frame tvs do have a control box that is connected to the screen with a cable and there is an optional 15m that’s in wall rated.

 

[SnowmaNick]

might should be a new thread, but here seems logical. Has anyone ever done like a wireless hdmi connection? My wife is redoing the living room and I think we are gonna end up with a wall mounted tv and I am certain she will want the wires hidden… so it’s something I am thinking about. Does anyone have any experience in this realm?

I haven’t looked at it in a few years, but it was buggy as shit back then. Can you install the wires in the wall?

You could use something like this.

 

[Nee Lewman]

I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I’ve always seen those distances covered by in wall cables. Over 5m for 4K+ you need glass fibre optic cables and they are very expensive.

The Samsung frame tvs do have a control box that is connected to the screen with a cable and there is an optional 15m that’s in wall rated.

Amazon product ASIN B09Q64M71N

 

[Nee Lewman]

I haven’t looked at it in a few years, but it was buggy as shit back then. Can you install the wires in the wall?

You could use something like this.

I mean, I’m sure we could. I don’t really want to bring in an electrician. Asked my wife and we may just do cable channels and paint them, which is fine with me.

 

[Joe Mac]

Amazon product ASIN B09Q64M71N

My question then would be that these aren’t exactly open about what technology they’re using to transmit the video signal. If it’s WiFi or Ethernet then it might be ok, I’d be dubious about any other technology reliably transmitting hi def content, never mind 4K plus.

 

[Nee Lewman]

My question then would be that these aren’t exactly open about what technology they’re using to transmit the video signal. If it’s WiFi or Ethernet then it might be ok, I’d be dubious about any other technology reliably transmitting hi def content, never mind 4K plus.

Well it’s not exactly clear what tech it is using, but the faq says it only does 4K from a phone/tablet, otherwise set output to 1080p. Lol

 

[Joe Mac]

Well it’s not exactly clear what tech it is using, but the faq says it only does 4K from a phone/tablet, otherwise set output to 1080p. Lol

I’d be very dubious of its stability. I’ve played with all sorts of things like that down the years to connect my bedroom tv to my satellite box in the living room. It’s never been great.

Also unless you’re looking to connect older media like cable/satelite or dvd/blu ray you could potentially just put two power outlets behind it and connect a google tv or Apple tv behind it and just leave it up there.

 

[Nee Lewman]

I’d be very dubious of its stability. I’ve played with all sorts of things like that down the years to connect my bedroom tv to my satellite box in the living room. It’s never been great.

Also unless you’re looking to connect older media like cable/satelite or dvd/blu ray you could potentially just put two power outlets behind it and connect a google tv or Apple tv behind it and just leave it up there.

I’ve got a fire cube, ps3 and a soundbar. I think the current tv is only hooked up to the sound bar honestly? Haven’t played with any of that since I bought the cube in 2019?

 

[Nee Lewman]

Hell. We should probably just buy a smart tv and be done with it. I don’t know… wife really wants one of those Samsung (I think) tvs that displays art when you aren’t watching tv.

 

[Joe Mac]

Hell. We should probably just buy a smart tv and be done with it. I don’t know… wife really wants one of those Samsung (I think) tvs that displays art when you aren’t watching tv.

That’s the frame one I was talking about above lol.

It is bundled with a 1.5m cable but after the fact can get a 15m long cable between the screen and control box that is in wall certified. Means you can place it somewhere more convenient and connect all the hdmi stuff to it there.

 

[Nee Lewman]

I mean the more pressing matter is where the fuck the sub will go based on the floor plan my wife has been discussing. It is wireless though so probably not that big of a deal. (Wherever it goes won’t be optimal anyhow- she’ll want it good and hidden)

 

[Thackeraye]

Hell. We should probably just buy a smart tv and be done with it. I don’t know… wife really wants one of those Samsung (I think) tvs that displays art when you aren’t watching tv.

We have 2 of them in the house. Love them. Having one cable to the tv is brilliant. Ours were mounted on plasterboard walls, so our tv install guy just punched a couple of holes and off we went.

 

[SnowmaNick]

I mean, I’m sure we could. I don’t really want to hmbring in an electrician. Asked my wife and we may just do cable channels and paint them, which is fine with me.

You don’t need an electrician for kits like those. They are DIY and pretty easy to do.

I’m all thumbs and was able to use them pretty easily.

 

[Nee Lewman]

You don’t need an electrician for kits like those. They are DIY and pretty easy to do.

I’m all thumbs and was able to use them pretty easily.

I will check it out.

 

[Nee Lewman]

You don’t need an electrician for kits like those. They are DIY and pretty easy to do.

I’m all thumbs and was able to use them pretty easily.

Yeah, that looks like a great solution! Thanks.

 

[Mather]

I say the following with complete and utter unfettered objectivity.

Audio Science Review is a crock of shit.

 

[Angsty]

I say the following with complete and utter unfettered objectivity.

Audio Science Review is a crock of shit.

I disagree - I visit ASR regularly and find it useful. However, just like many audio sites, there are people there with inflexible views. The difference is that many of those there consider themselves to be “objectivists”, believing that measurements tell one all there is to know about a component.

While I wholeheartedly agree with the validity of measurements, I don’t believe they fully convey enjoyment. It’s good to know if a component produces excessive distortion or if it does not deliver the power it promises. But, the difference between 0.001% THD and 0.0001% won’t tell you much about how a component sounds in your room with your system.

I likely will not buy a component with crappy measurements, but I won’t let pursuit of measurement perfection dictate my preferences, either.

 

[Mather]

I disagree - I visit ASR regularly and find it useful. However, just like many audio sites, there are people there with inflexible views. The difference is that many of those there consider themselves to be “objectivists”, believing that measurements tell one all there is to know about a component.

While I wholeheartedly agree with the validity of measurements, I don’t believe they fully convey enjoyment. It’s good to know if a component produces excessive distortion or if it does not deliver the power it promises. But, the difference between 0.001% THD and 0.0001% won’t tell you much about how a component sounds in your room with your system.

I likely will not buy a component with crappy measurements, but I won’t let pursuit of measurement perfection dictate my preferences, either.

I knowwww I was being partially facetious. I just think they spend far too much time worrying about measurements and numbers that ultimately are so miniscule that it means nothing in terms of how that unit actually sounds. Math has a place in music reproduction, but in my opinion it's no where near as important as they make it out to be. It's a lot of numbers that ignore the notes.