Zero Distortion: Visit to Rhapsody Dallas

[Carlos269]

I'm curious, what recording device are you using for your videos?
Best wishes,
Don

What makes you so curious? Is it the great sound?

 

[No Regrets]

What makes you so curious? Is it the great sound?

Your video does sound very good, but you didn't answer my question.

 

[Carlos269]

Your video does sound very good, but you didn't answer my question.

Sometimes my iPhone X and other times an external X-Y microphone. What do you use?

Trust me, the differences are not due to the microphones and recording devices. They are due to the sound of the systems.

 

[PeterA]

If you listen to the two videos of my systems that I posted and then go back and listen to Bonzo’s videos, the differences in texture and the interplay of the musical voices in the sound is pretty apparent. Shockingly so.

No, I will not record those songs. Bob has a phone and recording devices. If he thinks that Bonzo’s videos mischaracterized the sound of these very expensive systems then he can record my songs on his Diesis/Kondo system or on any other of his finest sounding systems to showcase the distinguished sound of his very expensive systems.

Well that is disappointing, Carlos. We know Bob is not going to post any videos of his system because it’s not his thing. Bonzo wrote an interesting report and shared information that we don’t get elsewhere. I appreciate that.

You are the one trying to make a point by introducing a video of your system. I think your argument would be strengthened if you took the time to make a video of the same music to illustrate more clearly what you are trying to show. Of course, you are free to reject the suggestion and do as you please.

Over on the video thread, the most interesting comparisons in my opinion are the ones where everyone posts a video of the same song. A good example is the song “Fever“ by Peggy Lee. There are numerous videos of the same song over a variety of systems.

 

[Carlos269]

Well that is disappointing, Carlos. We know Bob is not goning post any videos of his system because it’s not his thing. Bonzo wrote an interesting report and shared information that we don’t get elsewhere. I appreciate that.

You are the one trying to make a point by introducing a video of your system. I think your argument would be strengthened if you took the time to make a video of the same music to illustrate more clearly what you are trying to show. Of course, you are free to reject the suggestion and do as you please.

Over on the video thread, the most interesting comparisons in my opinion are the ones where everyone posts a video of the same song. A good example is the song “Fever“.

Peter, do you really think that I should take this further? I think that I have made my point. Send me the song you want me to record and I can do that if I remember in one of my upcoming listening sessions. I have nothing to prove here. The videos that Bonzo posted are either representative of the sound of those Diesis/Kondo systems or they are not. The only reason why I posted the videos of my systems is because no one else noticed the issue that I raised, as a matter of fact people were actually commenting on how great the videos sound. We are all at a different stage in the learning curve here and since no one comprehended my original post, I decided to provide a couple of examples that’s all. When I see videos of very expensive systems with superlatives posted I always watch and listen to them for comparisons purposes. The issues with the videos were so obvious to me and apparent that I asked Bonzo to comment on them, which he never did, nor did anyone else. Which makes me wonder what everyone else idea of great sound is.

 

[wil]

Did Ked use some of his primo golden age vinyl in his recordings? I would think that would put a direct comparison to the digital in Carlos’s system at a considerable disadvantage from the start.

 

[Rhapsody]

If you listen to the two videos of my systems that I posted and then go back and listen to Bonzo’s videos, the differences in texture and the interplay of the musical voices in the sound is pretty apparent. Shockingly so.

No, I will not record those songs. Bob has a phone and recording devices. If he thinks that Bonzo’s videos mischaracterized the sound of these very expensive systems then he can record my songs on his Diesis/Kondo system or on any other of his finest sounding systems to showcase the distinguished sound of his very expensive systems.

Chris and I have zero interest in representing our showroom(s) or the products in the showroom via iPhone/Android videos. It's fine that Ked made his videos. No problem with Ked doing so.

We are only interested what it sounds like when sitting in the room and listening. We invite anyone that is interested to schedule an appointment and come in and have listen.

Not at all saying that anyone that likes to compares videos should not do so, it's just not our cup of tea and I personally have no interest in discussing or comparing phone videos.

