harman academy december 2008 how to listen 1. © 2008 harman international industries, incorporated....

Harman Academy December 2008

How To Listen 1

© 2008 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Agenda ”How to listen to music / speakers”:

What can a human ear registre ?

What is good sound quality ?

How to describe good sound quality ? Terminology.

What kind of differences can you hear and evaluate ?

How to make a good sound demonstration ?

Good and bad software.


Hearing What can a human ear registre ?

Frequencies between 9 and 22.000 Hz.

Sound pressures between 0 dB and 120dB

(120dB pain starts. 150dB risc of deafness. 180dB risc of death)

We are all born with the same good hearing capabilities

But why are some people better listeners than others ??

Why can some people ”hear the grass grow”??


Listening

What we see, is quite objective

What we hear, is very subjective

What we smell, is extreemely subjective

The way we listen:

We hear what we want to hear.

We are used to filter away the back ground noise

We are used to ”focus” on human voises (Narrow frequency band)

By listening we concentrate on person to person comunication

We focus on content and we forget about ambience


The way we listen

Every person listens in their own way:


The way we listen

We are all good listeners

Hearing and listening is for communication and survival

Listening to music is pure enjoyment


The way we listen

The way we listen to music:

Some people will focus on:

.....the rythm

.....the drums

.....the bass

.....the guitars

.....the singers

.....the violins

.....the piano

.....the horns

Depending on personal experience and taste we listen differently


What is good sound quality? Our expectations to quality of music reproduction are different

These statements:

”Good sound quality”

”Bad sound quality”or

”I like it”

”I do not like it”

are very subjective and based on personal experience

....and should be based on experience from live concerts


What is good sound quality?

Good quality sound reproduction:

Getting the feeling of being there at the live concert

Getting the correct details of all instruments and singers

Getting a natural feeling of the ambience in the recording room

If you close your eyes, you should be able to ”see” everything


How to describe good sound quality ?



Clean left and right reproduction ? Integrated sound picture ? Or perfect natural sound picture ?

This is only in the vertical dimensions



Clean left and right reproduction ? Integrated sound picture ? Or perfect natural sound picture ?

This is only in the horizontal dimensions



This is called ”Depth Of Image”

Sound quality is about both dimentions

This is called ”The Sound Stage”



This is a very narrow and flat sound

The instruments are comming from the inside of the speakers

How to listen to the Sound Stage?



This is a very wide, but flat sound

The instruments are stepping out of the speaker cabinets




This is a very big sound

You hear instruments above, below and to the sides




What determines the Sound Stage?

The quality of the speakers

The quality of amplifier

The quality of your CD player or turntable

And the quality of the recording itself:

Clasical and jazz are best

But also many pop and rock recordeigs are good

=> You must know the qualities of your demonstration music



How to listen to the ”Depth Of Image” ?

This is a very narrow and flat sound image

You will hear almost no depth




This is a very narrow but deep sound image

You will hear instruments behind and in front of the speakers




This is a very wide and deep sound image

You will hear instruments all over the place, in front of you



How to listen to the ”Frequency Balance” ?

You will hear instruments in the intire frequency range

Neutal sound ballance Fat bass sound ballance Slim treble sound ballance



Not only a matter of natural explosions !

How to listen to the ”Dynamic Range” ?

You will hear powerfull & dramatic effects

Also dynamics of instruments, Start & stop



How to listen to the ”Dynamics” ?

You will hear instruments in the

Neutal sound Very high volome And still you can hear the dynamics og the drums and guitar



How to listen to the ”Details” ?

You will hear instruments in the

Neutal



How to listen to the ”Natural reproduction” Sounds like ”live”, from the 12th row



HiFi Glossary

How to describe the sound quality of a HiFi system ?

Simple glossary of 75 subjective/ objective audio terms

Audio / HiFi listening is subjective

The glossary should help us:

Understanding each other

Make it easier to discuss sound

Avoid saying ”I do not like this sound” or ”It sounds fine”.


HiFi Glossary A Accuracy:

Reproduction of what is on the recording. Might not be the original sound

Acoustical space:

A feeling of a large recording room / hall

Agressive sound:

Reproduction that are too forward and bright

Airy sound:

Delicate, open and unrestricted, extended treble reproduction

Aliveness:

Gives an impression of the performer being located in the listening room in front of you


HiFi Glossary A-B Ambience:

Perceived impression of the acoustic space from the recording hall

Analytical sound:

Very detailed reproduction, almost ”too detailed”

Attack:

Ability of reproducing the sound of an instrument being blown or struck with natural dynamics

Attack transient:

Initial energy pulse of an instrument, like piano wire

Balance (tonal):

Relative volume of different instruments in a playing group


HiFi Glossary B-C Body of sound:

The characteristic sound of the materials used in the instrument

Boomy bass:

Exaggeration of midbass, or dominance of narrow range of bass frequencies

Boxy sound:

Describes upper-bass/lower midrange with excess cabinet wall resonances

Bright sound:

Sound with a hard and crisp edge in the 4.000 – 8.000Hz. band. Most live recordings sounds bright

Center stage:

The sound you hear in the middle, between the speakers


HiFi Glossary C Clean sound:

A sound quality free from any distortion

Clinical sound:

Sound quality being ”clean” but not involving the listener at all

Closed sound:

Lacking delicacy, openness, air and micro details. (>10.000Hz.)

