matthewb on Farcaster

Content pfp

https://warpcast.com/~/channel/hifi

0 reply

0 recast

0 reaction

matthewb pfp

a few notes from @brileigh and I's visit to the Ojas listening room in NYC * Ojas and Devon Turnbull before founding Ojas, Devon Turnbull studied at Parsons and adopted the tag "Ojas" for mixtapes, graffiti, flyers, etc. in 2003 he founded the streetwear label Nom de Guerre with some friends and over the next few years travelled frequently to Japan as he developed an interest in high-efficiency drivers, horns, and tube amplifiers. in his spare time, he built Altec-inspired horn speakers for himself and friends which later became DIY flat-pack kits sold through Virgil Abloh's Canary Yellow platform. Nom de Guerre closed in 2013 and Turnbull turned his attention to Ojas full-time as an audio practice. by 2018 his custom systems found their way into stores like Supreme, venues like Public Records, and producer Mark Ronson's studio. in 2022 he produced Hi-Fi Listening Room Dream No. 1, an immersive installation that was first presented in Lisson Gallery (NYC, London) before touring to many other institutions.

11 replies

3 recasts

40 reactions

matthewb pfp

the Petit Ojas W and MBH1's tuning feels scooped in the mids which smooths out the delivery and feels less "hi-fi" than some audiophile speakers. this gives the system a very listenable quality but also veers toward unengaging. by itself this isn't a cardinal sin, in fact it's a very common design choice if we look back at the history of BBC-designed speakers in the 60s through 80s that attenuated output between 1-4kHz ("the BBC dip"). however, when combined with the slightly nasal quality of the cabinetry—it's just plywood, after all—the overall output feels less natural than real instruments. instruments sound a bit more plastic and less wooden, not in an offensive "bright" way but rather slightly desaturated and grey. overall, @brileigh and I greatly enjoyed the experience despite it not being exactly our sonic cup of tea. it's very clear to me that the future of hi-fi will lean further into lifestyle and culture, and Ojas/Devon Turnbull's work is a perfect example of this.

1 reply

0 recast

2 reactions

Patricia Lee pfp

@patriciaxlee.eth

Have you ever been to the Envelop listening space in San Francisco? I don't have any audio expertise and enjoyed it, but would be curious for your take on it. https://envelop.us/page/listening-spaces

1 reply

0 recast

1 reaction