[Vintage-Audio] Speaking On Speakers

[Robert J. McKee]

----- Original Message -----
From: Duane Fischer, W8DBF <dfischer@usol.com>
>
> If you really want to hear stereo separation, you need some
older recordings.
> Especially anything recorded in the RCA studio in Nashville,
TN.
>
> Much of what they call music today (patented Fischer smirk)
is electronic, no
> humans playing instruments, or very few. The same sound is
on both channels most
> of the time, sounds more like mono, frankly. The difference
is not striking or
> obvious, as it once was.
>
<snip>
(expecting to be flamed and starting to duck....)
That ping-pong "stereo" was the result of a new medium that
"the experts" were not really certain what to do with it.  And
there was the factor of trying to sell the lady of the house
the
need for TWO speakers (and TWO amplifiers, etc) so the
ping-pong made it obvious to those furniture lovers that TWO
would be required.... assuming stereo would become the thing
required to keep up with the Jones' (the wealthy ones, not the
ones up the street from me).

But early on there were some people who were out there with
two-track tape recorders and condensor microphones making
three-dimensional sound images, which are now recognized
as being the golden age of recording.  My standard of
comparison
is live unamplified music, be it full symphony, big band,
choir or
theatre pipe organ.

And because of my standard none of the horns by any brand or
large driver big cabinet system had what it takes.  The KLH 9,
the Leonhardt LH-190 and very few others in the sixties were
capable of the speed and phase coherency required to do the
job.  Both those systems lacked in bass below about 80 Hz so
would not satisfy the one-note bass lovers that thought the
juke
box was IT!

There were some large systems which were pleasing to listen to
but were not in the running for reproducing the sound of live
music.
Matter of fact it amazes me that some speaker systems could
even
be sold to a living breathing thinking person that did not
wear a
hearing aid.

With speakers, amplifiers, turntables/changers, cartridges,
tape
recorders and the rest there were some big names receiving top
recognition for second and third rate sound.  Some are very
much
sought after today proving Madison Ave. did a real number on
the public... with the help of advertiser "controlled"
publications
like Stereo Review.

But what is really important is that YOU have the system that
YOU find pleasing.  Listening to your own ears is the only way
to be happy with your choices.  And remember, exposing the
young to music is something they will thank you for as they
grow
older.  Music seems to be an important part of lives that
should
be role models for generations that follow.  We need all the
responsible ethical citizens we can encourage.

Listening to tubes and reel-to-reel tape and loving it.
Bob McKee