Myths of ACK (audiophile common knowledge)

[monkumonku]

In the latest issue of Copper magazine, audio consultant Jim Smith lists several generally accepted audiophile truisms that he says are myths:

• The “rule of thirds” is a great set-up guide.
• Cathedral ceilings provide great sound.
• A wide sweet spot is best for great sound.
• Full range speakers don’t need or work with subwoofers.
• Bass is non-directional, so exact woofer placement and orientation isn’t critical.
• Bass is non-directional, so only one sub is required.
• The best speaker drivers must be low-mass.
• A “fast” bass driver is superior to others.
• The best sounding systems are dead quiet.
• Granite makes a great isolation material.
• Cones & spikes provide isolation.
• Wide dispersion is desirable for consumer audio loudspeakers.
• An equilateral triangle (speakers and listening seat) set-up yields great sound.
• The best bi-amplification is done with transistors on bass, tubes on top.
• Achieving the tightest bass should be your goal.
• Speaker set-up diagrams/guides from various manufacturers will provide the best sound.
• There are several known “good” listening room sizes/dimensions.
• Building a new listening room with a good spread-sheet program will provide great sound.
• If you’re past 50, you can no longer hear well enough to really care about your sound quality.
• And others, equally as revered, and equally as

[ribbonking]

I just finished reading that article as well. Copper Magazine always has some good stuff in it.

What's the old saying? The more you know the more you realize how little you really know.

[Boomzilla]

The National Sciences Research Center of Canada, Bell Telephone Labs, and many other legitimate research centers would violently disagree with dismissing some of those concepts as "myths." So who has more credibility? Well-respected research centers, funded by a combination of audio manufacturers & government / university researchers or "Copper magazine?"

I call (a well-deserved) BS on the list.

[drtrey3]

Certainly some of the myths "debunked" were simply preferences. And most were suggestions.

Trey