Cold sound:

Excessive upper-range and weak lower range output

Coloration:

Audible ”fingerprint” on the sound quality of a system

Control:

The sound is tight, detailed and focussed


HiFi Glossary D Dark sound:

Warm and rich sound. Less output at upper frequencies

Dead sound:

Sound quality is dull and lifeless

Deep bass:

Sounds below 40Hz. (Sub bass)

Definition:

Enables you to distinguish between many different voices

and / or instruments

Depth (of image):

Listening through and behind the speakers. Not to them

Details:

Most delicate part of the sound reproduction. Easy to loose


HiFi Glossary D-E Distortion:

Unintended change in sound. Fuzzy, harsh or rough sound

Dull sound:

Lifeless sound. Rolloff starting at 5.000Hz

Dynamic sound:

Punchy and fast reproduction with big volume contrasts

Dynamic range:

The audible difference between no signal and the highest peak volume reproduced with no distortion

Echo effects:

Repetition of sound due to reflections from the recording room

Extreme hights:

Audible frequency range above 10.000Hz.


HiFi Glossary F-H Fast reproduction:

Impression of fast reaction time, to follow the recorded signal

Fat sound:

Exaggeration of the mid- and upper bass sound. Very ”warm”

Flat sound:

Lacking soundstage depth. Same distence to all instruments

Focus:

Clearly defined and sharp sound image. Silence between music impulses

Forward sound:

Instruments reproduced closer to you than recorded

Hard sound:

Normally a small increase in frequencies of apx. 6.000Hz.


HiFi Glossary H-L Harsh sound:

Very unpleasant sound to listen to

Hole in the middle:

Weak reproduction of center images. (out of phase ?)

Inner detail:

Sub details within a complex recorded signal

Involvement:

Degree of a listener drawn into the performance, emotionally

Laid back reproduction:

Reproduction with exaggerated depth of image

Loose bass:

Badly controlled and ill defined bass reproduction


HiFi Glossary L-M Low bass:

Frequency range 20-40Hz.

Lower highs:

Frequency range 1.300 – 2.600Hz.

Lower mid range:

Frequency range 160-320Hz..

Low frequency:

Any frequency below 160Hz..

Mid bass:


Middle highs:

Frequency range 2.600-5.000Hz.


HiFi Glossary M-P Mid range:

Frequency range 160-1.300Hz.

Nasal sound:

Reproduction of human voices sounding like nose is blocked

Neutral sound:

Free from any coloration, realistic reproduction

Open sound:

Feeling of delicacy, air and details. Like no upper freq. limit

Out of phase:

One channel being in oposite polarity of the the other channel. Sounds like reduced bass. Strange sound image

Pinpoint imaging:

Focused, stable and very precise stereo image reproduction


HiFi Glossary R-S Ringing effect:

The audible effect of any resonance

Slow sound:

Impression of slow reaction, like lacking behind the recorded signal

Smooth sound:

Sound with no irritating qaulities. Easy to listen to. Not involving.

Soundstage presentation:

Accuracy in presenting size, shape, and acoustic characteristics of the recording room and the positioning of the performers in it

Spacious sound:

Reproduction of a broad panorama of ambience, wider than the distance between the stereo speakers


Stereo imaging:

Reproduction of stable image, correct localization and with

Sweet sound:

High frequency reproduction being smooth, soft and delicate

Sweet spot:

The optimal listening position giving the best sound stage

Thin sound:

Low volume reproduction of low frequencies below 500Hz.

Tight bass:

Well controlled, fast and natural bass sound

Tonal quality:

The accuracy of the inner sound of the original instruments

HiFi Glossary S-T


Transparency:

Listening ”through” the system to the original sound

Upper bass:


Upper highs:

Frequencies from 10.000 – 20.000Hz.

Upper midrange:

Frequency range 650-1.300Hz.

Warm sound:

Warmth is a normal part of musical sound reproduction

Woolly sound:

Too loose and badly defined bass reproduction

HiFi Glossary T-W


Hear the grass grow Trained HiFi enthusiasts can ”hear the grass grow”

They have had HiFi as their main hobby for years.

This have trained them to hear any difference

Its all a matter about training & motivation.

....and experience from live concerts.

Live music is the ultimate sound reference.

Everybody can listen like this, but you need

some tools.


Listening to speakers How to compare speakers:

1. Set up the two pairs of speakers

2. Find the ”Sweet” Spot and adjust the speakers accordingly

3. Connect the speakers to the same amp. and CD player

4. Make sure the volume of both speakers are the same

5. Play a few tracks / discs to find a realistic volume level

6. Play some well known music to get the first impression

7. Make many A/B tests* using different test tracks

8. Start to focus on different aspects of the reproduction

9. Start to identify the differences

10. Discuss which difference is the most natural and realistic


A/B testing *A/B test set up:

B BA A How to compare:

1.) Listen to apx. 1,5 min of a track on A

2.) Listen quickly to the same 1,5 min on B

3.) Repeat 1.) and 2.) until you identify the difference

Get familiar with A Get familiar with B


Sound demonstration

How to make a good sound demonstration?

Practical listening

….again and again


Good and bad software

What is good music?

It is music you like to listen to. Music you will enjoy.

It all depends on:

Personal taste

The performance of the artist(s)

The rythm and the melody

The quality of the recording, mics, mixers, mixing etc.


Good and bad software What is a good demonstration disc ?

It is a perfect high quality recording with lots of dynamics, a natural sound, depth of image and plenty of music details

Idealy the music is well known by the dealer / consumer so that they can relate to it

The music must give you some kind of ”Live feeling”

Music with human voice(s)

Music matching the speakers / amps /CD player you do want to demonstrate / sell => compensate imperfections in the HiFi system with the oposite imperfections of the music recording.

Good luck and please enjoy!

harman academy december 2008 how to listen 1. © 2008 harman international industries, incorporated....

Documents

good sound demonstration

good listenershearing

sound pressures

harman academy

good hearing capabilitiesbut

quality of music reproduction

music speakers

listenthe way