THE LOWDOWN ON HI-FI
Isaak Koh
Sony, Aiwa, Kenwood, Pioneer, Panasonic, Technics and JVC--these are the commonnames that most people mention when they talk about hi-fi. Ask about the true component systems, and one may as well be discussiong quantum physics. It is surprising how Singaporeans continue to expend large amounts of money on tall stacks of compact discs, and spend only a modicum on the sound reproduction equipment itself. Reasons range from total ignorance to the "too cheem" argument, to the most singul word in the Singaporean dictionary--EXPENSIVE. Learning the truth about hi-fi equipment and the great benefits of seperate components could just persuade you, the average music listener, to invest a portion of your hard0earned cash into a basic, true hi-fi system.
TECHNOLOGICAL GOBBLEDYGOOK
Hi-fi is an abbreviation of "High Fidelity," meaning that the sound coming out of the speakers should be as close as possible to the original sound recorded on the source medium. Today, the source medium of choice for the vast majority of music listeners is the Compact Disc, due to its long lifespan and accurate storage of data. Its portability and resistance to fungal growth add to its advantages over older source technology, such as the vinyl record and the Compact Cassette. The advertising slogan "Perfect Sound Forever," which heralded the arrival of the CD, was a big lie. The intervening electronic devides that read the data off the disc and converted them into sound waves proved to be just as important as the recording format. In short, poor equipment will make the disc sound dull and uninspiring, while a good system will enhance the pleasure derived from listening to that very same disc.
FEATURES VS. PURITY.
What is so bad about those all-in-one sound systems, one might ask. These integrated machines seem to provide everything that a music lover could want--CD payer (sometimes multiple CD changers), radio tuner, double cassette decks, dynamic equalizer, and even karaoke (if you are into that sort of thing)--all in a convienient package and at a reasonable price. The problem with these "mini hi-fi" systems is that the manufacturers scrimp on quality when it comes to crucial components, which of course keeps costs down. Instead, they focus on providing the average consumer (who probably only has the vaguest ideas about hi-fi) with flashy displays and a plethora of superfluous functions that are meant to impress visually and to enhance the "whizbang" factor." This type of marketing philosophy results in serviceable audio products that compromise on the thing that matters most: the sound. To the manufacturer, it is easy to add a myriad of functions to an audio product, but it is difficult to improve the quality of the sound without additional cost.
DEDICATION, DEVOTION.
Dedicated hi-fi manufaacturers adopt a back-to-basics approach and devote meticulous attention to the accuracy of the sound reproduction capilities of the product. The main objective of these companies is to make audio equipment that recreates the sound from the source medium as faithfully as possible to the moment of recording. This purist approach results in the removla of almost all gimmicky features that add little to listening pleasure anyway. Although hi-fi seperates appear feature-poor, all adequate functions are catered for. This is also the reason for the seperation of primary functions into isolated components: CD player, amplifier, cassette recorder, etc. This is to prevent seperate components from introducing interference into one another that might compromise the sound quality.
CAVIAR, ANYONE?
That is not to say that all mini hi-fi systems provide poor sound. Some
of them are competent and mostly adequate for everyday use, but
they are clearly inferior to seprates. These packages naturally score
high on convenienve, features and price, but if you really enjoy your music, seperates are really the only way to go. Buy seperates and listen to your music with a new pair of ears.
Next week: How to put together an inexpensive seprates system.
Isaak Koh is currently listening to six of Hayden's lost symphonies over and over again. He is also trying to make sense of them.