 

[bonzo75]

Did Ked use some of his primo golden age vinyl in his recordings? I would think that would put a direct comparison to the digital in Carlos’s system at a considerable disadvantage from the start.

i can’t carry my costly LPs on the plane and around, but on the videos are good reissues of Scottish Fantasia and Scheherazade. The Shostakovich is an original decca, not one of decca’s best, but a very good one if not the best of the Shostakovich 5. I have done Shosty shoots

the DGG original source Beethoven is not expensive but very good, all are excellent performances.

 

[Carlos269]

Chris and I have zero interest in representing our showroom(s) or the products in the showroom via iPhone/Android videos. It's fine that Ked made his videos. No problem with Ked doing so.

We are only interested what it sounds like when sitting in the room and listening. We invite anyone that is interested to schedule an appointment and come in and have listen.

Not at all saying that anyone that likes to compares videos should not do so, it's just not our cup of tea and I personally have no interest in discussing or comparing phone videos.

Wise move Bob. I have not solicited videos of the sound in your showrooms. I was more interested in the comments. But I have to be honest, so far I remain unmoved.

 

[Rhapsody]

Wise move Bob. I have not solicited videos of the sound in your showrooms. I was more interested in the comments. But I have to be honest, so far I remain unmoved.

Not a problem Carlos. I am not moved by the videos either. Not even a little bit. The videos sound nothing like it sounds sitting in that particular room. I know as I sat in the room and listened for three full days and nights. Although I was not there there during Ked's visit, so I have no opinion on what it sounded like in the room vs on the videos that he posted.

Unless I hear something in a room, not from a video, I have no comment.

You are always welcome to come for a visit if ever in Dallas.

 

[No Regrets]

Sometimes my iPhone X and other times an external X-Y microphone. What do you use?

Trust me, the differences are not due to the microphones and recording devices. They are due to the sound of the systems.

I don't make videos of my system, so I don't use any recording device... I'll admit that I am technically challenged and wouldn't have a clue how to upload (or is it download) to the youtube platform.

I enjoy the sound of my system and the records that I have... I have nothing to prove to anyone... and anyone is certainly welcome to come for a visit if they would like... providing they don't mind having my Golden Retriever hanging out with us

We as audiophiles, have all heard what kind of differences audio components, circuit topologies, various tubes, cables, etc can have on the sound of a system. So, I don't agree with your statement when you say "Trust me, the differences are not due to the microphones and recording devices."
I am of the belief that if you use a better recording device than a simple iPhone, it certainly should quite likely equate to a better sounding video.

Irregardless, I applaud Bonzo for sharing his thoughts and impressions via written reports as well as videos (even if from just a simple iPhone device), of all of his extensive listening sessions from all over the world, of some mighty fine audio systems that many of us forum members might not ever have the chance to experience for ourselves. This all takes a great deal of time to do; time that he gives freely of himself, in an effort to share the common love of music and high end audio with his fellow forum friends here at WBF. I, for one, truly appreciate his contributions here, and I suspect many others do as well.

Best wishes to all,
Don

 

[Carlos269]

I don't make videos of my system, so I don't use any recording device... I'll admit that I am technically challenged and wouldn't have a clue how to upload (or is it download) to the youtube platform.

I enjoy the sound of my system and the records that I have... I have nothing to prove to anyone... and anyone is certainly welcome to come for a visit if they would like... providing they don't mind having my Golden Retriever hanging out with us

We as audiophiles, have all heard what kind of differences audio components, circuit topologies, various tubes, cables, etc can have on the sound of a system. So, I don't agree with your statement when you say "Trust me, the differences are not due to the microphones and recording devices."
I am of the belief that if you use a better recording device than a simple iPhone, it certainly should quite likely equate to a better sounding video.

Irregardless, I applaud Bonzo for sharing his thoughts and impressions via written reports as well as videos (even if from just a simple iPhone device), of all of his extensive listening sessions from all over the world, of some mighty fine audio systems that many of us forum members might not ever have the chance to experience for ourselves. This all takes a great deal of time to do; time that he gives freely of himself, in an effort to share the common love of music and high end audio with his fellow forum friends here at WBF. I, for one, truly appreciate his contributions here, and I suspect many others do as well.

