Jim Smith • Get Better Sound Audio System Setup Manual
In the seemingly never ending quest to improve the sound quality of our audio systems, us audiophiles will spend thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars on new components in the pursuit of sonic perfection. We spend large sums of money on turntables, cartridges, amplifiers, speakers, and so on, but rarely do we pause to think about how to maximise the sound quality of the gear we already have. Of course, the gear is indispensable—our enjoyment from recorded music would be pretty limited without a system on which to play it!—but shouldn’t we do more to make the most of what we have? Jim Smith thinks so, and his book, Get Better Sound, describes how to do just that.
Not necessarily intended to be read from cover to cover, Get Better Sound is an audio system set up reference manual, containing 202 tips in 23 chapters. The first four chapters contain basic background information, including discussions about how to become a better listener and what to look for in a musically satisfying system, considerations for our music rooms (which are arguably the most important component in our audio systems), and a look at the needs of a home theatre vs those for a stereo system (although the book is written primarily for stereo systems, much of the material is relevant for home theatres).
Subsequent chapters cover topics such as why it is better to have two subwoofers rather than one, the effects of room layout and acoustic treatments, tips on how to get rid of unwanted pollution on your AC lines and perform equipment comparisons, and a couple of chapters on various “thinking points”, some of which are considered to be controversial (e.g., tube vs solid state, long interconnects vs long speaker cables, and whether or not cables make a difference).
There are two full chapters dedicated to speaker and room set up, and a separate chapter for those audiophiles using panel speakers. The book also contains two chapters on set up tools (one for free or inexpensive tools, and one for semi-pro tools), and chapters discussing various topics such as bi-amplification; that bane of musical enjoyment, compression; and basic trouble shooting. There’s also a brief chapter on tuning one’s vinyl playback rig. Finally, the book contains Smith’s reference CD list, and a comprehensive glossary.
Written in a light, chatty manner, Smith makes the material accessible to just about everyone. Technical mumbo jumbo and jargon are kept to a minimum, and numerous illustrations are spread throughout the book to help make the author’s point. One small criticism I would make is that I found some of the material presented in an almost random order. For example, rather than presenting them sequentially, there are seven chapters between the two chapters on set up tools.
In Get Better Sound, Smith distills information gleaned from his more than 35 years of system set up, tuning thousands of audio systems (including several that won accolades for “Best Sound of Show”). It’s probably true that experienced audiophiles will benefit less from this book than newcomers (I knew much of the information it contains, although I will admit that even I learned a thing or two!), but even so I think there’s something for almost every audio enthusiast in it. Given that it costs less than a new audio component—even many accessories—and especially considering Smith’s 90-day money back satisfaction guarantee, a recommendation for Get Better Sound is almost mandatory! To further sweeten the deal, purchasers of Get Better Sound receive a free subscription to Smith’s quarterly newsletter, Quarter Notes.
Get Better Sound
Jim Smith
Quarter Note Press, 2008
xxii + 293 pages, $44.50 (paperback), $64.50 (hardback)
ISBN 978-0-9820807-0-2
www.getbettersound.com