Stereo System Configuration Optimization Techniques
In summary, then, we have:
I. Simulated Annealing – When some number of the system’s components judged the weakest get replaced.
II. Genetic Algorithms – When the system ‘mates’ with another system that sounded good and so ‘inherits’ components from that system creating a 3rd child system. (Thanks to Steve O. for this one).
and I want to add another:
III. The ‘A Star’ (often written ‘A*’) optimal path finding algorithm – in this case from the original system to a better system.
The A*Star algorithm searches for the best, most direct and cheapest path by looking at paths that appear to be in the direction of the goal. This algorithm presupposes that there is a goal in mind.
I think one of the other of these three algorithms are executed, subconscously, by people on the system upgrade path. That III is going to be more successful than II, and II than I, seems to be a truism.
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It might be an interesting thought experiement to think about how, for example, a computer program that took a database with information about all known components, and, starting with your current system, could map out different systems that would improve the system, in the direction you want it improved, for each given price point.
I.E. What Neli does when you call her up (because we are comfortable recommending things we don’t sell)
This database would store information about each component, its warmth, its ability to control the bass of a speaker, its micro, midi and macro-dynamic capabilities, every sonic attribute we can think of. In effect, it would map each component’s location to a point in an n-dimensional space.
1. First the person using this computer program would type in all their current components. The program would then plot out the location of where their system is.
2. Then, the hard part, the person using this computer program, would have to pick a point in this n-dimensional space as the place they would like their system to move to eventually, how they would like their system to sound in the best of all worlds.
3. Finally, they would type in the amount of money they would like to spend, and perhaps other contraints like keeping the number of tubes below, say, a dozen, for heat reasons.
4. Then, pushing a button, they would get a graphic showing the systems that matched their monetray requirements along the path from their current system to the ultimate goal.
[Think of it as on Star Trek; with a million planets, how do they pick which one to go to for their shoreleave? They are going to need to use a program like this – can’t just go to Riisa all the time 🙂 ].
In the Audiophile’s Guide to the Galaxy, we have mapped some quadrants in this space: Impressiveness, Enjoyability, Emotionality, Magic… next we have to map out the stars and planets.
Audio Trek.
Giving this some more thought…
Minimization of cost is tricky. Minimization of cost over time is even trickier…. basically trying to model incremental system upgrades/additions to get to a final system in X number of years/dolllars.
If there was a SW program already out there, it would be interesting to see how the thousands of seeds (i.e. audiogon/forums/publication reference systems/audio show demo systems) would determine a set of optimized systems. Then throw in a cross-polination seed of a true DIY rig or Oswald’s Mill exotica…
– Steve O.
Hi Steve,
Well, my goal, and the software program described, is not to minimize cost – but to minimize deviation from the path to getting the best system possible. It is the unintentional and often costly deviation from this path that costs people lots of money and lots of frustration.
It is my personal opinion (but I am not alone! :-)) that most of those 1000s of systems on Audiogon/Forums/Publications in general do not lie at or near points in the n-dimensional space of all system sounds that people would want to call their goal.
That their owners kind of ended up with those systems by hapenstance and if those owners won the lottery and were able to spend the time required listening to and traveling to hear other systems and able ignore spouse acceptance factors and what they read in the forums and publications, they would have completely different systems. It is THOSE systems that are interesting, IMHO. It is THOSE systems that people who want to upgrade their system want to know about.
It is all about not making so many mistakes and not deviating from moving closer to their sonic goals. And not oscillating wildly around the path to that goal.
[By the way, if people see themselves in some of these descriptions – you are not alone. Lots and LOTS of people we see and talk to and hear about have experienced these problems with system upgrades. So many… including ourselves. After awhile one can just look at what someone has owned over the years, on the Forums or Publications or whatever, and see what they have gone through. We think about starting an Audio Therapy practice every now and then. Oh. Wait. We already have. :-)].
Thanks,
Mike