Some 'audiophile' (musically involved) people are getting annoyed by the sound of their hi-fi stereo sound systems!

[Art K]

I think as audiophiles - we sometimes follow trends - for better or worse - instead of our hearts. As I listened to some products Jonathan Valin likes for example, I was not impressed. "Truth to source" does not equate to a musically enjoyable experience. As a musician, I can tell you that "truth to source" does not sound like real music to me. It sounds like getting one closer to bad recordings! Peeling layers off a bad apple doesn't make it a tasty apple. Now if we dip it in a little chocolate.....

Lastly, as musicians, there are certain sounds we try to achieve with our instruments. If I'm using my 1968 Selmer Mark VI with a Vandoren mouthpiece and a Royal 3.5 reed - I get a much different sound from a modern Yamaha YAS62 sax and a metal mouthpiece. The point being - is that for all those "truth to source" folks - how do you know that what you're listening to is really how it sounded or is suppose to sound? I would much rather have a system that reproduces music in a pleasing and delectable manner.

Yep. Truth spoken here.

 

[BobM]

I agree with the sentiment that the system has to be pleasing to MY ears first, and make my foot tap. Yes I want transparency. Yes I want top and bottom end extension. Yes I want micro and macro dynamics. Yes I want incredible imaging and soundstaging. Yes I want texture and delicacy when called for, and good tonality. Yes I want things to be mostly even top to bottom, but I do tend to lean a wee bit to the warmth side than the thin side. All this over pure neutrality.

Hell, I am not a reviewer. I am in this for my own pleasure, not to meet some standard set in a magazine.

 

[Mike]

I agree with the sentiment that the system has to be pleasing to MY ears first, and make my foot tap. Yes I want transparency. Yes I want top and bottom end extension. Yes I want micro and macro dynamics. Yes I want incredible imaging and soundstaging. Yes I want texture and delicacy when called for, and good tonality. Yes I want things to be mostly even top to bottom, but I do tend to lean a wee bit to the warmth side than the thin side. All this over pure neutrality.

Hell, I am not a reviewer. I am in this for my own pleasure, not to meet some standard set in a magazine.

Or please advertisers.....

 

[Rantzmar]

Yes sir. 30+ years. I've competed at the local, regional, provincial and national levels as well (and won every level). I don't play as much as I would like any more. I loved being in various Big Bands over the years. Nothing like the sound of 30 decent musicians playing the old big band classics!

But Mike, as the great late Dexter Gordon once put it "we know you can cook! But can you burn!"

 

[Rantzmar]

I agree with the sentiment that the system has to be pleasing to MY ears first, and make my foot tap. Yes I want transparency. Yes I want top and bottom end extension. Yes I want micro and macro dynamics. Yes I want incredible imaging and soundstaging. Yes I want texture and delicacy when called for, and good tonality. Yes I want things to be mostly even top to bottom, but I do tend to lean a wee bit to the warmth side than the thin side. All this over pure neutrality.

Hell, I am not a reviewer. I am in this for my own pleasure, not to meet some standard set in a magazine.

Yeah I want those things as well and have them. But yeah, I have a little warmth and color as well. I was at a fellas house listening to his DIY speakers with his ARC-gear a while ago. He was bragging about the Scan-speak drivers he put in his speakers...and transparent and so forth and he mentioned he liked that there was no color to his sound. I remember there was no emotion or romance either...that rig was as sterile as all get out. No thanks...I hate a cold sounding system. I think some people are after perfection and you can tell because every month they got a new rig. Perfection Aint going to happen in this life time.