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

Timbre, ( covers tonality and clarity)

Dynamics, (what music isn't dynamic other than heavily compressed recorded music?)

When I listen to my system the most special times are when I experience an emotional response to the music being played. If it doesn’t then it draws my attention to setup or something other than the enjoyment of music. Trying to put labels on it seems diminish or make things clinical when I just want to play music. I understand the need to take the necessary steps to ensure quality music reproduction but the sooner that is done the better. For me it’s like going to an art museum. I don’t actually look to close at the brush strokes I just enjoy myself and sometimes actually experience the artist’s intent if I am really lucky. Now if you want to know what’s important to me is manageable treble. I seen to be able to fill in the blanks when necessary but harsh, etched treble is my nemesis.

@kota1

Thanks for showing up. I was trying to explain your system "immersion" concept when making suggestion on how to achieve.

@edgewear

Even from a distance and without visual contact you simply ’know’ when they’re playing live.

Well said.

This would seem to suggest that ’live immediacy’ already gets lost during the recording process. So any playback system, no matter how good, is at the mercy of the recording quality.

Pretty much. You can do things like go with metal drivers to compensate, But on another recording it may be "too much of a good thing". Reducing components, clean power supply, or going with horns is a systemic way to reduce the loss.

 

True be told, I came up with these two when recently auditioning mini-systems for work. Maybe partly cos they mix songs to sound good on a boom box??? The home stereo (typical set-up we all use) obscures those qualities. Distractions due to:

1) Produces too much detail

2) Room effects

If I stick my head directly between the mini-system speakers, I get the same "detailed" effect as listening at home. So I know is a feature of setup.

My epiphany came when, as @tubeking1 said about emotions. I was just working, listening to LCD Soundsystem, not really thinking about the music when OMG it just hit me. I could feel the coldness, the emotion, the poignant beauty or whatever they were trying to express.