Reverber- rate or hate? - Trying out an 1980s HiFi Reverb Amp

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 เม.ย. 2016
  • In this video I'm trying out a Reverberation amplifier to see if it's something I need in my HiFi.
    You can find Reverb Amps on eBay goo.gl/9OADvu
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    All links are Affiliated where possible.
    When you click on links to various merchants posted here and make a purchase, this can result in me earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network & Amazon.
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    Techmoan can be supported via Patreon - / techmoan
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  • @Techmoan
    @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +379

    For anyone with suggestions about *splitting the audio signal to enable the lights to flash without using reverb* etc - here's my reply to the first comment that mentioned this:
    *"Yes, for a while I was thinking about just running off a tape output to it - but I think I've run out of space. When I do my HiFi reorganisation in a few weeks I want to simplify things down a tad...there's just too much plugged in at the mo."*

    • @audiofiles8239
      @audiofiles8239 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +Techmoan haha, just wanted to suggest. Regards!

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      +audio files seems like people are still posting this same comment....please vote the top comment up and perhaps more people will read it before posting and not think I'm being ignorant and ignoring their comment.

    • @JoRosieQueen68
      @JoRosieQueen68 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Techmoan This sounds perfect for a rock machine for music like (Disturbed-indestructible) or for dubstep(madcatz songs for example),this will do the job for some modern music but done in the classic way of beethoven and motzard.

    • @killerhund2002
      @killerhund2002 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      +Techmoan will you record parts of your HiFi reorganization, because I'm always quite astonished by the pure quantity of your equipment?

    • @gyyv
      @gyyv 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Techmoan Patchbay?

  • @KnapfordMaster98
    @KnapfordMaster98 7 ปีที่แล้ว +158

    5:26 made my day. I love the "cry as much as possible part".

    • @domb2NY
      @domb2NY 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      KnapfordMaster98
      lol I also liked the rant. I think replaying music through any device alters it's original format so there is really no way to purely listen to it unless we are only enjoying the artist with acoustic instruments once and only once

    • @kian8382
      @kian8382 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Wasn't that the puppet talking?

  • @Nostalgianerd
    @Nostalgianerd 8 ปีที่แล้ว +126

    That light display is bloody beautiful.

    • @videouploadsrandom340
      @videouploadsrandom340 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      +Nostalgia Nerd It is just awesome what they created "back in the days" and how boring new hifi tech looks in comparision. That video is the reason why I bought myself a reverber/eq combo.I have a video up on my channel showing the beautiful effect.

  • @grlg2
    @grlg2 7 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    I love the purist rant at 5:25 - brilliant!

  • @TheChipmunk2008
    @TheChipmunk2008 8 ปีที่แล้ว +362

    LMAO High five for the rant about the 'listen to music without any equaliztion' crowd

    • @yuureihaiku
      @yuureihaiku 8 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      God yes, the internet seems to have given these types a platform from which they can look down and hate upon people who do not do things as they deem should be done.

    • @TheChipmunk2008
      @TheChipmunk2008 8 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      +The Anonymous Hiker I understand where they're coming from, but yeesh, he's right, the idea of music is for you to enjoy it. Plus the original use of equalization was to move the sound closer to what was intended by counteracting the acoustics of the room and making up for defects in the reproducing equipment... so these types are actually arguing against themselves

    • @oliverg2082
      @oliverg2082 8 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      +TheChipmunk2008 Exactly. It's one thing to say "Really, you''ll enjoy it more if you get rid of those Beats headphones," but to start being anally retentive and telling people that they are not actually enjoying themselves and listening to it wrong is just sad and frankly, rather tragic.

    • @BilbyBaggins
      @BilbyBaggins 8 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      +TheChipmunk2008 It was perfect... and so precisely British in both subject and presentation. Like a polite Jeremy Clarkson.

    • @Diabolos1
      @Diabolos1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      A proper moaning.

  • @MrBigcityal
    @MrBigcityal 4 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    "Sounds best when turned off" was that in their ad for it ;)

  • @jippalippa
    @jippalippa 8 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    I adore 1980s tech look! So streamlined and elegant! Much better than those rounded-plastic "messes" they produced in the late 90s

  • @XOIIOXOIIO
    @XOIIOXOIIO 8 ปีที่แล้ว +254

    You forgot that you need to blindfold yourself and sit in a sensory deprivation pool to truly appreciate the music.

    • @HunterSkowronPDX
      @HunterSkowronPDX 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      +Jesse why would you need to be blind folded in a sensory deprivation tank?

    • @mipmipmipmipmip
      @mipmipmipmipmip 7 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      Hunter Skowron Indeed, blindfolding doesn't help if you forget to demagnetize your Spotify.

    • @filminginportland1654
      @filminginportland1654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      mipmipmipmipmip lol

    • @lisazoria2709
      @lisazoria2709 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Blindfolded, AND in a sensory deprivation chamber? That's a bit redundant. lol

    • @KX36
      @KX36 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Hunter Skowron and Lisa Zoria
      Why blindfold and sensory deprivation tank? For double blind listening of course ;-)

  • @XavierAncarno
    @XavierAncarno 8 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    I just lost it at the audiophiles disclaimer 😂😂😂

    • @AudioMobil
      @AudioMobil 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Xavier Ancarno Me too...great! :)

  • @Techmoan
    @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +179

    Just in case anyone asks... No, it's not for sale, I'm not in the selling game, I just make videos.

