Heathrow show.....

and finally, the arm....

 

WM - usually I have a real problem with high-end sound, most of which sacrifices any sort of musical coherence and timing on the alter of detail and soundstage, often with a bit of miss-placed dynamics thrown in. I thought the dCS system had a good stab at playing the music, not perfectly: a little bass lag (I'd have moved those speakers further into the room) and I felt sure the conditioning and elephant trunk cabling hindered more than helped. They also felt obliged to play Dire Staits but were willing to play Jason's CDs (a mixed blessing, obviously). From my pov this is a relative thing - to date I'd only heard dCS sounding horrid.

PS another problem is image size - I can't remember which system it was but it was very expensive and the bloke singing, although perfectly placed, was about 90 foot tall.

 

Thanks Alex fair comments, for me point number one is Muscial Coherence, if it can't manage that, then the rest does not follow for me.
The Varites have revieced mixed reviews and timing/intergration has been mentioned before. Tone

 

Yes i did notice a lack of lily pond leaves to sit on
RIVIT!

 

So everything sounded shite then. I guess the day out was a real waste of time overall. Best to go back next year, just to make sure.

 

Alex, you have become RG.

 

What is musical Coherence?

 

Something hifi systems cannot achieve, total intergration of the musical programe.

 

I didn't ask or care what or who can ('t) do it?
I asked what it is?
I just wondering what you're talking about.

Give me and Alex a (or your) definition of musical coherence.

 

For me, its all the bits sounding like they're in the right place, right scale, right volume at the right time. Probably means I meant what's known as 'integration'.

This is why someone like Coltrane is a good test, with good systems (for me) communicating the interplay between musicians. Its surprising how many expensive systems can't do this, wallowing about disjointedly.

I think Tony thinks much the same although we seem to disagree about what does it and what doesn't - eg. dCS, Heed, I thought did, he thought didn't.

 

Are you sure you mean the same as Tony?

 

No. But however clumsily put, that's what I mean.

 

Did Tony write somewhere what he means by musical Coherence?

 

No, he didn't, because it's "fairies at the bottom of the garden" stuff, as seen in all good glossy hi-fi mags, with a "plus" in their title.

 

Coherent?

Its clearly explained on Coherent Systems' "About" page:

"Our goal is a totally coherent presentation of the music. Not just the traditional style of Imaging, instrument placement & openness. Nor just the 'Full on' forced reproduction typical of some other manufacturers either - our aim is to provide a new audio experience which encompasses both richness of texture and precision.

Coherent Systems give you just that - a musical presentation that combines the best of both worlds. Our cables deliver a totally cohesive presentation that marries not just the Pace, Rhythm and Timing aspects but also more fundamental traits too. Whichever of our cables you choose, Coherent offer a timbral accuracy, focus, staging and depth with a natural flowing pace that is neither forced nor mechanically contrived."

 

Whoever wrote that was obviously paid by the buzzword.

Seriously, it's not very clear to me. Is Tone trying to say his cables pass the full signal?

 

Markus, no he's not I've used the buzz word as you put it Coherence, way before the company was formed.

Symantec's are one thing, doing the biz is another.
The ability for a system to portray the music in a totally together fashion, focused and coherent, not disassembled or out of time, or spread across the stage were they aren't meant to be.
The bass/Rhythm lines should be totally together with the rest music, NO LAG or disjointedness, the relationship between the bands players should be absolute and totally as one NO exceptions. (unless there's a solo going on ) else the system has failed in its ability to recreate the music IMO.
No matter how good the bass/treble or imaging.
The more coherent the sound IMO the better the portrayal of the music.
I'm sure Henry can put it into words better than I today.
Alex has hit most of it on the head, however I'm even more absolute in this area.
I won't tolerate a sound which isn't totally together & complete, given in a way which gives involvement and that being there Real feel of an intimate 200 blues club or a 5000 seat venue.
I really have yet to hear any 'expensive system' do this yet including some rather silly $£$£ ones.
Sure they do monster scale, great dynamics, serious bass both in extension and room filling power, with delicacy of a velvet pillow, sweet treble and life like mid band textures for sure, but that's not what its about for me
Neither is it solely about PRaT either, sure quite a few system groove no problems, yet the are devoid of the real textures, true extension and openness and detail.
The ability to portray the instruments in their own CORRECT space, not artificially stretched. and true top to bottom cohesion of sound, never favouring one section of the audio spectrum to display preference over another.
Oh its got to have involvement, which IME makes a natural appearance as the above traits materialise.
To give a focussed and integrated sound for all forms of music.
I'm very pedantic on this particular issue, and won't be swaged. T.

 

Guys, what is this? Pick-on-Tony day?

 

No Sweat Dev

 

Yeah Tony - Its your fault my shoe lace snapped this morning! harumph.