The Ying and Yang in Hi End Audio

[Mike]

Do you believe in the Ying & Yang of hi end audio? What is the Ying & Yang of hi end audio?

To me, this is about balance and counter-balance in system matching. For example, do you try to counteract a chubby sounding speaker with a thinner sounding amp/preamp?

Do you try to add some detail by adding silver cabling to your slightly rolled off speakers?

Do you find too much of a good thing spoils the soup?

Examples: Sonus Faber with ARC. Silver cabling on Harbeth. 300b's on horns. A tube DAC in an otherwise, analytic system.

This all comes down to synergy, but is that synergy based on Ying & Yang?

Thoughts?

 

[nc42acc]

Mike yes to all of the above. Yin and yang is synonymous with synergy. When the stars align and you get pulled into audio nirvana by the music.

 

[Zero]

It all seems like common sense, doesn't it ?

For example: You own a pair of speakers that you love in every way except for maybe this one particular thing. So in order to mitigate the thing that you don't like, you either mess with the room or you try to find a component that will do just that. Now in my experience, I'd say this approach tends to work more often than it doesn't.

However...

There are times when using the 'Yin and Yang' approach to system building may not yield the best results. I've stumbled across numerous combinations that I thought would never work well together, but did. Examples include: Harbeth and warm sounding tube gear. Klipsch and 'tell it like it is' solid-state gear. Low-powered tube amps and notoriously inefficient speakers. Certain Class-D amps with certain Wilson Audio speakers.

It's another reminder of the fact that the more I learn, the more I realize that it's impossible to truly know something in this gig until you try it for yourself.

 

[Mike]

And let's face it, especially when it comes to cable matching, it can be a challenge. Can you imagine having invested in a full expensive loom of all silver cabling, only then to switch out your speakers and amps to something much more revealing? Groan...

 

[nc42acc]

Synergy my friend, synergy. Sometimes you just gotta throw it on the wall and see if it sticks.

It all seems like common sense, doesn't it ?

For example: You own a pair of speakers that you love in every way except for maybe this one particular thing. So in order to mitigate the thing that you don't like, you either mess with the room or you try to find a component that will do just that. Now in my experience, I'd say this approach tends to work more often than it doesn't.

However...

There are times when using the 'Yin and Yang' approach to system building may not yield the best results. I've stumbled across numerous combinations that I thought would never work well together, but did. Examples include: Harbeth and warm sounding tube gear. Klipsch and 'tell it like it is' solid-state gear. Low-powered tube amps and notoriously inefficient speakers. Certain Class-D amps with certain Wilson Audio speakers.

It's another reminder of the fact that the more I learn, the more I realize that it's impossible to truly know something in this gig until you try it for yourself.

 

[Mike]

Sean - it's common sense for those who have the experiences and a plan. But there are many who buy in drips and drabs and hope it works, only to find out it doesn't, and start all over again. An expensive proposition.

 

[nc42acc]

This is why I make most of my own. I can try variety to lock in what sounds best. Makes for a large box of cabling though. :blush:

And let's face it, especially when it comes to cable matching, it can be a challenge. Can you imagine having invested in a full expensive loom of all silver cabling, only then to switch out your speakers and amps to something much more revealing? Groan...

 

[Paul]

To me. The room is most important and silver cables on tube amp. Hmmm delicious


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[Zero]

Mike - Its an unfortunate reality, isn't it? The only enthusiasts who aren't beholden to the 'trial by error' learning curve are those who are lucky enough to either A) live in a region that's chalk full of awesome dealers, or B) just so happen to live in a region that has an awesome audiophile community. In my experience, these two resources are usually never mutually exclusive.

 

[nc42acc]

My answer has been the following.
1. Read many reviews, forum post, online mags.
2. Research pricing through all avenues, eBay, Audiogon, usaudio mart.
3. Buy used.
4. When no option for the above use dealers who have a liberal demo policy.

Trial by error can be fun if you buy used and have the financial ability.

Just subscribed to your YouTube channel Zero, look forward to watching.

Mike - Its an unfortunate reality, isn't it? The only enthusiasts who aren't beholden to the 'trial by error' learning curve are those who are lucky enough to either A) live in a region that's chalk full of awesome dealers, or B) just so happen to live in a region that has an awesome audiophile community. In my experience, these two resources are usually never mutually exclusive.

 

[rbbert]

I strongly believe in system synergy, but I have philosophical problems with trying to accomplish it by balancing what are essentially "faults". I realize that may end being the default solution, but at best it is inelegant, and trying harder to find pieces that work well together by complementing strengths seems preferable (if not always attainable) to trying to cancel out weaknesses.

 

[nc42acc]

Rob from my experience I have yet to hear a piece of audio gear that does NOT have some type of fault or weakness. Why not use complimentary pieces to bring out the best as a whole?

I strongly believe in system synergy, but I have philosophical problems with trying to accomplish it by balancing what are essentially "faults". I realize that may end being the default solution, but at best it is inelegant, and trying harder to find pieces that work well together by complementing strengths seems preferable (if not always attainable) to trying to cancel out weaknesses.

 

[Zero]

I appreciate it Marty. The funny thing is that your approach mirrors my own. My region is like a desert for all things hi-fi. Because of this, I had to learn by reading as much as possible and then making educated purchasing decisions based off of that collective info. It's been a fun, expensive, rewarding, yet maddening journey! Anyway, I suppose this side tangent is a bit off topic so I'll draw these particular thoughts to a close.