    • @mohamedli3354
      @mohamedli3354 8 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      if you just want it for it's fancy lights you could splice the input and not feed it back into your amp. all the sound quality + no distortion

    • @radomane
      @radomane 8 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      I thought you sold reverb and reverb accesories..

    • @YensR
      @YensR 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      +Techmoan 5:25 I am missing the grumpy puppet :(
      But still great! :D

    • @alimhaider8680
      @alimhaider8680 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      brilliant channel. watch your videos avidly.

    • @tbrowniscool
      @tbrowniscool 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Techmoan Id like to buy your blue shirt if thats for sale?

  • @BronsonTheCat
    @BronsonTheCat 8 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    That is the best use of the Green Muppet I've seen so far.

    • @gorillaau
      @gorillaau 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      With the arrival of green screen, it ain't easy being green!

  • @shomonercy
    @shomonercy 8 ปีที่แล้ว +425

    you shouldnt wear glasses. that distorts the visual presentation intended by nature.

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +142

      +shomonercy True - and as for clothes and shoes.....

    • @buddyclem7328
      @buddyclem7328 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Techmoan LMFAO!

    • @davidcameron7597
      @davidcameron7597 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@Techmoan Yeah, take em' off please.

    • @lifeinsocialism
      @lifeinsocialism 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@CaveyMoth And your motorcycle.

    • @mjthrillergn
      @mjthrillergn 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I have a Pioneer SR303 reverb. The ONLY thing I like about it, is the graphic spectrum!

  • @brandonfesser1893
    @brandonfesser1893 8 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    I loved the audiophool impression at 5:25. And thanks for showing the insides; much appreciated!

  • @mediocrefunkybeat
    @mediocrefunkybeat 8 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    As a composer, to Hell with my intentions. How you shape it is as valid as how I chose to shape it.

  • @bobbypaycheque
    @bobbypaycheque 8 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Music should be fun

  • @mariomenezes5974
    @mariomenezes5974 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I spent hours watching your videos. It was a trip back in time to a wonderful period of my life. Thank you!

  • @johnschroeder6288
    @johnschroeder6288 8 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Thanks for giving 'it' to those sanctimonious audio so-and-sos.

  • @matthehat
    @matthehat 8 ปีที่แล้ว +137

    RE not using a graphic EQ
    Those people don't have the first clue about sound if they think that colouration is always negative. I've done enough work as a live sound engineer to know that without a graphic EQ to compensate for the dimensions of the room you'll get a shit mix. The same goes for pre-recorded music. Compensating for the sound of a room is perfectly fine. If I bypass the EQ in my setup there's a real nasty resonance at around 500Hz because of the shape of my living room. Knock it down a bit on the EQ and my music sounds much better.
    Sorry for the rant, I just hate people who speak in such ridiculous absolutes

    • @simex909
      @simex909 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It's always destructive to the signal

    • @charlessale409
      @charlessale409 8 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      +simex909 no one gives a shit.

    • @leepcollier
      @leepcollier 8 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      +simex909 totally meaningless statement

    • @MaggaraMarine
      @MaggaraMarine 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Exactly. And it also has to do with your speakers. I'm pretty sure you are not listening to the music through the same speakers as the people in the studio did, so the sound is going to be affected any way, even if you are using flat EQ.
      I'm not sure if it's my speakers or the room (or the combination of both), but if I don't cut at around 120Hz, everything will sound muddy. I installed a graphic EQ on my computer and now everything sounds better through my speakers (I bypass the EQ when I'm using my headphones). I'm pretty sure the original intention of the artists wasn't to sound muddy through my speakers in my room. Of course I'm not going to do extreme adjustments like boosting the bass by 10dB, but compensating for the room/the speakers you are using is just common sense.

    • @filminginportland1654
      @filminginportland1654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      There is absolutely no such thing as absolutes in life. EVER.

  • @MLX1401
    @MLX1401 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I appreciate your dry sense of humour as much as the immense effort you put into making these retro vids. Keep on keeping on!

    • @jaffaorange3809
      @jaffaorange3809 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Meri Lundström I've been scrolling through the comments, and yours seems to be the only positive one. Compliments to you!

  • @pomazzzz
    @pomazzzz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Man I love your voice and enthusiasm, and especially these retro gear videos! Congratulations on the very nice channel!

  • @thereallantesh
    @thereallantesh 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I remember wanting one of these really bad back when I was a teenager in the 80's. I never did come up with the money for it at the time, and a few years later they seem to have disappeared. So it was neat to see you demonstrate it. I'll agree that it doesn't really make the music sound any better. It's more of a novelty than anything else.

  • @leeskieferrell2003
    @leeskieferrell2003 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    One of the best channels with some of the best content, as well as one of the most engaging personalities on TH-cam!

