Audio Engineering Society AES New York 2013

AES New York 2013
Workshop W21

Wednesday, October 16, 5:00 pm — 7:00 pm (Room 1E10)

W21 - Lies, Damn Lies, and Audio Gear Specs

Chair:
Ethan Winer, RealTraps - New Milford, CT, USA
Panelists:
Scott Dorsey, Williamsburg, VA, USA
David Moran, Boston Audio Society - Wayland, MA, USA
Mike Rivers, Gypsy Studio - Falls Church, VA, USA

Abstract:
The fidelity of audio devices is easily measured, yet vendors and magazine reviewers often omit important details. For example, a loudspeaker review will state the size of the woofer but not the low frequency cut-off. Or the cut-off frequency is given, but without stating how many dB down or the rate at which the response rolls off below that frequency. Or it will state distortion for the power amps in a powered monitor but not the distortion of the speakers themselves, which of course is what really matters. This workshop therefore defines a list of standards that manufacturers and reviewers should follow when describing the fidelity of audio products. It will also explain why measurements are a better way to assess fidelity than listening alone.

Excerpts from this workshop are available on YouTube.


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