Top two most important sound qualities


In case you didn't know, it's 2023 and this website still hasn't implemented a polling feature, so I can't define a selection of sound qualities to choose from and see results in a grouped, organized fashion. Boo hoo!

 

If you had to pick two of the typically referenced sound qualities that are most important to you to optimizing the enjoyment of your system, what are they? You know what I mean, right? Could be a certain frequency range and some particular quality that you for in it, or any quality that applies across all frequencies, etc.

(Note: "Sound qualities" mentioned here do not include anything that refers to physical attributes of your system or listening room, such as acoustical treatments, types of components, types of source material, physical tweaks, etc. It's only a reference to subjectively appreciated qualities.)

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I think imaging and soundstage. I'll give up the last 10/10th of detail for a lack of fatigue, if necessary at a budget point.

Effortlessness - that sense of ease that allows you to forget about the hardware and just hear the music. This is what well driven Magnepans or electrostats do. Huge effortless sound.

Definition - clear highs without edge, mids without honk, full bass without mud.

My acoustic guitars aren't edgy, or honky, or muddy, but I can hear those very undesirable distortions instantly on a poor system or recording