How competitive are you with your system?

Mihorn, I don’t agree.  I can hear the room.  I can also hear a resonance in the room not on the original.  But it is well treated compared to most.

https://youtu.be/lDJP95aZ9L8

As I noted, any variation from the direct cut is a distortion.  But we can choose our distortions to suit our wallets and tastes.

I have a somewhat lively room (~5,000 cu ft) that is untreated, though the windows on two sides have blackout blinds, and when I listen, I choose to move the venue to the room rather than moving myself to the venue.  I use no eq or room correction, either electronic or physical.  When I do a video, the effects of the room become readily obvious when one listens to the direct cut.  Sure it’s a distortion, but not so bothersome.

If I had this track, I would do a demo (dogs allowing of course).  But I don't and I don't stream.

Why do they bother responding to this thread if it didn’t occur to them at some point how others’ systems sounded

because you asked:

Do you try to rank your system with others’?    

@rvpiano - you’re wrongly assuming audiophiles typically have the same “comparison” urges as you do.

With “ranking”, one assumes good/better/best.  But after a lot of demos at audio stores and shows I’ve come to the conclusion that there are many great sounding components/systems, but it’s subjective “personal preference” that we strive for - we are not in competition with others who’s preferences don’t match our own.  For instance, I’ve tried very hard demoing many Wilson speakers, but it never “resonated” (drew me into the music) with me unlike Magico, YG, and MBL.  Comparison to others does nothing to help me further the Sonics I like

I do use variety to change it up: various MC carts, SPUs, and a second flea watt system to check out tube magic, and a desktop system.

You might be right. Tho whether dubbed or live recording, Thiel - FINK sounds really grainy and rough. Listen to  Thiel - FINK for 2 minutes. And listen Wavetouch audio - FINK . I can hear WT forever w/out hurting ears.

toddalin   I don’t agree.  I can hear the room.  I can also hear a resonance in the room not on the original.  But it is well treated compared to most..

I gave these YouTube clips another listen, on my system this time.

We all have different tastes but to me, the Thiel and Avantgarde systems are clear front-runners. I have little doubt the Montemar would sound fantastic in the right room, whereas the Focal seem confused and overwhelmed by theirs. The PMC's bass sounds surprisingly flabby, although they may have a physicality in real life that's absent from the video but might tip the scales in their favor.