Definitive Audio Events

Free Tips & Techniques Seminar #8. High Fidelity Playback for Music and Movies

In this months seminar we will discuss the various technologies that allow Hi Fidelity playback of our favorite music and movies in our homes .

We will start with a basic overview of the history of Hi Fi equipment and discuss how these technologies have evolved and continue to evolve to bring us closer and closer to the music.

We will then take a look into the analog audio circuit and its components. We examine the “single ended” circuit and then compare it with “balanced” and determine what this all means with regard to goose bump quality. We will consider the various “gain stage” devices from vacuum tubes to mosfets, hexfets, bipolar devices and “ThermalTraks”. We will then take a look at the how these devices are applied in our pre-amps, D/A converters and power amps and see if we can “hear” their signatures in these devices by direct comparison.

Next we will turn to the wonderful world of Transduction (speakers man)! We will examine loudspeaker design and its evolution from the early days of the 20th century to what we own today. We will take a look at all of the different technologies that convert electrical signals into jiggling air molecules and investigate in their designs, drivers and enclosures. We will talk about why the different technologies lead to speakers with different virtues or “voices”. Finally, as always, we will get the lead out and see if our ears can “see” what all this jargon is trying to describe.

We will do our best to entertain, educate and fascinate. The pretzels and pop are free as always, as will be the high 5’s for anyone who shows up in a Canadian Hockey jersey.

Two Sessions, Wednesday, March 24th
5:00pm and 7:00pm
Seattle Showroom

The presentations will include:

1. (40 min) Discussion of the basics of the analog circuit.
    a. What does the “signal” look like and where does it come from
    b. What is going on inside your pre-amp, power amp, integrated amp etc.?
    c. What are the various devices used in these components and how do they differ.
    d. When will “analog” go away so that I can listen to my digital recording digitally (trick question)
    e. Lets listen and see what they all sound like (kinda)

15 minute break

2. (40 min) Discussion of the basics of loudspeaker design.
    a. Conventional dynamic drivers
       i. How do they work
       ii. Why are there two or three (as opposed to one or six)
    b. Planar drive loudspeakers
       i. How do they work
       ii. Electrostatic vs. Planar magnetic
    c. Let your ears be the judge (this is becoming a theme)

Cast of Characters:

B&W 803, Ayre VX-5, Audio Research VSi60, Magneplanar MG1.7, Linn LP12, and many many more!

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