The art of learning

We all like to learn new things as long as those new ideas and concepts don't contradict our worldview. Cross that threshold and we typically recoil at the perceived threat challenging our core beliefs. We might (gasp) have been wrong! We hope that with age comes wisdom and I flatter myself in the belief I have attained at least a modicum of that sought-after virtue. To that end, I seek out new learning that specifically contradicts my core beliefs—secure in the knowledge I can choose to absorb and change, or reject and move on. In my youth I felt far more threatened that once exposed to change I could never recover—like opening Pandora's Box, unable to put back all that waited to escape. It was with eager anticipation I awaited the arrival of REL's John Hunter to demonstrate a radical new way of loudspeakers setup at RMAF. My long-time readers know of my affinity—demand, actually—that no system is complete without a subwoofer. No, it isn't that I must have head-thumping, chest-pounding bass whacks to make my day. Rather it is the firm belief that the missing element of realism in any system can be found in the lowest frequencies supplied by a properly integrated subwoofer. And, for my money, REL is the best. We hadn't yet figured out the main speakers and Hunter recommended the Focal Sopra No. 3 (combine Sopra and No. to get soprano) which we readily agreed to. Set up day arrived along with John and two assistants. He asked for the room to be cleared except for engineer Darren Meyer and myself to watch the four-hour process of getting everything to snap into place. It was different than anything I had ever seen and I still don't know enough to explain it to you. What I can relay is the end-product was extraordinary. The system I use to set up speakers is rather conventional: place them 1/3 in from the front wall, not too far apart, no toe-in, and massage until tonality and soundstage are as good as possible. John's system wasn't even remotely similar. With the subwoofers off and the right speaker shoved out of the way (but still active) he spent nearly an hour wrangling the left into position based solely on the pluck of a bass note from a track by Jennifer Warnes. Millimeters mattered on this single speaker. Once anchored, the right speaker was moved into position and another hour passed before he was happy with the bass plucks! Subs were the last to be integrated (as is proper) and magic happened right in front of my eyes and ears. I don't know that we've ever had a system sound that good at a trade show. Clearly, I have much to learn.