The Top Ten Assumptions Every Audiophile Makes

Let's see here...let's ask a better question. How many assumptions do you make every time you flip the switch on your stereo? Let's start at the very beginning and see.

1. You assume that when you turn on the switch to your stereo, there will be proper electrical power already already going into your home (here proper means just enough electrical voltage and current to operate your equipment, not the quality of that power).
2. You assume that this power is not diminished between the utility meter, the breaker box, the wall wiring, and finally the outlet into which your stereo is plugged. So whatever power is coming into the house is also available at the wall outlet.
3. You assume that all of your equipment is properly configured from the factory to perform at its highest possible level. Every piece of equipment is tested and wired so that it produces the least amount of electrical interference to anything else connected to it.
4. You assume that you yourself have not built into the electrical and mechanical connections between all of the components in your stereo any issues that could compromise the sound. All of the equipment has adequate power provided to it and that there are no hidden :"gotchas" influencing the power.
5. You assume that your line conditioners, interconnect cables, network connections, and speaker wires are all as good as they can be. You have selected each of these based on personal evaluations and that in the process of your selection the cables themselves have not introduced any issues.
6. You assume that the position of the speakers and equipment in your listening room are optimally configured so as to least interfere with each other. You have taken pains to move your speakers into such a location that it optimally performs in that location and that the location of the equipment in your system does not interfere with this placement.
7. You assume that the furnishings in the listening room are of such that also do not diminish the sound but are rather strategically placed to improve rather than detract from the best sound possible. You have located furnishing away from the speakers and at the opposite end f the room.
8. You assume that the source material you are listening to has been recorded uses the highest quality equipment and the highest possible standards to capture the sound as accurately as possible. You have found several pieces that you are satisfied with or have used recommendations of other experts.
9. You assume that the electronics in your system are capable of faithfully reproducing these signals without significantly altering their content. You have chosen and interchanged equipment is such a way that all pieces perform harmoniously.
10. You assume that you can hear the difference between accurate sound and whatever music is coming from your system. You have a favorite group of instruments and know exactly what they sound like in real life. Your ears are not full of wax and you are not deaf.

Wow! There are a lot of assumptions you've made, or if you haven't you now know that you have. There are more but these are the top ten.

The next series will investigate what these issues are and what you can do about them. Until tomorrow, think about what these really mean to you and how it impacts your system.

Yours for higher fidelity,

Philip Rastocny

I do not use ads in this blog to help support my efforts. If you like what you are reading, please remember to reciprocate, My newest title is called Where, oh Where did the Star of Bethlehem Go? It’s an astronomer’s look at what this celestial object may have been, who the "Wise Men" were, and where they came from. Written in an investigative journalism style, it targets one star that has never been considered before and builds a solid case for its candidacy.

My other titles include:

• Althea: A Story of Love
• Build an Extreme Green Composter
• The Extreem Green Guide to Wind Turbines
• Build and Extreme Green Hot Water Solar Collector
• The Extreme Green Guide to Solar Electricity
• The Extreme Green Guide to Improving Mileage
• Meditation for Geeks (and other left-brained people)
• Build an Extreme Green Raised Bed Garden
• Build an Extreme Green Rain Barrel
• Build an Extreme Green Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
• Extreme Audio 1: House Wiring
• Extreme Audio 2: Line Filtering
• Extreme Audio 3: Chassis Leakage
• Extreme Audio 4: Interconnect Cables
• Extreme Audio 5: Speaker Wires
• Extreme Green Organic Gardening
• Extreme Green Organic Gardening 2012
• The Extreme Green Appliance Buying Guide