  • @markw208
    @markw208 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    4 years later . . . . TH-cam suggested your videos and I’m glad about that. I’ve often toyed with thoughts 💭 of buying some vintage audio or video equipment, not quite on your scale. There were some interesting products in the past and you do an impressive job of demonstrating and providing great details and history. It’s all very addictive. Too bad there isn’t an internally adjustable pot for sensitivity of the lights on this unit. Thanks for your videos

  • @kaare1992
    @kaare1992 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That swing at the people moaning about how to properly listen to music... I loved it!

  • @Fluteboy
    @Fluteboy 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    5:25 - That is the perfect nerdish, trainspotter voice!

  • @mankee2211
    @mankee2211 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    such a mesmerizing display :) Thanks for sharing!

  • @sarkybugger5009
    @sarkybugger5009 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    A friend had one of these back in the early 80s. I always thought it sounded like shite, and I'm glad to see it's not just me.

  • @kimchee94112
    @kimchee94112 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Friend of mine way back when had a spring reverb in his car and just make the music sounds so much better. I was just blown away and remember it to this day

  • @gNatflaps
    @gNatflaps 7 ปีที่แล้ว +95

    This sounds more like a slapdelay than a reverb.

    • @God-CDXX
      @God-CDXX 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I have 1 of these and it is a slapdelay

    • @filminginportland1654
      @filminginportland1654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      NatFlaps and it sounds like massive shit!

    • @KreapOfficial
      @KreapOfficial 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      delay and reverb are the same thing. its a spring reverb which also sounds like delay a bit.

    • @stick_mack
      @stick_mack 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@KreapOfficial they are not the same thing

    • @KreapOfficial
      @KreapOfficial 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stick_mack wow you really are a stupid fuck. Reverb is like 1000 delays. Do your homework fuckwit.

  • @AK474000
    @AK474000 8 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    That was pretty much every audiophile on the internet to the 'T' TechMoan. 5:20

    • @wolfgangervin2582
      @wolfgangervin2582 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      In the Head-Fi scene it's another story due to the various sound signatures of different headphones.

    • @beejor
      @beejor 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      For some fun, tell an audiophile that music sounds just fine from an MP3 over your Bose headphones.

    • @Daredevilin
      @Daredevilin 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I died laughing here

    • @insederec
      @insederec 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      As an "audiophile" I have to agree. I spent a decent amount of money on the most neutral cans, amp, and DAC I could find, but that's for my own taste. If you wanna listen to MP3s you found in the dumpster on and old gen 1 iPod with torn up iBuds, fucking go for it. Crank up the bass if that's what makes you happy. But personally I prefer to not mess with it at all. If it's a real shit master I might adjust something but for the most part I'd rather my equipment not get in the way of what I listen to.

    • @AK474000
      @AK474000 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah there is always something else you could do to make your sound better which is true in its own right but in the end highly subjective.

  • @ekummel
    @ekummel 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I built a reverb from a HeathKit back in the 1980s. Loved playing with that thing.

  • @fernandoz6329
    @fernandoz6329 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, thanks for sharing!
    It reminded me that my father in law bought an old eighty Toshiba equipment for a bunch of dollars, some kind museum equipment with tape recorder, disc player , multi-band radio and equalizer.
    However it didn't know where to put it, and gave me to me... well I don't have space also(!).
    It is awesome seeing how many technologies became 'obsolete' and however they're working quite alright.

  • @tasmedic
    @tasmedic 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Loved the psychedelic effect at the end!

  • @tomkershaw1
    @tomkershaw1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Another great review, thanks. Back in the late 70s I had a reverb amp, I think it was a kenwood, that had a large coiled spring inside with a transducer at one end, and to change the reverb time you turned a knob that would contract or stretch the spring. If you could find one of these and do a review I think a lot of people, including me would find it very interesting. Thanks.

  • @GrahamGibby
    @GrahamGibby 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love this video! You really hit your stride balancing information and entertainment.

  • @1blisslife
    @1blisslife 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    The memories this is bringing :)!!! I remember owning a reverberation device like that & married with an equalizer!!! That was awesome...

  • @wisteela
    @wisteela 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice use of fractals at the end :)

  • @Barrybados
    @Barrybados 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    As always good review even my young son hangs around for the puppet bit : ) .

  • @SNK038
    @SNK038 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video as always. Your videos inspired me to build out my own vintage HiFi assemblage last year and I too went a bit overboard with vintage visualization devices but as nice as the lights are you, do eventually get tired of them. After your last video I acquired an equalizer with delay/reverb setting built in. Things do sound better tuned to my room/ears or sometimes I even do offset (all bass out left channel, all mids and treble out the right) to create more stereo disparity.

  • @jossingram4940
    @jossingram4940 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm finding your videos strangely addictive, and very entertaining!

  • @jippalippa
    @jippalippa 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Try this with "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". You'll probably get some insane reverbs :)

    • @AlexRutiaga
      @AlexRutiaga 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      About to try this with my reverb amp

  • @ThoolooExpress
    @ThoolooExpress 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    You should try a better reverb effect. My living room sounds kinda dead (carpets, sound absorbing tiles in ceiling, drapes), so when I'm having a party, I'll often run my computer's output through a VST reverb effect. Modern reverb sounds a lot more realistic, and in small doses, it really gives the feeling the room is a lot more open, and the party's much bigger than it is.

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +ThoolooExpress Good point.

