Editor's Eye

I’ve been immersed in the world of audio and AV for over 20 years. During this time, I’ve come to understand that while technical knowledge is important, it can sometimes hinder emotional connection. This realization was starkly highlighted in a recent, unexpected experience. I found myself getting goosebumps while listening to a portable speaker. This was a first for me, a moment that defied my expectations and challenged my preconceptions.

Usually, when I get goosebumps, it’s while listening to a system that costs as much as a car or a house. Sometimes, it will happen with more modest gear because triggering this involuntary reflex has nothing to do with cost or rational thought. The key is some magic combination of the right music and a system with performance that triggers the reaction. So why would this happen while listening to New Order’s “Thieves Like Us” on a Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, a $250 plastic Bluetooth boombox?

My best theory is that I responded the way I did because it outperformed expectations within the context of what it is. Knowing that the appealing sound comes from an affordable portable speaker contributed to the goosebumps.

I bring this up because if there’s one thing that measurement-focused reviews have failed to do, it is to guide me to the systems most likely to trigger goosebumps. The reaction is always a surprise when it happens. I’ve heard a few systems are able to trigger them repeatedly, but years can go by between such experiences. And I can go to an audio show and listen to 50+ systems and not experience them even once.

Of course, there is much to be said about the positive value of measurements. Ask any speaker designer, and they will tell you — without question — that you can’t build a high-performance speaker without them. But you also can’t build an exceptional speaker with nothing but measurements. The final tweaks always include a human element, a judgment call, if you will.

Ultimately, the crux of the matter is this: If your sole focus in audio gear is on achieving ever-greater measurable results, you might be missing out on the joy of music or movies. Some may scoff at those who watch movies on phones or listen to streaming music with wireless earbuds. But here’s the thing: If you’re not fixated on attaining the best possible technical experience, you might find it easier to be entertained. You might discover that achieving suspension of disbelief is more about your mindset than about fine-tuning a system’s calibration.

Feeling Immersed

One of the most overused terms in the AV industry is “immersive,” and there’s a reason for that. It is the synonym for suspension of disbelief. Whether you get vertigo watching a movie or imagine you are in a jazz club as you listen to an album, if your emotions take over, then you are indeed immersed.

However, immersion is often used in a different context: to describe envelopment. Here’s the difference: Envelopment is when you feel fully immersed by the media’s reproduction. The sound forms a complete sphere around you. All you see is a huge screen in a blacked-out room, or, in the extreme, you are in a VR environment. You are enveloped by the sights and sounds, but what about immersion? Ultimately, no matter how much gear you have, if you are not in the mood to watch or if something distracts you, then you will not be immersed.

Yet, you might be on an airplane watching a movie or listening to an album using a phone or tablet and find yourself fully immersed in it. Noise canceling is, in fact, an immersive technology because it helps make attention-based immersion possible in less-than-ideal environments.

The other thing is, you don’t even need high fidelity or total silence to be immersed. Think of a concert where everyone is singing along. That’s immersion, too. Or you might have a portable Bluetooth speaker that can’t possibly compete with a full-size stereo, but you are poolside at night listening to your favorite album with your soulmate. You might even get those elusive goosebumps if the right track comes on. That too is immersion.

What I am saying is that if you are not always focused on the technical specs and allow yourself to enjoy experiences for what they are, you will surely be entertained.