OUR KEYBOARDS - ARE THEY HIFI ?

[♔Chello]

OUR KEYBOARDS - ARE THEY HIFI ?

Now I am probably repeating myself, but this is not due to incipient dementia - a different approach may be appropriate from time to time.

From the time I was 3-4 years old, I have been obsessed with HiFi - high fidelity reproduction of music.

Early on I started experimenting with bass and treble controls, because I heard details in the bass and treble that were too weak and needed to be amplified.

The fact that these details were too weak was due to two factors:
Our hearing has a drop of -20dB at the outer edges of the frequency range, which means that the real frequency range most people (the lucky ones) perceive is between 35Hz - 14kHz.
Many people only hear 40Hz - 8 to 10kHz.
I hear from 8Hz to 25/30kHz. Or better. 

Most speakers also have a drop of -20dB at the outer edges of the frequency range - it is VERY difficult to find units that reproduce with a rectilinear dB curve from 20 to 35Hz and 17 to 20kHz.

From digression to theme:
I have always envied recording studios for their access to master recordings - imagine if we as HiFi enthusiasts had access to this..!

Hey; stop a bit - as keyboardists we have access to an infinite amount of master recordings, because all sounds are very elaborate studio recordings made with several microphones, so that all sounds retain their natural atmosphere (ambience).
We actually have an 8-track sound studio with all kinds of mixing options at our disposal.

In addition, we Korgies can adjust the amount of ambience for AMB and RR drum sets as we wish, which is the real ambience (Real as Korg calls it, and Genuine as I call it).
No cheating with artificial ambience (reverb) for me, thanks - after all, I'm a HiFi freak and want the real thing. 

So a keyboard is more HiFi than most recordings available to HiFi freaks - the freaks should perhaps consider getting a keyboard to enter the master section of audio recordings..?

[⚅Graham UK]

Your article has triggered my brain. 
We experimented mounting Tannoy Dual Concentric drive units in a pair of Transmission Line Cabinets.

I mention this on one of my evening microphone sales visits to BBC (British Broadcasting Company).
They requested another visit this time with the Transmission Line-Tannoys.
A number of engineers attended and we spent most of the evening listening through their high quality BBC recordings. 
A one off experience and a night to remember.

[♔Chello]

Your article has triggered my brain. 
We experimented mounting Tannoy Dual Concentric drive units in a pair of Transmission Line Cabinets.

I mention this on one of my evening microphone sales visits to BBC (British Broadcasting Company).
They requested another visit this time with the Transmission Line-Tannoys.
A number of engineers attended and we spent most of the evening listening through their high quality BBC recordings. 
A one off experience and a night to remember.

Glad I was able to trigger your already active brain, Graham.

Tannoy was ahead of its time with many things, but I didn't know about their Dual Concentric drive.
I have a pair of full range Seas which are Dual Concentric drive.

I have been listening to BBC recordings since I was 17, because they are considered the best in the world.
Thanks for your addition.

[⚅Graham UK]

https://www.tannoy.com/innovation/Dual-C...ology.html

Dual Concentric Driver Technology

Unlike ordinary drive units, Dual Concentric is two drivers physically merged into one. The high frequency unit is positioned on the back of the low frequency driver so that they are effectively on the same axis.

Unfortunately Tannoys are the speakers I missed out on and if I had my time again I would use them.
Dual Concentric provided ideal Phasing between Main Unit & HF
They were also very effcient so easy to drive.

[♔Chello]

https://www.tannoy.com/innovation/Dual-C...ology.html

Dual Concentric Driver Technology

Unlike ordinary drive units, Dual Concentric is two drivers physically merged into one. The high frequency unit is positioned on the back of the low frequency driver so that they are effectively on the same axis.

Unfortunately Tannoys are the speakers I missed out on and if I had my time again I would use them.
Dual Concentric provided ideal Phasing between Main Unit & HF
They were also very effcient so easy to drive.

Thanks for the interesting link.
My Seas works in the same way, and the perspective is nailed down with a breadth and precision that is impossible with multi-way systems.

About 20 years ago I invented another way to achieve the same thing by making a dipole membrane - a frame over which I stretched a thin plastic film, which was mounted on the front of the speaker.

In this way, my then 3-way system got a common membrane - no matter where you listened, all units were heard.
Phase problems was non-existent.

I'm going to do the same on my main speakers soon, because this works absolutely fantastic; my horn tweeters have already been given such a frame with plastic foil, and the effect is formidable.