[s-cars] AUDIophile! Stereo Options?

[Lee Levitt]

Bob writes:
>
> >  Please, I'm not trying to be my usual smart-ass self.  I have a
> >  serious question.
> >
> >  Is the interior of your car quiet enough to permit serious listening
> >  pleasure?  I'm positive mine isn't for a couple of reasons.  First,
> >  I'm nearly deaf as a post so almost nothing will help me enjoy
> >  music.  Second, background noise certainly can't help.  Unless maybe
> >  you're sitting in a parked car while listening to your stereo.
> >
> >  So, why build a super sound system?

Bob,

You're both right and wrong. :)

I'd consider myself an audiophile...worked in the business many years 
ago and have assembled a pretty nice sound system over the years - Adcom 
separates, Adcom CD player, Nak tape, B&O linear tracking turntable, B&W 
speakers...I've always wanted a pair of Magneplanar speakers, but have 
never had the room appropriate for them. I also built one good (not high 
end) car stereo, back in the late '80s -- ADS separates (both speakers 
and multiple amps), and an Alpine head unit. It cranked. :)

On to your question. The noisy car environment is awful for critical 
listening. Not to mention that the environment has other requirements, 
like paying attention to the countryside that's whizzing by at 65 mph, 
and the latte in the cup holder.  Turn up your stereo and you're 
unlikely to hear the ringing cellphone or the warning from the V1.

So, no, it's not an ideal place to audition a critically acclaimed 
recording of a string quartet.

On the other hand, because of the confined environment, with mix of 
reflective and absorbing surfaces, it's a pretty good place to, um, rock 
out. You're also typically alone in the car, with no neighbors to bang 
on the door or the ceiling, asking you to "turn it down."

For a relatively small investment in car audio, say $2K-$3K, you can get 
a great sounding system. That same investment in a home system will get 
you a *piece* of a system -- maybe speakers, or an am/pre-amp combo, a 
good CD player...but not a complete system.

So if you want thump in your trunk, go for the car audio. If you want 
the finest in a listening experience, stay home. :)

If your budget allows, do both!

Just my .02.

Lee