BLOG #20. StereoPravda Exhibiting At CanJam@RMAF -2016: Flipping The Switch Of Audio's “Yin”/“Yang”
Without the energy freely released by the dedicated customers, in the process of realizing their part of the combined potential of audio technologies, the manufacturers would be stuck in a stage of complete audio development that was once named as “mid-fi”.
The portable audio industry’s general reluctance to even discuss that issue of possible additional personal effort on the customers’ side, claiming that “one size fits all”, is what, in my opinion, made the CanJam show to look more like an assortment of “mid-fi” products than anything else.
And this year’s tent environment vs the adjacent home audio show’s hotel rooms, most certainly enhanced this impression.
As all the portable audio technologies “ploughed” their field far and wide having reached their saturation point, then without releasing the customers’ creative dormant energy for dedication and exploration of something new, and without realizing of their part of the combined audio potential, there is no way we can expect any new breakthroughs in sound quality for the industry.
Read more…
Without the energy freely released by the dedicated customers, in the process of realizing their part of the combined potential of audio technologies, the manufacturers would be stuck in a stage of complete audio development that was once named as “mid-fi”.
The portable audio industry’s general reluctance to even discuss that issue of possible additional personal effort on the customers’ side, claiming that “one size fits all”, is what, in my opinion, made the CanJam show to look more like an assortment of “mid-fi” products than anything else.
And this year’s tent environment vs the adjacent home audio show’s hotel rooms, most certainly enhanced this impression.
As all the portable audio technologies “ploughed” their field far and wide having reached their saturation point, then without releasing the customers’ creative dormant energy for dedication and exploration of something new, and without realizing of their part of the combined audio potential, there is no way we can expect any new breakthroughs in sound quality for the industry.
Read more…
07.12.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1927
BLOG #19: What Is The Main Function Of High End Audio?
The reason the audiophiles are supposed to be interested in “how” [the subtle dynamic details of a music structure exposed through three dimensional soundstage effects] is because the whole raison d’etre of the High End Audio from its very inception was mainly educational: it’s supposed to be the most effective tool for mastering a new (for the vast majority) musical language.
Read more…11.08.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1958
BLOG #18: What Is “The True Essence” of Our Ear Monitors?”
If we’d use an... analogy to get a feeling for a sound quality a “home” audiophile who’s listening to music via typical IEMs would get, then, briefly speaking, what he’d hear would sound very much like the sound he’d get from his high performance home audio rig set up in the living room… except that when he’d be auditioning the stereo system not at the sweet spot position directly in front of the speakers, but from a spot at his kitchen, which, behind a heavy curtain, is connected to his living room via long, narrow and curved corridor.
And,...from the “kitchen” perspective, would any effort to improve the sound quality at the “living room” be like “to fire a cannon at sparrows”?
Read more…
01.08.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 2141
BLOG #17: AN ANNOUNCEMENT: From Now On A New Generation Connecting Cable Will Be Used With Our StereoPravda “SPearphone” Series Of In-The-Ear Monitors.
The influence of a headphone or an earphone connecting cable’s sound on the total sound of a portable music system is much more pronounced than the influence of a separate connecting cable on the sound of a home audio system.
There are two main reasons for that: first, in the former case there is only one cable, so its effect on the total sound is cumulative versus a spread individual input from a single cable in a multiple cable home installation.
The second reason is that in the absence of the sonically most influential audio system component – the room – the whole scale of audio components’ influence on the total sound immediately readjusts itself on a new scale of much smaller sonic increments, in which various connecting cables’ sonic differences become much more pronounced.
Read more…
The influence of a headphone or an earphone connecting cable’s sound on the total sound of a portable music system is much more pronounced than the influence of a separate connecting cable on the sound of a home audio system.
There are two main reasons for that: first, in the former case there is only one cable, so its effect on the total sound is cumulative versus a spread individual input from a single cable in a multiple cable home installation.
The second reason is that in the absence of the sonically most influential audio system component – the room – the whole scale of audio components’ influence on the total sound immediately readjusts itself on a new scale of much smaller sonic increments, in which various connecting cables’ sonic differences become much more pronounced.