  • @normanmyszynski4072
    @normanmyszynski4072 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had one of the spring units in my car in the late 60's. Every time you hit a bump it sounded like the kitchen was falling down around you. It was fun for awhile. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your videos.

  • @brucemibus9523
    @brucemibus9523 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice test setup especially the Pioneer amp. Didn’t catch the model number but didn’t remember seeing it anywhere. Thanks for your efforts and cheers from Oz

  • @SteelSkin667
    @SteelSkin667 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    That thing sounds terrible, but is sure does look pretty ! Also, I'm one of these people who think you shouldn't tamper with the music, but honestly graphic EQs can be really useful. I'll go back to staring angrily at my grey wall sitting on my wooden chair now.

  • @JoshColletta
    @JoshColletta 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I know this is an older video and I'm quite late to the game, as it were, but here are my two cents on adding reverb. Back in the 60's, when Top 40 music radio was developing into the sound we know and love here in the States (and stations may have done this in the U.K. as well; I'm not sure), they started experimenting with adding reverb in their processing chains. Depending on the personal tastes of whoever was in charge, that ranged anywhere from some subtle, light reverb that's just barely audible when something suddenly dropped to silence... all the way to full-on slapback echoes that sounded no better than when you cranked this thing all the way up. Some of the most popular stations in major markets were somewhere on the lower end of the middle ground, and that success inspired stations across the country to match them -- a sound which lasted even through the 2000's (I even noticed the contemporary hits station in Detroit using it as late as 2006 or so), though it seems to have disappeared almost entirely by now.
    Part of the reason why stations did that was a misunderstanding of technology. We've all heard of the Loudness Wars? That wasn't just limited to recording, it happened in radio, too. The reason why the AM stations made themselves so big and boomy is because (and this is a correct understanding of technology) the louder an amplitude modulated signal is... well, modulated, the more powerful it is, the further it travels, and the more people can hear it; the idea being that you keep your station as loud as possible for as much of the time as possible so that you can cover as far a geographical range as possible. The misunderstanding came when adding reverb. Some engineers got it in their heads that they could back off on the compression and limiting if they added reverb to sustain the amplitude longer than the natural source material lasted. Of course, we know now that that's not how it works; you still lose loudness with reverb, the signal doesn't travel as far, and if the timings are mismatched, you end up with an audio trainwreck. Once that fact was realized, it became more about making the sound more pleasant for the listeners than anything technical.
    My suspicion is that these units were an attempt to give record and tape listeners the same experience with some range of options to tailor it to their own tastes, but the problem there is that the range of options is limited to what the manufacturer thinks is best. That reverb on AM radio 60 years ago was all homebrew. Sure, there may have been some consumer or even professional-grade technology at the start, but engineers tweaked it like crazy to make it do what they wanted it to do. Analog audio processing for broadcast was in its infancy; these were the mothers and fathers of what exists today, and they set the standard for even the digital methods in use now, as well. If you wanted to match that sound in the 70's and 80's, you would either have to build it yourself or open that box and change things.
    Of course, digital plugins make this a breeze nowadays. I use a VST reverb effect in the audio processing chain on my living room computer. It took me a long time to get the timing and room size settings exactly the way they should be, but it sounds exactly how I want it to sound every single time. It's that subtle tail end of hall sound that adds just a little realism. I would be willing to bet that I would never get that sound out of this unit.

    • @RoySATX
      @RoySATX ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Unless I'm mistaken, wasn't ABBAs trademark "sparkling" sound due to adding reverb to their voices?

  • @sh0ckwaveVR6
    @sh0ckwaveVR6 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice video! that was an interesting piece from the 80's! I like your vintage equipment videos! I wonder what will be the next thing you'll review ;)

  • @giovanniramirez5758
    @giovanniramirez5758 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    We have an old reverb amplifier and I'm using it now because of this video. Thanks!

  • @greenstaraz
    @greenstaraz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    US. Military Japan 1983,,,, You always knew who just came back from Japan. We came back with These and other. Four feet tall of Stereo equipment. I think my parents stuck it in the basement 30 years ago. By the 90's all that stereo was looking out of date .. Fun Times

  • @patrickkilduff5272
    @patrickkilduff5272 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love how English this man is....he called it 'Reverberation' every single time...never once was 'reverb' even on offer for a proper gentlemen...

  • @vivanecrosis
    @vivanecrosis 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A classic effects unit. I've only ever had Alessis for effects, and some guitar pedals of various brands. This old things looks and sounds lovely

  • @RadioHamGuy
    @RadioHamGuy 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember this unit when it was new in stereo store in my area and they had it set up in a special little sound room displaying equipment demoing this and as a teenager just getting into stereo, when I heard this, at the time I thought it was amazing. I never heard anything like it and thought it brought a whole new light to music. Now I look back and think, what was I thinking! But it was new to me at the time as something different to make things sound "live" I guess. Thanks for this video, I have been trying to find what I experienced back then and finally found what I think was the gear I was hearing with your video. I remember the lights and I thought they had depth to them like 3D.

  • @johannes914
    @johannes914 8 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    Ha ha ha ! laughed loud at the puppet ... well done !

    • @FFVoyager
      @FFVoyager 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep, I watched to the end too! Trippy man. (I felt like that at the Elephant Faire in the mid 80's......)

