Listening on the Computer again!

[larryh]

So I have heard we need better cameras or audio recorders, that is probably so, over all I am getting fairly decent recording, by no means perfect. In playback though I thought I might improve the effect by getting different speakers.. I have to small Altec speakers currently. So I go off the walmart, (first mistake) and purchase some bigger Phillips speakers that have a bass response box along with the two speakers. First problem way too many wires an that box had the controls on the side, didn't look very good and where to put it? I ended up with it behind the computer with the two smaller ones to each end of the desk. I anticipated at least some gain in sound quality.. NOT.... I ended up with really shrill and almost toneless sound. It really made me appreciate what these two little Altc speakers were doing. (The Phillips set is going back today).

After I put the Altec's back in place I still didn't like the direct sound here at the chair in front of the speakers due to the high end being so directly aimed at my ears. As reported I had found that listening to a fair set of speakers back away from the computer set up a number of feet made the effect much better. That got me to wondering what would happen if I just turned the little speakers toward the wall an let the sound reflect from there. Its still not perfect but it does make a fairly noticeable difference in the quality of the sound, not so in your ear, as they were before and more like being away from the table.

I am still looking now on line for some small pair of speakers that may have what I am looking for. In a quick look I see they can be quite expensive, but I think you hear what you pay for.

Larry

[XCaptBill]

I run my computer audio from the headphone jack to my 400 Watt Stereo Amp with a Mini Phone Jack to RCA adapter and RCA Noise filter (Gnd Loop Isolator). I watch all of my video and listen to all audio on my stereo. If you don't have a stereo amp and speakers, I bet if you go to garage sales you could find something pretty inexpensive. That's what I did. I bought a Sony amp/receiver with 12 inch Technics speakers for less than $50.

[larryh]

Thanks for the tip but in my home the computer is no where near the stereo amplifier and running wires under the house would be next to impossible since its so low to the ground. I will have to settle for a quality set of speakers at the computer for now. Maybe in some other home someday I could arrange it differently.

Larry

[larryh]

Today I picked up a couple of the smaller Bose computer speakers. I had considered the larger ones but when the fellow played some of the You tube videos I made he said that if it were him he would pick the cheaper pair since the fidelity range from the acoustic machine was only going to be so great no matter which speaker it was on. He felt the smaller ones would do it justice. I just got them hooked up and played a few things. Overall the sound is considerably closer to the actual machine. Some records still seem a bit too reverberant in places, but then they sound that way in my living room so not much one can do about that. I do intend to play the Jacobean machine in my moms larger dining room and compare the results. I think it will be slightly better. I like hearing them in my living room due to its sensitive nature but sitting in the front of it can be too much on some records. I don't get that effect on the Jacobean with more room to expand. Overall I am pleased with the new speakers and also the camera is actually doing a pretty close picture of what it sounds like in person. I am sure a finer recording device would improve it some and maybe some day I can do that. I inquired about that and the fellow suggested the best way is to record it with a separate recording device and then match it up with a photo of the machine. I know some people here have done that. Trouble is I don't understand how all that would work so I may just be stuck with a all in one device, video and audio.

If you don't have a reasonably decent set of computer speakers I can recommend that it will enhance the enjoyment of the recordings for sure.

Larry

[marcapra]

Larry, interesting subject! I never thought of plugging in external speakers to my Imac. The Imac has pretty good sound, but I'm sure a good pair of speakers would sound better. I'm enjoying your library of DD's on Youtube! You have a very diverse collection which shows how diverse Edison records were. They're not all coon songs, Irish lullabies, and barbershop quartets. I particularly like some of the rare things like the Robert Le Diable fantasy and the Lady's Boudoir Suite by B. A. Rolfe.

[larryh]

Marc,

I have always enjoyed many types of music and finding things I never heard before is always a treat to me.. I can recall when I was a teen ager and they had a large book fair in St. Louis which had tons of 78s since everyone was dumping them at that point for L'Ps, I would end up looking for odd classical things and many smart jazz collectors were finding carts of music that today is worth a lot of money. But over time I still enjoy the little oddities that make collecting fun for me. Another place I found a lot of things I never would have otherwise appreciated was the player piano which I had a couple of. Before I was old enough to know what they even were I enjoyed playing the Siegfried highlights on and old push up 65 note player. lots of opera selection rolls had great melodies that latter when I heard the actual records of it made it a much more enjoyable to have heard the previously, and enjoyed pumping away at them.

Larry