Best wishes to all,
Don

Don’t loose sight of the fact that this is a forum and discussions & observations are what this website is about. If we refrain from commenting then what value does our participation serve?

 

[Rhapsody]

Actually about 2 years ago I used to post YT videos of my systems all the time. I think there are 100+ on my YT channel. I thought the videos were fun to do. I didn't at the time give much thought about them representing the sound in my room. I knew that it was two totally different things, listening to a video recorded on an iPhone vs sitting and listening in my room. Night and day for me.

I would say that 80% of the music that I listen to has substantial bass in the music. The bass sets the foundation for the midrange and even the high frequencies, soundstaging, layering on the soundstage and dynamics. I get NONE of the same bass on the video recordings that I get when sitting and listening and therefore the video and real room listening are two totally different experiences, but that's just me, not saying it applies to anyone else.

Only after maybe 10 people, I think more told me after seeing my videos and visiting and listening told me to stop posting the videos and they were not even a close resemblance to what it was like listening in my room. So I stopped posting the videos.

I always understood that the videos did not represent the sound in room, but I thought that they were fun and showed the equipment.

When folks start to evaluate the sound of the equipment and systems based on the videos it's not fun anymore for me as I can't comprehend doing this or making sense from it based on my several years of prior experience when I did post the videos.

To each their own....

 

[Carlos269]

Actually about 2 years ago I used to post YT videos of my systems all the time. I think there are 100+ on my YT channel. I thought the videos were fun to do. I didn't at the time give much thought about them representing the sound in my room. I knew that it was two totally different things, listening to a video recorded on an iPhone vs sitting and listening in my room. Night and day for me.

I would say that 80% of the music that I listen to has substantial bass in the music. The bass sets the foundation for the midrange and even the high frequencies, soundstaging, layering on the soundstage and dynamics. I get NONE of the same bass on the video recordings that I get when sitting and listening and therefore the video and real room listening are two totally different experiences, but that's just me, not saying it applies to anyone else.

Only after maybe 10 people, I think more told me after seeing my videos and visiting and listening told me to stop posting the videos and they were not even a close resemblance to what it was like listening in my room. So I stopped posting the videos.

I always understood that the videos did not represent the sound in room, but I thought that they were fun and showed the equipment.

When folks start to evaluate the sound of the equipment and systems based on the videos it's not fun anymore for me as I can't comprehend doing this or making sense from it based on my several years of prior experience when I did post the videos.

To each their own....

So what have you to say of great sounding videos? Look I can see that these posts are your attempt at damage control. You have a large investment and certainly are concerned about the commercial aspects but please don’t underestate just how representative videos are. If I were to get on a plane today and go to your showroom, what do you think? Do you think that I would be impressed by the sound?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Diesis/Kondo violin video:

I don't know the recording, and I have not heard it on a familiar system, so I consider this comment meaningless except in a vacuum (meaning untethered to any familiarity with the original recording or to any experience with the playback of the original recording, how does the digital video recording sound when played back over an iPhone).

With that disclaimer, I think that violin sounds very natural. It is not bright and screechy like we have heard from other violin recordings.

 

[Rhapsody]

So what have you to say of great sounding videos? Look I can see that these posts are your attempt at damage control. You have a large investment and certainly are concerned about the commercial aspects but please don’t underestate just how representative videos are. If I were to get on a plane today and go to your showroom, what do you think? Do you think that I would be impressed by the sound?

No Carlos, you are not correct in your assumption that I am doing damage control. There is no damage to control, other than your comments regarding your home videos vs videos that Ked took. I was discussing my thoughts on videos in general and my experience with videos vs in-room listening.

If people want to judge the sound of the systems that we have set up via videos that is their prerogative, I have no issue with it.

If anyone wants to visit and have a listen for themselves they are always welcome.

We had 35 people for three nights and the comments from those people, although varied, were overwhelming positive. I personally listened to the systems and know that they sound stellar.

The systems at our Dallas location might not be someone's personal favorites, but I know that all the systems AND THE ROOMS at the Dallas location are top tier. imho.

