THE AUDIO PROJECT, OR HOW TO PUT JOY BACK INTO OUR LIVES!

NO 21-05

Like everyone else, I'm trying to navigate these uncertain times. So here I am, listening to chronic stress specialists who explain that one of the reasons for the psychological wear and tear that affects us all right now is that there is no clear end to the current situation.

I'll skip the scientific details of how the human brain works, but let's just say that being stuck in a monotonous routine with nothing fun or different to do from one day to the next doesn't really help. We work, eat and go home to kill time and it starts over again day after day which become months and now a year.

The solution would be to set up a pleasant routine that would allow us to "look forward" to the next time we can do the activity again. In short, structure reward activities that are predictable and easy to do.

Many have understood this as different areas of activity have seen a resurgence of interest since the onset of this platitude that has fallen upon us. Jogging and biking but also a lot of home entertainment offered by electronics are part of the new "normal" of today.

I'm an electronics and technology enthusiast so that's what I want to talk to you about today. MY solution to the ills of the day.

MANY PEOPLE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES FOR REAL GOOD SOUND!

We all have a good TV or are about to get one, but what about the famous sound system???

I am proposing a process to evaluate your needs and solutions to form a project that will keep you busy and allow you to observe a progression in the formation of your ensemble that will grow with time. Listening to music is a wonderful pastime, whether it's to facilitate conversations with our loved ones, to escape into our own bubble or to party at home, so if all this interests you, let's get started!

Enjoy your reading 😊

 Paradigm and Cambridge Audio.

First step, have a source and a listening device.

If this is your first attempt, or if you want to restart your listening set, you need to make sure you have an Audio or Cinema Amplifier plus a pair of speakers, and a first sound source via one of the 3 main broadcast modes. FM, WEB, BLUETOOTH.

Amplifier or receiver : 

Cambridge Audio AX-R100Amplifier

• It will be important to have at least 60 watts of power available per side for stereophonic listening. Stereophonic listening is essential and standard today because it allows for three-dimensional left-right rendering and depth of field.
• The desired characteristics will be a good energy reserve and low distortion. When listening (essential to make a wise purchase) you will notice a sound that will have impact, no loss of detail when playing louder. The finest sounds, such as cymbals, will be crystal clear with an ease of hearing the shimmer in the sound and not just the tone without any detail. (I'll let you in on the joke, I'm preparing a 101 course on all the technical side in a popularized presentation)

• Next, make sure you have a built-in source if you want to be able to use the equipment quickly. This is called an amplifier/receiver. The three typical sources will be Radio and/or Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth reception. As a general rule, cinema receivers incorporate all three, but you will have to spend more to get satisfactory sound quality. In this case, aim for over $1200.

DENON Model 8500 Audiophile CinemaReceiver

Radio is a no-brainer as we all know and most suspect that Wi-Fi allows listening to dedicated streaming providers: Deezer-Spotify, etc. But also, traditional broadcasters such as CHOM, or CBC and SRC.

Finally, Bluetooth will allow you to listen to your favorite music from a tablet or a smartphone.

Yamaha RN-803Receiver Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tuning.

A purist approach, without necessarily asking for huge sums of money, will require the addition of an independent source such as a digital tuner with a high performance decoder. Eventually, it will be part of your project, so ask your advisor for the best course of action based on your initial budget so as not to unnecessarily duplicate the purchase of equipment.

Second step, the selection of the speakers.

As I explained in a previous column, there are two main categories of speakers. The full size ones and the shelf ones.

Note here that everything is possible but that it will be necessary to invest more on a shelf speaker if you want high fidelity. The compact speaker, to generate the same sound quality as a tower or full size speaker, requires more sophisticated materials to achieve this feat. In particular, to get bass sounds that can be heard well, the bass diaphragm must be capable of greater displacement to move the same amount of air as the larger ones. You'll need stronger magnets to handle that displacement efficiently, etc., etc. Expect $375 for basic performance and $1000 for something excellent!

Paradigm Premier 200. excellent choice 

More people are returning to the full-size speaker since the advent of new technologies allowing a much smaller footprint than in the past. What is remarkable, in particular, is the possibility of obtaining the same power with 6 and a half inch diaphragms as a 12 inch diaphragm used to produce. One of the advantages of the full-range speaker is the manufacturer's ability to create a multi-channel system. In a compact loudspeaker, we often find only a tweeter (high frequency) and an extended range (bass and midrange). The challenge of this proposal is to obtain mediums such as the voice and the majority of instruments without being affected by the bass which hides the details. The full range speaker will have several diaphragms dividing the sounds from low to mid-low, mid-high and finally the treble. The result will be a more airy sound that will make you feel like the musicians are right there in your listening environment! Anticipated budget: $850 and more.

Monitor se series, very affordable.

 Connectivity: Wiring.

Often ignored, the connection between your amplification source and the loudspeaker will be crucial since it could spoil your investment if you neglect to invest properly.

A good speaker cable can't make your system sound better, but it can and should ensure that every last drop of performance gets from your amplifier to your speakers.

Conversely, a poor-quality speaker cable can certainly make your system sound much worse than it really is, so it's absolutely necessary to have decent cabling when purchasing or upgrading your system.

Don't forget to allow for the lengths of speaker cable you need (and the number of speakers you're connecting if it's a surround system). It's not always a good idea to skimp on length, as every time you have to move or relocate your speakers, too-short wires will make the exercise unpleasant and restrictive...

Wanted a size 14 with 99% oxygen-free purified copper strands

Budget-wise: $100 to $200 at most. Yes, there are cables for well over $1000, but I'm not keen on the idea, except for having a budget without limits, and even then, you'll only earn dust. 

ASONA cable with pre-assembled "banana" InterConnect.

Location:

To take advantage of the package, the following factors should be taken into account.

The room: It should be of average size, neither too small which will make too much reverberation and will make you lose the spatial effect of the rendering, nor too vast to lose the inclusiveness, the envelopment of the soundtrack. If possible, avoid rooms with a cathedral roof. In the latter case, you will have to look for very directional loudspeakers such as the Paradigm "Founder" or the Focal "Aria". An amplifier equipped with calibration software will also be very useful.

Spacing wise, we will aim for 8 to 12 feet apart from each other. Your room should be reasonably furnished which will affect the performance. Too many objects in the room and your sound will be muffled and not enough, you will hear reverberations that will harm the distinction of nuances and the spatializing effect that stereophonic listening offers. Finally, there are absorbing panels to be fixed to the walls to reduce interference by reverberation.

The last word

Arriving home and relaxing with your favorite beverage while listening to some soaring music is a great way to decompress in this uncertain world. In fact, early last year, when the stores were closed, I brought home new demonstrators, which I eventually bought and kept! Most of the passionate players in our industry did the same... Electronics, almost a cure!!!

   I hope to have made it easier to understand what to look for when you want to do a "hobby and relaxation" project like acquiring a sound system. Also, it will always be easier to find a dealer willing to advise you and even better, to go on site for judicious advice. Do not hesitate to ask him!

More project suggestions such as full house sound and outdoor solutions will follow in future articles!

See you soon and...

Stay tuned!

- Christian.