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.)

128x128gladmo

Tonality and ability to produce individual rhythm pattern of each instrument. 

@gladmo I'm not a big fan of polls because I have no faith in the opinion of the majority but I was just joking.

Part of my intent here was to see how many choose tonality over all the other options they can think of...

Rhythm & Pace, and tonal balance.

 

 

Good question… but two is pretty limited. But I understand what you are trying to get at. If you had asked me over the years starting in the 1970’s to now I think each decade would be different. Probably starting with details and slam… then my focus changed to micro details (as my equipment got better) and imaging, then, then… then… most recently midrange bloom and musicality as I was finally able to really grasp the entire range and put them all together. 
 

It would not surprise me if you couldn’t correlate the time pursuing the high end and the answer to your question. It took me decades to “get” rhythm and pace.