    • @MrWombatty
      @MrWombatty 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ditto, as I was wondering when I'd see the puppets' being used for their green-screen colour!

    • @buddyclem7328
      @buddyclem7328 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      MrWombatty Yes, I knew I recognized his green skin tone. It's Chroma Key!

  • @CheshireTomcat68
    @CheshireTomcat68 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Always watch Techmoan's vids to the very end, even when it's for a Kenwood chocolate teapot :-)

  • @nilsmafr
    @nilsmafr 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Quite the enjoyable rant on the music listening police! :D And a great series on eighties HiFi equipment. Ah! The glory of the days where the height of your stack of boxes was a measure of HiFi enthusiasm.

  • @Ponimaju
    @Ponimaju 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That rant just before 6:00 was awesome.

  • @corsegerspwnd
    @corsegerspwnd 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    your videos got my dad into youtube . thanks for your time mister !

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      +corsegerspwnd Perhaps we need an old chaps section.

    • @321bytor
      @321bytor 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Bearded Gamer speak up, I'm an old chap

    • @sgtgrash
      @sgtgrash 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Bearded Gamer Oooer, I'm keeping my 'old chap' well under cover, thank you very much ;)

    • @theejabroni
      @theejabroni 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Bearded Gamer Old chaps? I'm 17 haha

  • @steviecandtheplace2b
    @steviecandtheplace2b 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Not sure if you or anyone else that subscribes has thought of this, but one particular application of this reverb unit could be if you had a quadraphonic decoder (eg Sony SQD-1000); so that the front two speakers receive dry stereo sound, with the rear two speaker feeds going thru this reverb box and then thru their respective amp? thus allowing you add the reverb to the rear sound-field only...

    • @filminginportland1654
      @filminginportland1654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Stevie C with good reverb, that might sound pretty good

  • @LarryBlowers
    @LarryBlowers 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for another review / showing another piece of likley forgotten hi-fi tech keep up the awesome work!

  • @damianwezzterman9218
    @damianwezzterman9218 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I used a reverb box when listening to concerts and other live recordings. Listening to the Yes 90125 Live Concert with a little reverb thrown in was amazing... at the time. Of course this was a VHS being played through a mid80's technology HiFi so that probably makes a huge difference.

  • @randypullman1155
    @randypullman1155 8 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    hilarious! well done Matt! during the 80s and early nineties "entertainment systems" were all the rage and the more buttons and lights the higher ranking the owner would be. That unit was in the line up. The best enhancement unit in the Kenwood system was the "Base enhancer" before subwoofers we needed to get all the base from the mains and the base enhancer was just the ticket. again Bravo on a hilarious episode sir!

    • @acme01
      @acme01 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      +Randy Pullman Would that not be BASS enhancer?

    • @randypullman1155
      @randypullman1155 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +aKunacme no, I wouldn't think so

    • @acme01
      @acme01 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Randy Pullman You sure? www.google.co.uk/search?q=bass+enhancer

    • @randypullman1155
      @randypullman1155 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +aKunacme no more along these lines GE-722 Digital Graphic Equalizer with "Acoustic Intelligence and Digital Soundfield Processor" but not exactly this. It's a kenwood bass enhancer only.

    • @filminginportland1654
      @filminginportland1654 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Randy Pullman "higher ranking the owner would be?" wtf are you talking about?!

  • @VoyageOne1
    @VoyageOne1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    The reverb sounds more like a really bad multi tap delay.

  • @Fattydeposit
    @Fattydeposit 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fascinating review.
    As a kid in the '80s we tended to dislike the fashionable 'reverb snare' that seemed to plague so much in the Top 40. Nowadays I cant stop adding post-production reverb to things I record. Love making big sounds even bigger.

  • @ianthomas1201
    @ianthomas1201 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    5:49 This is the reason I subscribed to you, besides loving the look of retro tech. Bravo!

  • @voltare2amstereo
    @voltare2amstereo 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    there is a reason it's called an equaliser,

  • @jason-ge5nr
    @jason-ge5nr 8 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    does that unit smell as smoky as it looks?

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      +Albion Laster I have no idea - I can't smell.

    • @adamziolkowski2549
      @adamziolkowski2549 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      What?

    • @Rebeyvapara
      @Rebeyvapara 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@adamziolkowski2549 Techmoan has anosmia, he literally can't smell, he talked about it in some videos

  • @Eugguy190722
    @Eugguy190722 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for a channel with great substance!

  • @SproutyPottedPlant
    @SproutyPottedPlant 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Interesting device and glad you don't mind using the equaliser, is useful even with the expensive headphones!

  • @colombianguy8194
    @colombianguy8194 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Excellent video as always. Do you like minidisc? when will you make a review of minidisc equipment? Thanks!

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      www.techmoan.com/blog/2016/7/18/minidisc.html

    • @yueying7838
      @yueying7838 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Techmoan hope you get gigabyte minidisc to talk about. all i got is 8 sony portable recorders from lp and netmd era. I got the li ion one but the battery died or killed the whole thing coz i forgot the switch.

