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I got an email from… I do not from whom, somebody from internet. The guy sounds like build his home inhalation and considering some bass horns. He read at my site about my midbass horn project. He was inquiring how my midbass horns sound and if it was worth to build them. With all reasonability of his questions I refused to response. Furthered it made to think about the subject more globally, as usually...

What audio people except what they somebody characterization about sound of this or that devise?  The reference points in sound among audio people are so wide and so disconnected. The way how audio people not only think but even to talk about sound are very broad. Even the understanding the definition of “sound good” is very mach wary from audio person to audio person. I intentionally use a colloquialism “audio person” not “a person” as among audio people the diversity of perception is much wider then among regular mammals due to acquired industry aberrations.

So, what my accidental correspondent was asking? How my midbass horns sound and if worth to pursuit that project? How can I characterize the sound of my midbass horn to a person about whom I have no idea and who has no idea about me. I can talk about specific particularity of sonorities in Bruckner and how room might be fulfilled by horn midbass.  However, it might be very much not something that somebody else would looking and I know it is the fact as I any other midbass horns the I heard did the things other than my horns. Not that my horn are better or worse compare to others but they set to do exactly what they meant to do in context of my room, in context of my listening objectives, reference points and life style. How can I characterize to that internet fellow the sound of my horns not to mention how can I assess if it worth for him to undertake this project?

Probably if case of pre-manufactured cookie-cutter audio systems and for two typical audiophile head-banger who slip with TAS under their pillow it might be possible to ask “how it sounds”. They will wispier to each other the magical and meaningless industry developed words that send to each other subliminal pleasure messages. I do not feel that however that it always possible in case of independent audio development.  The independent audio thinking might be anything, and it might be a nightmare. I have seen a huge number of dependants so-called DIYers who had horrendous sound and absolutely barrack objectives. However, it is very hard to type-cast dependant people if they do not support the mainstream of DIY industry (let face the DIY audio is also the industry with own shepherds and own flock of brain-dead followers).

So, my question to you: what do you expect when you ask or when you are being asked “how that or that component” sound? What techniques you use in order to get the necessary references about your conversation partner in order to get or to give a right characterization of sound?

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