A Special Thanks to Jim Smith

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
Staff member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
30,493
Location
Sarasota, FL
I would like to give a big special thanks to Jim Smith. He journeyed down to Florida this week (on his Birthday no less) to help me set up the Magico room at the store and to discuss other "voicing" techniques I can use in the other rooms and customer installs.

This is the second time I've had the pleasure to watch Jim voice a system. It's frankly, quite amazing to watch the uninterrupted precision master at work. Jim is extremely methodical in his process, all derived from more than 40 years of voicing systems.

What's the result? Astonishing. After hearing Eric's M3's voiced by Jim Smith, I knew there was no turning back, I had to get Jim to make a trip - and thankfully, he agreed. The M3's now disappear like never before and the bass! WOW!

FWIW, I think the strongest advice I can give is to attend one of Jim's Room Play Reference days in Georgia. Working one on one with Jim for a part of a day, you will get to watch and listen how to go about voicing your own system and most importantly, have a frame of reference for a proper voicing. Specifically, what to listen for. I think the cost is $450. That would be the best money you could ever spend in audio. http://www.getbettersound.com/roomplay-reference.html

Thank you again Jim. You are truly the speaker voicing master. I'm privileged to know you and have the opportunity to learn from you.
 
jap said:
Did you asked Magico to send someone to help you set up your room?
Click to expand...

No. See above. After hearing Eric's M3's voiced by Jim Smith, I just had to have him come down. Plus, I know first hand what he did for voicing my Avantgarde's.


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Thanks for the information, Mike. I would love to attend one of those reference days.
 
This is fantastic Mike! I cannot wait to come by for a listen.

I will definitely book Jim to voice my system once we move in to our new home. I certainly can't wait!

And, once again, a congrats to Jim for working his magic (and science)!
 
Mike said:
No. See above. After hearing Eric's M3's voiced by Jim Smith, I just had to have him come down. Plus, I know first hand what he did for voicing my Avantgarde's.


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Click to expand...

Did he charge you to voice your store?
 
jap said:
Did he charge you to voice your store?
Click to expand...

Yes and I happily paid. It's the best money I've ever spent in audio (twice). I will also journey north to Georgia for the training (Room Play Reference).


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Mike said:
Yes and I happily paid. It's the best money I've ever spent in audio (twice). I will also journey north to Georgia for the training (Room Play Reference).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

IMO, a customer who buys a hiend speaker shouldn't have to pay someone to "voice' their room.

Dealers should be properly trained by manufacturer to perform that function.
 
jap said:
Thanks for the info.

IMO, a customer who buys a hiend speaker shouldn't have to pay someone to "voice' their room.

Dealers should be properly trained by manufacturer to perform that function.
Click to expand...

No one has to do anything, but IMO, few can achieve the level that Jim does. Case in point: the WASP method for my Alexia's didn't work in my room.

40+ years of voicing systems, writing books on the subject, etc. He has voiced thousands of systems, not to mention is vast recording experience. There is simply no substitute for experience.

If you've never heard a "before" and "after" with Jim's voicing, you should. It's really something.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike said:
No one has to do anything, but IMO, few can achieve the level that Jim does. Case in point: the WASP method for my Alexia's didn't work in my room.

40+ years of voicing systems, writing books on the subject, etc. He has voiced thousands of systems, not to mention is vast recording experience. There is simply no substitute for experience.

If you've never heard a "before" and "after" with Jim's voicing, you should. It's really something.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If the WASP method for your Alexia's didn't work in your room, your dealer (if a dealer did the installation) wasn't properly trained.

I've never heard a "before" and "after" of Mr.Smith's voicing and probably never will.
 
If you've never heard it and probably never will, then what is your point in the discussion? I've never heard it either as I gather may be true of most of the members, but we didn't jump on a forum and voice an opinion about it's value.
 
jap said:
If the WASP method for your Alexia's didn't work in your room, your dealer (if a dealer did the installation) wasn't properly trained.

I've never heard a "before" and "after" of Mr.Smith's voicing and probably never will.
Click to expand...

You're just plain wrong. And consistently annoying. More so than even myself, and that takes some doing.

Jim is a master. Period.
 
Have you ever heard the WASP method? By an "approved dealer"



jap said:
If the WASP method for your Alexia's didn't work in your room, your dealer (if a dealer did the installation) wasn't properly trained.