    • @giyanvice
      @giyanvice 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Hi, what is the name of the music at 4:37

  • @wildbilltexas
    @wildbilltexas 8 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Radio Shack in the 1980's made a similar but not as cool looking reverb unit you could plug through your stereo. A lot of all-in-one Karaoke systems have this kind of microphone reverb circuit too. These analog "bucket brigade" reverb circuits always sounded cheap and muddy to me. If some company could make a new unit for home stereos with programmable digital reverb and delay it might be a worthy addition to a stereo and not just a gimmick.

    • @MrDmkus
      @MrDmkus 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +wildbilltexas reverb is still used in pro/home recording studios often. it doesnt come in these big box hi-fi units anymore though, mostly rack mount configurations and half rack space boxes. (also guitar "stomp-boxes")

    • @subtropical-yearning
      @subtropical-yearning 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      As you probably know, bucket brigade devices are basically long clocked chains of capacitors, combining the worst of digital and analog. You get aliasing, so you need to low pass filter the input, but they're also a long low pass filter themselves, so they roll off the higher frequencies as they pass through the delay chain. They also have terrible clock bleedthrough, which is less noticeable in a reverb but incredibly noticeable in a chorus or flanger where you're modulating the clock. Both lead to an unpleasant effect unless you're explicitly going for "lo-fi" and means that in modern usage, BBDs are relegated to guitar effects.

    • @gavincurtis
      @gavincurtis 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Don't some of the newer DSP receivers offer variations of reverb? There was one unit I tinkered with that had hall, bright hall and other settings as part of its cinema decoder.

    • @WooferCooker
      @WooferCooker 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +vwestlife Nice to see you here!

    • @6JM6tube
      @6JM6tube 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bucket Brigade like a IC TDA1022 use much more in the 70's late 80's

  • @LouieNJ
    @LouieNJ 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like the sound of that acoustic bit. Very nice.

  • @cicknave
    @cicknave 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another enjoyable video from the Techmoan!

  • @wdavem
    @wdavem 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Should this be called an "Echoing amplifier" . I thought reverb was different then a rapid echo...

  • @adintijerina7596
    @adintijerina7596 8 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    you should not listen to the music though any device you should go to the band that made the song and listen to it directly from them playing it live because thats the musicians intention (sarcasm not serious)

  • @arkant0z
    @arkant0z 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Acoustics sounds beautiful !

  • @czellner5894
    @czellner5894 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Enjoyed that, thanks! Brought back memories of a time when everyone had or wanted a component system. Nowadays it's jam boxes or all-in-one systems. Obviously, the reverb works best with certain types of music or to an individuals taste. I agree with you man, it's totally your business how you listen to your music. Thumbs up!!

  • @symonf1966
    @symonf1966 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thank you so much for posting this. I've laughed so much I'm going to have to dry my face now.

  • @bborkzilla
    @bborkzilla 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    That reverb is based on the old Bucket Brigade Device chips sold by Reticon, Panasonic, Philips and other manufacturers of the time. Compared to a good old spring reverb, I think they sound kind of "choppy" and not very pleasing at all...

    • @DavidCourtney123
      @DavidCourtney123 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yes this is a Bucket Brigade Device (BBD). They were used in a variety of applications. Some of which included voice scramblers, but most commonly for reverb/echo processors.
      The BBD was a cross between a digital and an analogue device. It would take small samples of the input signal (analogue samples, not a digital) and pass them through a long chain of MOSFETs. These MOSFETs acted like capacitors that would hold the charge for a small length of time, then pass them to the next cell. It had to pass through a large number of MOSFET based cells before it would be spit out at the end. A portion of this delayed output signal would then be mixed back with input signal to produce a reverb-ish effect.
      The entire process was moderated by a clock. Increasing the clock speed would make the charges pass through the BBD much faster, thus reducing one's delay time. Decreasing the clock speed would increase the delay time.
      Strictly speaking, these devices did not introduce sufficient convolution to truly be classed as reverb units. They were actually echo units. But the distinction between echo and reverb was, and to a great extent still is lost on many people.
      BTW, they sounded TERRIBLE!

    • @buddyclem7328
      @buddyclem7328 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      David Courtney Thanks for the great explanation! I always wondered how those worked. That explains the poor sound quality, and why moving the delay knob makes such a strange pitch bending effect. Back in the day this was pretty cool, but by today's standards, the sound is pretty hard to listen to.

  • @duckysan
    @duckysan 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Firstly, thanks for another really enjoyable review. Being of the same vintage as you, I too share a curiosity about old tech gear. Many of us used graphic equalizers back in the day because they could really benefit the sound and tune the output to match the environment. Coupled with feedback calibration (I used a scope, pink-noise generator and mic) the peaks and valleys of the output curve could be flattened to some extent, and I found they would make budget equipment play in a higher league. These days I have a dedicated theater used for music and movies, and I have to point out that most mid-upper range receivers are quipped with mic and calibration program. In reality, a set & forget equalizer.

  • @MrDuncl
    @MrDuncl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The Eminent 310 Unique which was the the key sound in Jean Michel Jarre's early works was a normal Home Organ which incorporated a very good reverberation unit (the first one to do so). Of course it helped that he could adjust the reverb on that without affecting the drums etc.

