The top 3% in quality audio and phototography

[Brad_]

Frequencies only beat to the extent there's a non-linear process involved. Keep your amp

linear and/or limit the bandwidth - no problem. Extending the bandwidth is silly and

asking for problems - unless your goal is to entertain dogs and bats.

[b_kosoff]

I think the anaolgy between high end stereo and high end camera gear is off.

The quality range of the results is far greater in audio than it is is photo gear, if

you keep it within a given format size. As an example, a very high end

camera i.e. Leica versus a mid fi camera like a mid priced Nikon, Canon,

Minolta etc, is going to have a slightly higher image quality, where as a high

end stereo system will just blow away a midpriced one. If you compare the

image quality of a digi cam to an 8x10, it's a whole other story, but it's not an

apple to apple comparison. Also a stereo system is far more of a system than

a camera system is, there are far more links along the audio playback chain

that affect sound quality than there are links in the photo chain.

 

Many pro photographers I know, myself included are or were, into high end

audio gear. maybe it's just that many photogs appreciate technology or tend

to seek perfection in things. Most of these same photogs I know also have the

best photo gear.

 

Regarding the $5 cable in the studio and the $500 cable in the listening room.

It;'s true that many recording studios use cheap cables. But that does not

mean that expensive cables on the listening end are a waste. All audio

components, from the microphone in the studio to the speakers in the

listening room, act as filters. The cheap cable in the studio may only be

allowing 60% of the sound to pass through. If you then use a very high

quality cable in the playback you may be able to hear ALL of that 60%.

However if you use another pair of low quality cables, you may reduce the

final sound quality even further. 60% of 60% of 100%. = 36%. So high end

cables do make a difference and if you've ever heard a good audiophile

recording, on a great system, you'd understand just how good a stereo

system can sound.