高傳真和高端音響有何不同

走進台灣的音響店，常常我們會覺得好像口袋要深才好進去，像是進入了一個價格昂貴的奢侈品世界。有時候甚至會感到有點壓力或是所看到的音響器材不只昂貴，有些還超出了我們的理解範圍。

當我們在解釋 VDP Audio是在做什麼的時候，往往很容易讓人馬上聯想到＂哇，這一定很貴吧＂手工音響對他們來講似乎是遙不可及，而且難以相信其實是可以高貴不貴的！

我想這很可能與傳統音響產業的經營模式有些關係，首先高傳真好像是高端或高級音響的代名詞，然後價位得有一定的＂高度＂，否則很可能意味著不是好產品。確實，快速的搜尋一下會發現，你要不就得花一大筆錢弄一套像是發燒友或雜誌建議認可的音響組合，要不就只有透過線上或是3C大賣場買入低價的產品，但心中知道對於這樣的產品可能不要有太高的期待，然後再小小自我安慰一下說反正我也分不太出聲音的好壞吧….

這樣的自我安慰其實不然，我們能分辨的聲音細節以及對音樂性的期望是另人驚訝的，尤其在經過一些些的訓練或指導之後。不過，讓我先說明一下HiFi的實際含義。這個術語大約從1950年代開始，是 High Fidelity的縮寫，中文直譯就是我們常聽到的＂高傳真＂或＂高保真＂，如字面所示，意指接近真實，像是在現場聽到的音質。而且，毋庸置疑的是自50年代至今相關的技術不斷進步，當初對所謂HiFi的定義與要求，用現今的技術早可以輕易達成，現今對高傳真的標準也提高了。但這類消費性質的技術已經變成相對負擔的起，對大眾而言HiFi並不難取得。

其實，除了以下這些類型的設備，幾乎所有的喇叭／揚聲器都可以重現符合HiFi標準的聲音質量 – 老式袖珍收音機，手機或電腦裏的微型喇叭，低價的電腦用桌上型喇叭（常見塑膠製品），便宜耳機（主要用來電話接聽），或是一些便攜式，迷你藍芽喇叭。結論是，重現所謂＂高傳真＂品質的音樂並不廉價，但絕對是負擔得起的。這樣的聲音品質大約可以滿足99%的消費者。用數字來舉個例，大約美金250元，就可以組合出一套具有HiFi聲音品質的音響設備，包含音源（例如CD播放器），擴大機，還有喇叭。

而那其餘的1%可能包含了高標準的愛樂人士還有專業玩家們，他們追求更高標的質量，那就要談到另一個主題高級／高端音響了。

高端音響與標準HiFi的區別不僅在音質上有更高的要求，因為這畢竟是音響的主要目標。 這個部份可以透過更先進和新的技術以及更高級的電子和機械組件來實現。 除此之外，還會出現許多奢華取向的元素，例如使用更昂貴的材料及將其應用至音響上的複雜過程。 而且總體設計-外觀-往往也呈現更精緻奢華的風格。

不過呢，與高級音響產業希望您相信的相反，高端產品所提供的優美音質也不一定要非常昂貴才能達成。 如今，有許多品牌提供精良的構造，非常好的發聲設備和喇叭，且對很多人來說其價格實惠可負擔。 當然，花錢時總是有些優先順序的考量。我只是想說其實想要在家中建置一套出色的音響，讓您更能享受喜愛的音樂，不至於得去搶銀行才能買的起呀。

說起來，並沒有一個所謂的保證可獲得高端音質的入門價位。 很多的樂迷或是音響迷覺得大概要一萬到二萬美元的數字，可以進到高端的領域。 well….但我可以告訴你，這被誇大了。 巧妙地選擇，如今有可能以一到兩千美元之間的價格獲得高端音質。 這僅是上述金額的十分之一。

來看看Steve怎麼說

坦白說，還有比史蒂夫·古騰堡（Steve Guttenberg）所說到，更多的選擇，可惜的是在台灣沒有那麼容易獲得。 這是我們VDP Audio的目標； 提供各種價格實惠的優質HiFi產品，能使99％的音樂愛好者擁有可讓其開心享受音樂多年的音響。尤其是不想要一直更新和升級音響設備的人，可以對精心挑選的設置長時間感到滿意。

您覺得呢？在下方留言告訴我們你的想法～～

What is the difference between HiFi and High End Audio?

