What type of sound do you like?

[Mechnutt]

I am always curious to know how other people like their systems to sound as far as warmth, neutral, very detailed and resolving, etc.

When I first left the mid-fi realm and ventured into higher end gear, I wanted extreme detail and resolution with a neutral sound. But as I continually upgraded my gear and have gotten a bit older, my tastes have changed and I have tailored my gear to those tastes.

I prefer a slightly warmer and darker sound with a deep, rich, well toned and textured mid range. I now listen to a lot of female vocal music and I prefer vocals just a bit forward so they are not drowned out by instruments. I also love to listen to piano music and the piano must be richly tones and delicate at the same time. I value air and transparency but but not at the expense of mid range depth. I also like just a hint of bloom and tight controlled bass but not as much bass as I use to like. I use to prefer a razor sharp attack and now I prefer a slightly softer presentation along with a slower pace. Excellent micro and macro-dynamics are a must.

I know that a lot of people would scoff at the fact that I prefer my music colored but I don't conform to the idea that gear should completely get out of the way or the music should sound as it was engineered ( only the studio knows that because we cannot know how the music actually sounded in the studio ).

 

[Mr Peabody]

I've have a few different systems. Loved them all at the time. The one I miss the most, or, wish I had a place to set one up, is my Conrad Johnson. CJ still has a place in my heart.

The above said because I feel we sometimes may not know what we like until we hear it.

My current system is the closest to what I like. I like good transient response, no rounded edges, detail, yet musical. "musical" allowing me to sense the melody and rhythm of the music. I suppose that could be the same as PRAT. Sort of attack without the pain

If I could change anything with keeping the things I like, I wouldn't mind more grunt in the bass, especially at lower volume. Seems though the 4367 is sensitive, it likes power. I'd love to hear them with a high series ATI. A bit more warmth or texture wouldn't hurt, just a touch to give voices and such a bit more human feel. It seems though sonic characteristics are a compromise.

 

[joeinid]

Amen to the CJ comment.

I've have a few different systems. Loved them all at the time. The one I miss the most, or, wish I had a place to set one up, is my Conrad Johnson. CJ still has a place in my heart.

The above said because I feel we sometimes may not know what we like until we hear it.

My current system is the closest to what I like. I like good transient response, no rounded edges, detail, yet musical. "musical" allowing me to sense the melody and rhythm of the music. I suppose that could be the same as PRAT. Sort of attack without the pain

If I could change anything with keeping the things I like, I wouldn't mind more grunt in the bass, especially at lower volume. Seems though the 4367 is sensitive, it likes power. I'd love to hear them with a high series ATI. A bit more warmth or texture wouldn't hurt, just a touch to give voices and such a bit more human feel. It seems though sonic characteristics are a compromise.

 

[DSkip]

Home audio is about enjoying the music - therefore, my approach is always about enjoyment first. For me, that's the musicality and 'liveness' of the presentation. I'll readily sacrifice details here or there if it means I get a more lifelike presentation. I don't like pencil-thin nor bloated imaging. I love a wide soundstage with great depth (who doesn't?), and I want the instruments to have a weight to them in the soundstage. I hate when images bleed into each other as it kills everything in the soundstage. Tone above all as that is the foundation of everything.

The one area I know I differ in being a tube guy is bass - I like bass, but I don't need the immediacy of a high powered, quality SS amp. When it stops too quickly, I actually find it to be a little unnatural to my ears. I don't like it sloppy and don't entertain one-note bass, but I don't have any issue with the bass that a SET amp provides.

 

[the professor]

I've enjoyed systems that "specialize" in all of those aspects. I really don't know if I like any one type better than another. What I have to have in a system for me to consider it good is "toe tapping". If it doesn't convey the emotion of the music/artist then the rest just doesn't matter.

With Axpona coming up this week, it's really easy to see what I mean because there are so many systems to try it on. Once you get what the toe tapping is, you can literally walk into a room and decide in 20 seconds whether it's a system you want to sit down and listen to. Yes it's a show - the bass will probably be boomy and pretty bad, but even with that, you know when your toe wants to go along with the music. If it passes that test, then I happily sit down and listen to the other aspects that you mention.

I am always curious to know how other people like their systems to sound as far as warmth, neutral, very detailed and resolving, etc.

 

[hifinutt]

i love BIG holographic imaging , you can keep anything else . just got some nice big horns to play with and they are sounding good .

 

[Mordante]

I have been thinking about this and I find it difficult to answer.

What I like is system with no rolled of highs. Many tube systems I've heard sound very nice but also dull. Some instruments can produce some very nasty sounds if the musicians wants to. Some systems tend to veil that. However on the other hand I don't want a system that sound too clinical/sterile. Years ago with the introduction of the Magico M5 I heard it at a dealer who was using Spectral source and amps. The sound was horrendous. That show made me dislike Magico for years. But now I know Magico can sound good. With amps like Zanden.

I'm willing to sacrifice some neutrality for dynamics and life feeling. I tend to like a bit in your face presentation. I want the music to draw me in, not lull me to sleep. I sometimes think that some amp brand are focusing too much on a clean sound and in the process lose the organics of the music.

 

[AJ Soundfield]

I like this type of sound

 

[Moby]

I like this type of sound

And this type of sound

 

[tube-vds]

and this:

and this:

 

[sharkmouth]

I am always curious to know how other people like their systems to sound as far as warmth, neutral, very detailed and resolving, etc.

When I first left the mid-fi realm and ventured into higher end gear, I wanted extreme detail and resolution with a neutral sound. But as I continually upgraded my gear and have gotten a bit older, my tastes have changed and I have tailored my gear to those tastes.

I prefer a slightly warmer and darker sound with a deep, rich, well toned and textured mid range. I now listen to a lot of female vocal music and I prefer vocals just a bit forward so they are not drowned out by instruments. I also love to listen to piano music and the piano must be richly tones and delicate at the same time. I value air and transparency but but not at the expense of mid range depth. I also like just a hint of bloom and tight controlled bass but not as much bass as I use to like. I use to prefer a razor sharp attack and now I prefer a slightly softer presentation along with a slower pace. Excellent micro and macro-dynamics are a must.

I know that a lot of people would scoff at the fact that I prefer my music colored but I don't conform to the idea that gear should completely get out of the way or the music should sound as it was engineered ( only the studio knows that because we cannot know how the music actually sounded in the studio ).

...yes but is it coloured? I too have traveled a very similar path to yours, only to realize I was trying to impress myself with the next wow factor of the upgrade line of components. Now I usually live with something for at least 6 months, even if I don't like it particularly. I usually find something after it's gone that I hold in high praise for what it excelled at. There is no right or wrong! Just go to a venue & see if it's the best sound you have ever heard. I have heard so many venues that should have been burnt down, just plain absolute shit sound that no amount of digital manipulation can save. If you are lucky enough to own a system that 75% sounds good or better you're doing pretty well in my book.
Another angle for thought, too, is I have a niece that is one of the up & coming jazz/indie artists in West Australia. I was talking to her dad yesterday & I told him to keep a copy of all the original files before the studio process started with her recordings. He discounted the idea until I explained the importance of having the original files. What if one day the world was so evolved that we could order our music with filters applied & some not..... just to suit the signature of the mineral signature of your preamps wiring & capacitors ......