It’s interesting to read the above posts about "fidelity’ - but it appears in the manner it has been posted, that the posters use of the word "fidelity" is associated more with the degradation of their high frequency hearing ability.
For me, I’ve also heard the decline in my hearing over my 63 years, i.e. as it pertain to high frequency response.
However, as my system’s resolution & performance has improved, I now find that I tend to think of "fidelity" more from a " details" perspective.
Even with my hearing loss I can still easily discern improvements in...
- dynamics, especially the "snap" in percussion instruments
- the control and punch of bass frequencies and their extended depth
- smoothness of the high end - particularly violins
- new details discovered in instrument timbres - strings and woodwind
- the vastly oimproved venue acoustics - those reverberations that fill a hall.
- refinements to the "vocal character" of each singer
I don’t actually think much about my "hearing loss" - unless the tinnitus is playing up, but focus more on the realism that I still get to enjoy.
I am now very happy with the sound of my system and find I am more focused on musical content, rather than trying to attain Audio Nirvana.
But I do look at new products occasionally - I just purchased a Bluesound NODE 2 - but that was to make streaming easy enough for my wife to use. Turns out the NODE 2 has very good "fidelity" as well - bonus!
Having said that, just as whipsaw as has posted
- I do have great interconnects and cables,
- dedicated power lines, and
- MRI grade outlets on everything.
- and I heard improvements as each were introduced - but from the perspectives outlined above .
Did they improve Frequency response? I will never know :-(
Did they enhance my enjoyment? - you betcha!
Bottom line - I think I’ll keep going until they close the lid :-)
For me, I’ve also heard the decline in my hearing over my 63 years, i.e. as it pertain to high frequency response.
However, as my system’s resolution & performance has improved, I now find that I tend to think of "fidelity" more from a " details" perspective.
Even with my hearing loss I can still easily discern improvements in...
- dynamics, especially the "snap" in percussion instruments
- the control and punch of bass frequencies and their extended depth
- smoothness of the high end - particularly violins
- new details discovered in instrument timbres - strings and woodwind
- the vastly oimproved venue acoustics - those reverberations that fill a hall.
- refinements to the "vocal character" of each singer
I don’t actually think much about my "hearing loss" - unless the tinnitus is playing up, but focus more on the realism that I still get to enjoy.
I am now very happy with the sound of my system and find I am more focused on musical content, rather than trying to attain Audio Nirvana.
But I do look at new products occasionally - I just purchased a Bluesound NODE 2 - but that was to make streaming easy enough for my wife to use. Turns out the NODE 2 has very good "fidelity" as well - bonus!
Having said that, just as whipsaw as has posted
- I do have great interconnects and cables,
- dedicated power lines, and
- MRI grade outlets on everything.
- and I heard improvements as each were introduced - but from the perspectives outlined above .
Did they improve Frequency response? I will never know :-(
Did they enhance my enjoyment? - you betcha!
Bottom line - I think I’ll keep going until they close the lid :-)