Learning, a Major Factor Influencing Preferences for High-Fidelity Systems
Author(s): Kirk, Roger E.
Publication: Volume 5 Number 4 pp. 238-241; October 1957
Abstract: Frequency range preferences of 210 college students for reproduced
music and speech were determined by an A-B-A preference test. Two groups of
subjects then listened to music reproduced over a restricted frequency range
and a relatively unrestricted frequency range, respectively, for six and
one-half weeks. The results of a post-frequency range preferences test
indicate that: (1) learning plays an important role in determining
preferences for sound reproducing systems; (2) continued contact with a
particular system produces shifts in preference for this system; (3) the
average college student prefers music and speech reproduced over a
restricted frequency range rather than an unrestricted frequency range; and
(4) the frequency range preferences of college students are in part a
function of the type of music to which they are listening.


CONCLUSIONS
The average (listener) prefers music and speech reproduced with a restricted
frequency range rather with a relatively unrestricted frequency range. The
amount of frequency range restriction preferred by (listeners) is in part a
function of the type of material to which they are listening.
Learning plays an important role in determining listener preferences for
sound reproducing equipment. Continued contact with a particular system
produces preference for this system. The assumption that the listener's
previous auditory experience does not significantly affect his preferences
for sound reproducing equipment is untenable in 'the light of data presented
by this experiment

Not that I'm *really* a vinyl enthusiast, but doesn't it cover all human
audiable frequencies (and some others besides) or am I missing the point?

The psychological point remains likely, I'm sure people do warm to a
particular sound, like familiar voices.

--
Jim

"Jim H" wrote in message
news
Not that I'm *really* a vinyl enthusiast, but doesn't it cover all
human audiable frequencies (and some others besides) or am I missing
the point?

Vinyl can't cover the full audible frequency range with full dynamic range.
Therefore its not uncommon for vinyl recordings to be rolled off audibly, at
the audible frequency extremes.

The psychological point remains likely, I'm sure people do warm to a
particular sound, like familiar voices.

Thanks for seeing this. Vinyl reproduction is likely to be audibly colored,
and colored in ways that are somewhat consistent and ways that digital
playback is unlikely to duplicate. Digital playback is likely to be
relatively uncolored. So people who can't adjust to digital playback are
likely to have a distaste for all digital playback.

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Jim H" wrote in message
news
Thanks for seeing this. Vinyl reproduction is likely to be audibly
colored,
and colored in ways that are somewhat consistent and ways that digital
playback is unlikely to duplicate. Digital playback is likely to be
relatively uncolored.

N.B - uk.rec.audio colored = coloured.

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Jim H" wrote in message
news
Not that I'm *really* a vinyl enthusiast, but doesn't it cover all
human audiable frequencies (and some others besides) or am I missing
the point?

Vinyl can't cover the full audible frequency range with full dynamic
range.
Therefore its not uncommon for vinyl recordings to be rolled off audibly,
at
the audible frequency extremes.

The psychological point remains likely, I'm sure people do warm to a
particular sound, like familiar voices.

Thanks for seeing this. Vinyl reproduction is likely to be audibly
colored,
and colored in ways that are somewhat consistent and ways that digital
playback is unlikely to duplicate. Digital playback is likely to be
relatively uncolored. So people who can't adjust to digital playback are
likely to have a distaste for all digital playback.



I will agree with this view.

If I listen to vinyl for a few hours, cd sounds thin and tinny. If I listen
to cd for a while, vinyl sounds coloured and distorted. However, once I am
tuned in, vinyl sounds full bodied, detailed and with a wide soundstage. I
can appreciate what vinyl does well. Once tuned in to cd I can appreciate
the clarity of the sound and enjoy every last bit of detail the cd can
offer.

I think people who bash one or the other do not give themselves time to
adjust to the other format. Mind you, I can understand anybody prefering the
warmth and 'life' available on vinyl, that you may not get from a cd player.
I can understand those who prefer the clarity and exactness of a cd player
and can do without that 'life' that some people hear in vinyl.

I tend to like the sound that vinyl can offer. I can forgive the format the
'colour' that it gives music. I hear that colour as vibrancy and ambience -
'life'. I personally don't think cd can convey the same level of 'life' as
vinyl but it does convey the detail very well. Its the level of detail that
cd conveys that 'loses' the life vinyl people are after.

I have a £550 cd player - maybe if I spent a lot more the cd player may be
able to convey what vinyl can now.

MrBitsy.