  • @ZILtoid1991
    @ZILtoid1991 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    It seems to me that it's using Bucket Brigade Delay ICs to generate the reverberation effect. Those kind of reverbs are so bad that not even guitarists wanted to revisit it unlike BBD based delays and choruses (which are pretty good sounding).

    • @wisteela
      @wisteela 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +László Szerémi Apparently that's what is used in my old Realistic Reverb Control Desk.

    • @pigknickers2975
      @pigknickers2975 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      yes, I think it's exactly was that. They came packaged on an IC and there were a little bunch of gadgets that sounded like this. I had some silver box thing that I've forgotten the name of. Cute and sounds like a quick delay space echo too.

  • @turbo5124
    @turbo5124 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Anybody remember the 4way quadrifonic system with a single piece that you could adjust the sound!!!!

  • @dragonheadthing
    @dragonheadthing 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I really enjoy how that display looks.

  • @andersonian3122
    @andersonian3122 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    It's great to hear you defend the Equalizer! Always a vital part to my Hi-Fi systems despite all the critic's opinions. As for the reverb, I still have my Pioneer SR-60 that bought in '85 and it still works great. I always liked it with headphones to add some depth. However, to go over 3 on the Reverb Depth sounds the same as the Kenwood, not good.

  • @timmantle7154
    @timmantle7154 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I have to say that of all the equipment I've been through with my hi-fi (and it changes quite a lot) the only thing I've kept and intend to keep is the Pioneer SR-303. The reverberation units were produced mostly (I think) to re-create the experience of a live performance. However, I set it up to sound more like a double tracking. Both dials facing 10 to 12. Double tracking vocals in a production sense can give more depth and phase to the vocals arguably delivering more character. Place this effect on the whole track and I find it delivers more layers and I pretty much always have it bleeding into the signal, subtlety is key!
    However, I do run two amps with at least four speakers. Only one amp runs the reverb so it's always a careful mix between wet and dry.
    I really enjoyed the comment about 100% dry signal. It's ridiculous. You should always enjoy music to taste, every-bodies ears are different and if you think you're listening to music how the artist intended, fully dry, you're very mistaken. You are listening to music how the producer and mastering team ended up outputting. Sure some times the artist and producer are the same person but some of these mixes are absolute crap and I don't subscribe to it being character or an authenticity. Besides, EQ's were created to balance the music within the environment. What if you want to hear your music to your taste in two different environments? There was a time when I moved house quite a bit and the EQ was dialled in to cope with carpeted floors vs wooden floors. Oh, but the artist intended you to listen to their music in a studio environment, instead of your 1987 Ford fiesta. So you better hire the same studio the album was recorded in before you press play.

  • @ManzalaStudio
    @ManzalaStudio 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    What was that Guitarr Tune you were litsening to?

    • @Fluteboy
      @Fluteboy 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      "Mabott Gum" by Dem:
      th-cam.com/video/Gm78cYqVlbk/w-d-xo.html

  • @CLS2086
    @CLS2086 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've got one too. But for me it has another interesting features :
    - it gives you a 2nd Tape IN/OUT, and that was rare until mid 80's.
    - Depth feature can bring you a kind of "Spatial" effect that you have in Stereo TV set sold by Philips/Radiola/Schneider/MagnaVox/... very nice for Monoral sources or Stereo materials with tiny channels separation.

  • @t.s.gilmer8397
    @t.s.gilmer8397 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I am glad I'm not the only person who enjoys the graphic equalizer, I also have a sansui reverb unit, I only use it to play my guitar and sing along to music, though. reverb units are great for stopping feed back. or a particular sound effect. love your posts by the way.

  • @Delveaux
    @Delveaux 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    What is the name of the song played at 4:36 ? I'm looking for it for a while now.

  • @manictiger
    @manictiger 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    In audio engineering, there are usually multiple instruments on multiple channels.
    Then there's a master channel.
    Effects don't usually belong in the master channel.
    Reverb is an effect and quite a heavy one, too.
    This might be why you don't like it much. It doesn't belong there.
    Subtle reverb effects can be used on a synths, where there isn't a microphone in play that would have added naturally occurring reverb.

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Depends, for fully synth tracks or very dry studio recordings that imitate jazz or band, applying a global send/return reverb is actually completely par for the course, it helps unite sound as a whole, as a performance in a room rather than individual instruments floating in space, and a bit of ensuing mud is actually helpful to hide some issues, which is probably why every single Super Nintendo game overdoes it terribly. The reason it's not on the master is merely to apply a slight variation in the wet amount depending on placement (more near walls, less for instruments with very direct assumed radiation) and try to dodge the ensuing mud, but on the whole, the difference between send/return use and master use shouldn't be all that huge for casual listener.
      I wouldn't know what use it is as a consumer device though. I mean, fully mixed and mastered recordings probably already sound the best they're going to with the amount of reverb they have. Non-studio amateur recordings on the other hand, are usually naturally too reverberant. So eh?

    • @manictiger
      @manictiger 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Siana Gearz
      I still don't think it belongs in the master channel.
      Usually at least one instrument is recorded with natural reverb in it.
      Adding reverb to that just muddies it up.

