GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Macondo’s lowest channel.

Post Subject: Further thoughts about ULF channel.Posted by Romy the Cat on: 3/10/2011

Me being exuberant about the new ULF capacity does not necessarily mean that ULF contribution is right and proper, let me to explain.

There is a musical event that has it sonic representation. This sonic representation better or worst was captured by recording and it is somehow presented as sound of playback. ULF channel, in my view, is about creation of conditions when sound of playback heard in more attractive and more communicable way. I still insist that sound of playback without ULF is more proper representation of original sound. ULF channel is more about compensation of problem with recording media, it is very effective, very impactful and unquestionably beneficial, but it not part of “original reality”, rather it is part of “assisted reality”. Again, it is all about the question if you wools like to be right or happy…

So, dealing with ULF channel is about of dealing with own since of self-moderation. For an audio person to play with a capable ULF is the same as for recovering alcoholic to run a liquor store. I do not feel that I was out of control what I got my ULF channel to work properly but I need to admit that not I am running my ULF at minus 9dB in compare what where I was at the very first day.

There is another very important aspect that I never seen anybody ever covered. As I said the adjustability of ULF is not the same as adjustability of bass and the adjustability of ULF with respect of music being played is not a bad thing. However, there is a twist in it. When I adjust my ULF level I very likely moderate the problem that given recording has at ultra low frequencies. Truly the sub 20Hz is a big mystery in recording possess.

Microphones, cables, electronics and many other things do work at 20Hz but HOW they work. No one even take critical what is going on in there. The LP format has RIAA curves that were specified down to 29Hz only. Digital has to be ULF flat but there is so much more then flatness. I would not be surprise if we learn that at 20Hz playback has absolutely insane amount of distortions that would not be tolerable at higher frequencies. What you get a CD then can you tell me what quality of sound it has at 20Hz. We usually think about 20Hz as sufficient amount of bass, the bass quantity but it has absolutely nothing to do with amount or quantity but with quality of the 20Hz sound. Who has option to evaluate and to moderate it? I do not think the people do have that option at large and I think that 20hz that we have on our media are RANDOM QUALITY 20HZ. Therefore I feel that an adjustment of 20Hz ULF is a reasonable tool to have. There are problems with ULF adjustment as the quantity AND quality of ULF are in direct relation with amount of HF that system can out but it is a whole another subject.

I think playing ULF is in way similar with my recent search for proper cable that would connect my preamps with my ULF power amp. I do have a number of very good cables but none of them work acceptable in my view of the channel produce ULF and nothing else. The “best for bass” cables just produce larger output in ULF but larger output is soothing that is absolutely irrelevant to me. I need specific sonic characteristic of ULF cable but the cables that I tried juts did not have it. Ironically I run as ULF cables a cheap regular plastic cable that usually people trash away, the cable has the least bass but the more proper ULF in my view, at least among the cables that I had and I am still looking for better ULF cable. This is what I call “random result” – try o call to a manufacture and ask how his cables sound at 20Hz if you do not care about amplitude. They just do not know and most of them would not even understand what you are asking. I think the very same situation exists at CD/LP or whatever other format: the people who produce and record music might not know the true capacity of ULF information that their recordings have.

The Cat

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