 

[PeterA]

Diesis/Kondo violin video:

I don't know the recording, and I have not heard it on a familiar system, so I consider this comment meaningless except in a vacuum (meaning untethered to any familiarity with the original recording or to any experience with the playback of the original recording, how does the digital video recording sound when played back over an iPhone).

With that disclaimer, I think that violin sounds very natural. It is not bright and screechy like we have heard from other violin recordings.

Ron, I thought you play back these videos over your main system via streaming? How does this one sound on that compared to your idea of how a violin sounds at Disney Hall for instance? I agree the violin does not sound bright and screechy from Ked's video when I listen over computer speakers.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The systems at our Dallas location might not be someone's personal favorites, but I know that all the systems AND THE ROOMS at the Dallas location are top tier.

This is stated correctly. Just because the sound of a particular system is not somebody's personal cup of tea, or does not sound like his/her system at home, does not make that particular system bad or wrong or unnatural.

Carlos, please try to understand this simple point.

 

[itay123]

Actually about 2 years ago I used to post YT videos of my systems all the time. I think there are 100+ on my YT channel. I thought the videos were fun to do. I didn't at the time give much thought about them representing the sound in my room. I knew that it was two totally different things, listening to a video recorded on an iPhone vs sitting and listening in my room. Night and day for me.

I would say that 80% of the music that I listen to has substantial bass in the music. The bass sets the foundation for the midrange and even the high frequencies, soundstaging, layering on the soundstage and dynamics. I get NONE of the same bass on the video recordings that I get when sitting and listening and therefore the video and real room listening are two totally different experiences, but that's just me, not saying it applies to anyone else.

Only after maybe 10 people, I think more told me after seeing my videos and visiting and listening told me to stop posting the videos and they were not even a close resemblance to what it was like listening in my room. So I stopped posting the videos.

I always understood that the videos did not represent the sound in room, but I thought that they were fun and showed the equipment.

When folks start to evaluate the sound of the equipment and systems based on the videos it's not fun anymore for me as I can't comprehend doing this or making sense from it based on my several years of prior experience when I did post the videos.

To each their own....

I very much agree with you

To give an assessment based on a video that, at least in my case, was done at spontaneity as an enthusiasm for sharing,
With such a poor and limited microphone and trying to capture such high dynamic and HIgh quality, setup like mine, for example, this it is impossible,
just happy to share,
The only thing that videos perhaps gives maybe some direction to which ways the setup/result is headed Towards:
the bright, squealing and flawed in realism
Or towards the natural direction, deep dynamic instruments that do not conflict with vocals, tonal balance, magic in sound, emotion and soul.

It's funny that there are people who take videos and judge them as actual results in reality.

I have a feeling that when someone is trying to "engineer" the video with various productions So anxious for its result for him
And is proud of an engineered video he created that is not sure to express what really exists.

And some don't...

I remember Publications of rooms in Munich, which people and visitors were so enthusiastic about and crowned them as the best rooms, and the videos that are leaked to YouTube sound terrible!, is this the reality..?

I do not think so.

 

[bonzo75]

I very much agree with you

To give an assessment based on a video that, at least for me, was done at spontaneity as an enthusiasm for sharing,
With such a poor and limited microphone and trying to capture such high dynamic and HIgh quality, at mine, for example, this it is impossible,
just happy to share,
The only thing that videos perhaps gives maybe some direction to which ways the setup/result is headed Towards:
the bright, squealing and flawed in realism
Or towards the natural direction, deep dynamic instruments that do not conflict with vocals, tonal balance, magic in sound, emotion and soul.

It's funny that there are people who take videos and judge them as actual results in reality.

I have a feeling that when someone is trying to "engineer" the video with various productions So anxious for its result for him
And is proud of an engineered video he created that is not sure to express what really exists.

And some don't...

I remember Publications of rooms in Munich, which people and visitors were so enthusiastic about and crowned them as the best rooms, and the videos that are leaked to YouTube sound terrible!, is this the reality..?

I do not think so.

can we please not have a video pros and cons discussion, there are many, many on this site over the last five years.