Read more…
19.07.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 3080
BLOG #16. “To Be Left To Our Own Devices (sic!)?... We Probably Should”
My recent quick re-appearance at the player.ru portable audio forum to answer a couple of questions regarding my stacked HiFiMan “HM-801” mod experiment (see BLOG #15) brought back my already faded impressions from encountering a typical Internet forum community reaction to anything off-its-beaten track of endless discussions of widely available commercial products. Read more…
My recent quick re-appearance at the player.ru portable audio forum to answer a couple of questions regarding my stacked HiFiMan “HM-801” mod experiment (see BLOG #15) brought back my already faded impressions from encountering a typical Internet forum community reaction to anything off-its-beaten track of endless discussions of widely available commercial products. Read more…
30.05.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1479
BLOG #15. A Relatively Affordable Way To Stop Staying Totally “Passive”
Both in home and in portable audio, the ultimate audio performance can happen only while using the best “active” systems. Read more…
Both in home and in portable audio, the ultimate audio performance can happen only while using the best “active” systems. Read more…
18.05.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1877
BLOG #14. Where “Underdogs” Usually Win
In his last book, “David and Goliath”, Malcolm Gladwell wrote:
“There is a set of advantages that have to do with material resources, and there is a set that have to do with the absence of material resources - and the reason underdogs win as often as they do is that the latter is sometimes every bit the equal of the former”. Read more…
In his last book, “David and Goliath”, Malcolm Gladwell wrote:
“There is a set of advantages that have to do with material resources, and there is a set that have to do with the absence of material resources - and the reason underdogs win as often as they do is that the latter is sometimes every bit the equal of the former”. Read more…
12.05.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1879
BLOG #13. “To Dine Out with the Rich You Have to Feed Breakfasts to the Poor” – AN EPILOGUE TO THE MOSCOW “HI-FI & HIGH END SHOW – 2016”
This show was 100% predictable and completely followed its pre-written script: to exhibitors it was another desperate shot (sic!) at the (Russian) roulette; to visitors it was just an entertaining circus to see what’s going to happen as a result of it.
Read more…
This show was 100% predictable and completely followed its pre-written script: to exhibitors it was another desperate shot (sic!) at the (Russian) roulette; to visitors it was just an entertaining circus to see what’s going to happen as a result of it.
Read more…
20.04.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1507
BLOG #12. «So Many “Sweet Spots”, But So Little Sweet…» A PROLOGUE TO «MOSCOW HI-FI & HIGH END SHOW-2016»
Wikipedia generally defines “sweet spot” as “a place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response for a given amount of effort” (please, see the first picture). Read more…
Wikipedia generally defines “sweet spot” as “a place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response for a given amount of effort” (please, see the first picture). Read more…
06.04.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 2032
BLOG #11. “Why Do We Need to Tear Truth’s Protective Layers, and How We Can Do This – In Anticipation Of “Hi-Fi & High End Show -2016””
A year ago we showed our StereoPravda SPearphones and DACCA unit for the first time at the Moscow “Hi-Fi & High End Show-2015” (by the way, in Russian, a word “pravda” stands for “truth”). Read more…
A year ago we showed our StereoPravda SPearphones and DACCA unit for the first time at the Moscow “Hi-Fi & High End Show-2015” (by the way, in Russian, a word “pravda” stands for “truth”). Read more…
13.03.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1934
#10. AN ANNOUNCEMENT: StereoPravda SPearphone Portable Components Will Be Demonstrated at Moscow “HiFi & High End Show” (April 14th-17th, Hotel “Aquarium” @ “Crocus City” Complex)
At High Performance Portable Audio section of Moscow “HiFi & High End Show” (table # 29 at "The Vynil Show";) StereoPravda will be demonstrating its SPearphone-series ear monitors designed by Misha Kucherenko paired with portable DAC/Crossover/dual Amplifers DACCA unit designed by Alexei Malanin. Read more…
At High Performance Portable Audio section of Moscow “HiFi & High End Show” (table # 29 at "The Vynil Show";) StereoPravda will be demonstrating its SPearphone-series ear monitors designed by Misha Kucherenko paired with portable DAC/Crossover/dual Amplifers DACCA unit designed by Alexei Malanin. Read more…
04.03.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1517
#9. A BRIEF HISTORY OF STEREOPRAVDA SPEARPHONE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN PICTURES
As the below history is brief, I’ll try to stay brief. Read more…
As the below history is brief, I’ll try to stay brief. Read more…
03.03.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 3559
#8. A Consuming Passion on the Rocks: How Even the Best “Customs” Follow the Same Customs of "Consume"
When asked, why “traditional” audiophiles are not interested in high performance portable audio, my usual reply is that it’s a “chicken and an egg scenario”: in the absence of registered proposition there is no registered demand. And vice versa. Read more…
When asked, why “traditional” audiophiles are not interested in high performance portable audio, my usual reply is that it’s a “chicken and an egg scenario”: in the absence of registered proposition there is no registered demand. And vice versa. Read more…
17.02.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 2290
#7. The “Open” ‘cans – Aren't They Much Like the Opened Cans?!