Stepping into an audio shop in Taiwan, most of times you enter a world of pricy luxury. Not seldom it gives you an uncomfortable feeling, as if you don’t belong there, or even worse, are not wished there. In some cases you will feel really uneasy, like when you enter some exclusive art gallery and the atmosphere is clearly at a level way way above your comprehension, and financial situation no doubt.

Often, when explaining to people what we of VDP Audio are doing, they draw the rash conclusion that our products will be out of reach for them; handmade quality HiFi, oh my.. And it is not always easy to let them believe that we are actually quite affordable.

It must have to do with the concepts which the traditional audio industry in Taiwan is propagating. First of all HiFi seems to be the same as High End audio, and it is all meant to cost a lot, otherwise it will just not be good. Indeed, after some quick searching it does look like either you have to spend half a fortune on a serious audio set up of approvable quality by some audiophile friend or according to the audio magazines. Or you buy cheap stuff in 3C shops or online, with the expectation that it will not sound that great, but this is what you could afford, and you will excuse yourself with reasoning that you can’t hear the differences in sound anyway.

The latter is not true. You will actually be amazed by how much details you are able to hear, after a little training and guidance. But let me explain what HiFi actually means. High Fidelity is a term from the 1950’s and refers to a true sound quality, near to the real thing; live music. Needless to say that there has been an enormous technological progress since then, and that the standard of what was HiFi back then is easily reached now, but in fact also has raised significantly. Yet, since consumer technologies also have become very affordable for practically everyone, we can say that HiFi is available for practically everyone. 

HiFi sound quality is reproduced by every decent equipment and speakers as long as they are not in the following categories: old fashioned pocket radio’s / the tiny speakers in your laptop or mobile phone, cheap plastic desktop speakers for your computer, bottom priced headphones, earplugs or speakers otherwise, and a lot of portable Bluetooth speakers. The conclusion is that music reproduction in HiFi sound quality is not dirt cheap, but certainly very affordable. And the sound quality standard is satisfying to probably 99% of the consumers.  To give it a figure, we can say that US$250 for a complete setup of music source (cd-player), amplifier and speakers can already bring the music to you with HiFi sound.

The remaining 1% are the audio hobbyists or professionals, who seek for higher standards, and then we reach the topic of High End audio             

What High End Audio distinguishes from standard HiFi has to do with more than the sound quality. Obviously that should be on a higher level, as this is the primary goal of course. This is achieved by more advanced  and updated technologies and higher quality of electrical and mechanical components. But here also a number of luxury items come along, like the use of more expensive materials and applications of them. And the overall design -the look and feel- will often be more extravagant.

Well but, contrary to what the luxury high end audio industry wants you to believe, high level sound quality as in offered in High End is not necessarily expensive either. Nowadays there are plenty of brands that offer well build and really good sounding equipment and speakers that are also quite affordable for a lot of people. Well of course, it is always about priorities, when spending money. Just meaning to say that you don’t need to break the bank for getting some great sound at home, enabling you to enjoy your music so much more than before.

There is no certain minimum amount of money to spend that guarantees you to get high end audio sound quality. Too many sound adepts are still thinking of figures of ten to twenty thousand (US) dollars to make it possible to step into the high-end realm. Well, I can tell you that that is widely overstated. Cleverly chosen, nowadays it is possible to get high-end sound quality for something between one to two thousand dollars. That is only 10% of what is just mentioned above.

Just check it out here:

Frankly, there are many more options than that Steve Guttenberg gives, but unfortunately not so easily available in Taiwan. And here is what we of VDP Audio aim for; to provide a wide range of affordable good quality and good sounding HiFi products, which will make 99% of the music lovers happy for many years to come. People who don’t have the desire to keep changing and upgrading their audio set up, but are happy with a well chosen set that will keep satisfying for a long time