"Audiophile Jabberwocky"

"A copy can never be better than the original". This has all the logic in the world written all over it, except for one tiny flaw; "copies" are all that audiophiles ever deal with.

Using vinyl as an example, the black disc is the only thing that's original. The cartridge copies something from the disc, sends it to the phono pre; which makes a "copy", and sends that to the pre; which makes a "copy" and sends that to the amp; which makes a "copy" and sends that to the crossover; which makes a "copy" and sends that to the various drivers; which makes a "copy" and sends that to the room; which makes the copy that goes to your ears.

If we assume that the cartridge copy is the original, it can be improved on by the phono pre. Or maybe we'll consider the "line out" to be the original. If we assume that, it to can be improved on by a good 2 track reel on playback.

I recorded Yma Sumac from a record to my 2 track reel using EE tape. I have synchronized the TT and the reel so that I can flip back and forth while listening to the same song. Although you can't hear what I'm discribing I hope this music will help. This was when Yma Sumac was strikingly beautiful and had a vocal range that covered five octaves. The first "Youtube" example displays her striking beauty, while the second one is my favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-6eKroZeIg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUOcvYNSRp8

Yma was able to sing notes in the low baritone register as well as notes above the range of an ordinary soprano, her range was from 123 to 2270 HZ. Both low and high extremes can be heard in the song "Chuncho" (The forest creatures). In "Chuncho", she was able to sing in an eerie "double voice".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KprLT-JxPY

When I went from the original record, to the reel playback with EE tape; the difference was not at all subtle. The reel playback was like an upgraded system, (the copy) captured her dynamic range much better than the original record. Although this has been stated many times by many people, the "Audiophile Jabberwocky" holds public opinion.