I've never heard a "before" and "after" of Mr.Smith's voicing and probably never will.
Click to expand...
 
Mike said:
This is the second time I've had the pleasure to watch Jim voice a system. It's frankly, quite amazing to watch the uninterrupted precision master at work. Jim is extremely methodical in his process, all derived from more than 40 years of voicing systems.

What's the result? Astonishing. After hearing Eric's M3's voiced by Jim Smith, I knew there was no turning back, I had to get Jim to make a trip - and thankfully, he agreed. The M3's now disappear like never before and the bass! WOW!

FWIW, I think the strongest advice I can give is to attend one of Jim's Room Play Reference days in Georgia. Working one on one with Jim for a part of a day, you will get to watch and listen how to go about voicing your own system and most importantly, have a frame of reference for a proper voicing. Specifically, what to listen for. I think the cost is $450. That would be the best money you could ever spend in audio. http://www.getbettersound.com/roomplay-reference.html

Thank you again Jim. You are truly the speaker voicing master. I'm privileged to know you and have the opportunity to learn from you.
Click to expand...


That is quite the recommendation!
Noted and filed - trip to Atlanta on the agenda on my next visit stateside.
 
jap said:
If the WASP method for your Alexia's didn't work in your room, your dealer (if a dealer did the installation) wasn't properly trained.

I've never heard a "before" and "after" of Mr.Smith's voicing and probably never will.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, if you're not interested or willing to allow Jim's approach the benefit of a doubt, why are you getting involved?

Just the other day I read about how Nelson Pass is developing his amps. Yes, first he measures, and then the final voicing is done by ear. Sounds familiar?

Many sharks have described the impact of Jim's work in their system, are impressed about what he has achieved and thankful for what he has done for them.

IMHO that is a good thing.


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Wow, Mike,

Thanks for the kind comments!

I would like to make a few myself:

1 - The RoomPlay Reference session is meant to specifically accomplish several goals for my clients:

a) Give them a Reference for what a properly dialed-in system should sound like. After quite a number of RPR sessions in the last three years or so, virtually every client has indicated that they now had a much better idea of what to expect from any system, including theirs. They had not experienced such musical involvement at any dealer or audio show demo.

b) Over the 9 years since Get Better Sound was written, RPR has evolved into as much of a learning session as a listening session.

c) The price is $395. Should a RPR client still want to book a RoomPlay voicing session, the $395 is credited against that expense. However, the goal is to equip the client with a reference and some knowledge about how to improve their systems dramatically, without the expense of a RoomPlay session. Honestly speaking, I can only accept about 1 in 5 RoomPlay clients these days, so the RPR is a much more efficient system for many.

2 - I agree 100% with Jap's comment that dealers should be providing full service. Unfortunately, I have had to correct/improve about a dozen Wilson systems supposedly voiced by some of the most well-known Wilson dealers. Even worse, I've voiced many more Wilson systems that got no - or not much - help from their dealers at all. Hopefully, now that Bill Peugh is there, that situation will improve dramatically. In fact, I am fairly confident that it will get better.

3- Here is an edited excerpt from my most recent RPR client - from last Sunday, actually. I should mention that he is a physician, former classical pianist, and current piano teacher (when he can find the time), as well as being an advanced long-time audiophile:

"Hi, Jim. I just wanted to write and say again how much I enjoyed seeing you, and how much I learned. My brain was on overload on the way back. It seemed so surreal, going there and back in 24 hours and listening and learning so much from you. Your generosity and willingness to spend the time and share your expertise was heartwarming, and meaningful. Thanks again so much!

BTW, you were right - I checked when I got back and the Quads are sitting with the center of the speakers ~6-9 inches down from my ears. Even with the spikes added and the weight, they’d be a minimum 4-5 inches down, and maybe still 6-7 inches down. So this is job one.

After I raise and forward-tilt them, I’ll work with moving them closer together and play more with toe, then see what moving them forward on the toed axis reveals, to see if I can’t get more of the “you are there” sense I felt in your room.

Once again, thank you hardly seems adequate. Take good care and stay well ... Looking forward to talking with you again…

Warm Regards,

J. "

Personally, the most rewarding thing that he said to me came after hearing a lot of music he had never considered. He was obviously moved by the experience, and said that he now knew that he had a lot of music to explore!
 
"I can only accept about 1 in 5 RoomPlay clients these days..."

Well, I better get on the list for early next year when my new home should be completed!
 
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