    • @SianaGearz
      @SianaGearz 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      manictiger In the meanwhile, i actually came up with a reasonable use for this. Not for music recordings, but for synth music sources which don't have a built in reverb. SEGA MegaDrive which came out a year later comes to mind. Considering it's a Japanese device, i'm sure owners of Sharp X68000 home computers really appreciated it in their chain, especially with its normally clean sound compared to the MegaDrive.

    • @manictiger
      @manictiger 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Siana Gearz
      I suppose that works.
      I guess I'm thinking more like an engineer than a consumer.

  • @Xsses
    @Xsses 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love the description of what the people say about "correct" listening to music 5:23

  • @erikmolnar6585
    @erikmolnar6585 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Got a Sansui Reverberation device at Goodwill about 10 years ago. We took it apart and saw 1 or 2 big springs. I would turn it all the way up all the time!

  • @alanmaier
    @alanmaier 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The spring reverbs definitely sounded better, and the majority of these units were sold in the 1960's and 1970's with spring devices. Digital reverb just never worked as well, they just lost the "warmth" and "sense of space" that analog spring reverbs had. Also quadraphonic sound, which of course was a product of the 1970's, reduced the desire to own one of these as the ambient affect was derived from the actual source material. Today we know that as surround sound. So really consider an old reverb as an attempt at music surround modes of a modern system.

    • @EvilTB
      @EvilTB 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Alan Maier I don't think it a was a digital reverb; it's more like an analog delay circuit trying to do reverb. An affordable digital circuit from the mid 80s would probably be even more horrendous.

    • @alanmaier
      @alanmaier 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Tburkulowsys Ahh - good call! I bet the unit was a bucket brigade based unit. Dang that goes back in time. I built one with Radio Shack parts, and yes - it sounded that bad. But I've restored older stereo reverbs as well as more recent guitar amps with spring reverbs and they just seemed to sound respectable if use with caution.

    • @buddyclem7328
      @buddyclem7328 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Alan Maier I had a Radio Shack reverb that sounded exactly like the one in the video. When I was a kid I liked to change the delay while playing my keyboard through it. It probably sounded like a dying cat. I like to think that I have better taste in music now.

  • @magicalpencil
    @magicalpencil 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I'm not a fan of reverb effect, unless it is dub/reggae, but those flashing lights are so sweet looking! I might see if I can buy one just for the lights! :)

  • @ddostesting
    @ddostesting 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have some old 70's spring reverb units and plugged them in a really really high-end high-fi and it was quite ... nice! :)

  • @brianartillery
    @brianartillery 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love your 'Hi-Fi Purist' rant in this video. I have encountered beige drones who were EXACTLY like that. I reckon Dub Reggae would sound great through that reverb - but played at bowel loosening volume. As you can tell, I'm not a purist. Great content yet again!

  • @SeanDamonGreene
    @SeanDamonGreene 8 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The reverberation amplifier seems so unnecessary. It just muddles up the otherwise pure and pristine audio signal. It just seems like a novelty or even worse, a sales gimmick. The colors and lights are pretty to look at, though.

  • @NigelFortune
    @NigelFortune 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Great video. My local hi-fi shop was horrible to deal with. Telling me i don't need bass or treble controls or any kind of EQ or reverb on my amp. They don't even stock any gear that does. Bloody audio nazis! :-(

    • @SomePotato
      @SomePotato 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      But they were probably more than happy to sell you useless inch-thick pure copper speaker cables sprinkled in fairy dust for 200 quid per foot.

    • @NGC1433
      @NGC1433 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Well, for hi-fi you don't need one, thats true. Hi-Fi stands for Hight Fidelity and it is diametrically opposite to having tonal control.
      Or are you the type that would come to Vladimir Jurowski the Conductor of London Philharmonic Orchestra, mid concert and ask for more bass?
      You are basically blaming a Priest, which you came up to by yourself, for saying you do not need Quran.
      TL;DR he is right, if you want Hi-Fi you need no stinky EQ. IF you need EQ go shop at Walmart or where do they sell cheap household appliances in US.

    • @NigelFortune
      @NigelFortune 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Utter nonsense.. You cant go around telling people how to listen to their hi-fi like that. Everyones ears are different. All it is, is pompous hi-fi snobbery and you know it. Every one i have ever owned in 40 years has had bass & treble and thats the way it'll stay if its all the same with you..

    • @cleverlyblonde
      @cleverlyblonde 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The point is not that you go TO Vladimir Jurowskis concert in a concert hall and tell him, there, how to perform.
      The point is that he doesn't want you to come to HIS house and tell him how to play music in his own living room. ;)

    • @NGC1433
      @NGC1433 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Play your own instruments in your living room then, you can even fart into a tuba. Music is a form of art. And screwing tonal properties of the sound is just like adjusting white balance on portrait of Lisa del Giocondo - she looks really yellowish there, doesn't she?

  • @x9x9x9x9x9
    @x9x9x9x9x9 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have been subbed to this channel for about 2 years and I dont think I can recall a time I have ever seen your face.

    • @Techmoan
      @Techmoan  8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +x9x9x9x9x9 You've missed about 20 videos where I show my face.

  • @NiekNooijens
    @NiekNooijens 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    that thing is huge!! I have small audio mixers that are 1/3rd of the size and usually have a basic DSP module in there that has more reverb-effects than this machine can offer.