t’s a common knowledge that the best sounding headphones, including the most expensive ones, are all “open” design ones.
And it’s been taken for granted through the whole history of “portable” audio. Read more…
t’s a common knowledge that the best sounding headphones, including the most expensive ones, are all “open” design ones.
And it’s been taken for granted through the whole history of “portable” audio. Read more…
26.01.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1519
#6. “Out of the Mouths of Babies Comes the Truth”
Yesterday I conducted a personal demo of our StereoPravda SPearphone SB- family of earphones for an old friend of mine.
Time after time I am taken aback by how precise common people, who never heard of High End Audio, can sometimes describe the “sonics” of what they heard. Read more…
Yesterday I conducted a personal demo of our StereoPravda SPearphone SB- family of earphones for an old friend of mine.
Time after time I am taken aback by how precise common people, who never heard of High End Audio, can sometimes describe the “sonics” of what they heard. Read more…
25.01.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1437
#5. What Is the Original Meaning of the Word “Stereo”?
Throughout the years I’ve been asking my numerous colleagues in High End Audio the same question over and over again: “What is the original meaning of the word “stereo”?”
Instead of an answer, I would get a puzzled look: “??!…What do you mean, hm, oh, yes, the word “stereo”, right”? Read more…
Throughout the years I’ve been asking my numerous colleagues in High End Audio the same question over and over again: “What is the original meaning of the word “stereo”?”
Instead of an answer, I would get a puzzled look: “??!…What do you mean, hm, oh, yes, the word “stereo”, right”? Read more…
24.01.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1944
#4. THE EAR INSERTION AND THE USER INSTRUCTIONS FOR StereoPravda SPearphones' "SB-" series
Dear audiopohiles!
We are sincerely grateful for your choice of using a product from our StereoPravda’s family of SPearphones! Read more…
Dear audiopohiles!
We are sincerely grateful for your choice of using a product from our StereoPravda’s family of SPearphones! Read more…
21.01.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1725
#3. Our CES-2016 Report
My CES-2016 reports are here Read more…
My CES-2016 reports are here Read more…
19.01.2016 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 63305
#2. How Hearing-Impaired Improve What We Can Hear
A few days ago I ran into an info on a famous hearing aid manufacturer Phonak’s web site.
According to their (I am sure, too optimistic) estimate, their newest type of hearing aids- IIC (Invisible-In-Channel) - can fit no more than 50% of potential users due to the variations in individual ear channel anatomy. Read more…
A few days ago I ran into an info on a famous hearing aid manufacturer Phonak’s web site.
According to their (I am sure, too optimistic) estimate, their newest type of hearing aids- IIC (Invisible-In-Channel) - can fit no more than 50% of potential users due to the variations in individual ear channel anatomy. Read more…
16.12.2015 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1547
#1. To Be at the Right Time at the Right Place Being Prepared - That's Not All You Need to Succeed in Audio
To succeed in audio is like to succeed in sports: the key is not only to be prepared, but also to be at the right time at the right place.
But that's not all you need. Read more…
To succeed in audio is like to succeed in sports: the key is not only to be prepared, but also to be at the right time at the right place.
But that's not all you need. Read more…
09.12.2015 // Author: (Bigmisha) // Number of views: 1339