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Striking a balance between musicality and resolution

As my years and experience in this hobby continue to grow I notice a divergence between those seeking extreme resolution and detail from their music reproduction systems and those in search of maximum musicality.

In theory, high-end audio systems should provide more than garden variety stereo systems. In my view that means more detail and information should be heard from a high-end music reproduction system than one hears from ordinary HiFi stereo systems set ups. BUT is there such thing as too much resolution and detail in a stereo system’s sound presentation?

Some people feel that a less detailed presentation that is easier for your brain to process has better flow and provides more enjoyable listening.

So there is the dichotomy. Should one pay more to hear less? Can a frequency response performance that is curtailed at both frequency extremes be desired and praised?

Those that seek a “more musical” presentation usually point to their belief that that is how they hear live un-amplified acoustic music in the real world. In nature, high frequencies attenuate and decay with distance from the source and sound waves get absorbed, diffracted, reflected, and diffused by the environmental factors and landscapes; so they are not wrong in stating that in the real world the sound of music is less detailed and extended. The issue is that when we listen to our music reproduction systems at home we are not listening to live un-amplified music in a concert venue, but rather professionally produced audio recordings typically recorded with close-microphones techniques.

So the question is, do we want our systems to reproduce the sound on the commercial audio recordings accurately or does one want hear the sound the way one thinks that it should sound?

Lucky for me, I have enough systems at home that I have been able to design, set up, and tune them for different targeted resultant sound, sound presentation, and sound qualities. For instance, my OKTAN6 ultimate horn system is a dissecting microscope, my Pinnacle horn system aims at extreme musicality, and my WAAR reference system is a chameleon, which can be adjusted to sound exactly how you want it to sound in real-time.

My “test-bed” system takes on the sound character and sound qualities of the components in use and it is excellent for evaluating what new components have to offer or bring to the table in terms of sound qualities. But with the Acapella TW-1S ION plasma super-tweeters extending the high frequencies, the TBI Emperor subwoofers extending the low frequencies, and the highly detailed & nuanced Digital Audio Denmark AX24 DSD dac streaming HQPLAYER as the source, the “Test Bed” system is a highly resolving system.

As with everything else in life, is there a happy medium or compromise that gives you the best of those worlds? I believe that there is and that great music reproduction systems can be tuned to strike a balance between musicality and resolution. If one listens to the evolution of my OKTAN6 ultimate horn system for instance you can hear that the fine tuning is driving the sound in that direction.

So during last night’s listening session I adjusted the sound of my “Test Bed” system to a more musical sound presentation. The “Test Bed” system is always in flux so it allows me to experiment, explore, tweak, tune, and have fun with it.

Here is an audio recording from last night’s listening session that captures the revised sound presentation and conveys the sound qualities that exemplify a more organic sound versus a more delineated & resolved sound presentation:
 

The Way It Goes

 

carlos269
kerrybh
680 posts
 

I don’t think that a natural and detailed system sacrifices anything in musicality, indeed, I think that makes it musical. I’ve had speakers which would be considered to be very transparent and detailed and also had two different models of Sonos Faber  which takes a different approach. I could be happy with either, but what I have now(zellaton) Is by far the most musical, tonally correct sound I’ve had in my room. to my ears, SF, ARC, Vac and those companies always produce a pleasant sound that is the opposite of harsh. I could live with that and be happy. The trade off is, again to my ears, a less controlled bass and a sound that puts a very narrow gauze over the music. it’s a very pleasant sound, but not as real as what I have now which produces a sound that has the gravity and natural tone that, to me, is truly musical.

The best analogy I’ve heard is do you want coffee, or do you want coffee with cream and sugar? Depends on your personal preference.

any reproduction of recorded music involves trade offs. None of it is perfect and it’s a matter of where you wish to make your concessions. 

carlos269's avatar
carlos269 OP
467 posts
 

@kerrybh  I find it interesting what you say in you post, specially about ARC components as fellow member @ghdprentice  claims that those ARC components in his system deliver him “The Real Thing”. It just goes to show how different our musical taste and preferences are. In the same vein, every time I have heard Zellaton the speakers and the systems they are in sound blasé to me.

Which brings me to, if as you say “any reproduction of recorded music involves trade offs. None of it is perfect and it’s a matter of where you wish to make your concessions.”, then what are we doing here and why are we spending so much money on this hobby. Clearly some of us believe that there are degrees of performance differences and that some things are better than others and some of us don’t always run to the “at this level of performance, it becomes about personal preferences” bailout. So which one is it, are your Zellaton superior and worth the money or do they live in a world of “any reproduction of recorded music involves trade offs. None of it is perfect and it’s a matter of where you wish to make your concessions.”?

rauliruegas
13,367 posts
 

Dear @carlos269:.. For audiophiles " musicality " can has several      meanings instead resolution is a term more " defined ".

What each one of us like to listen in our room/audio system is as different as different are each one of us that could have different listening target priorities and where each one of us live MUSIC experiences dictates.

MUSICALITY | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

What is Musicality? - Musical U

 

You posted:

 

" So the question is, do we want our systems to reproduce the sound on the commercial audio recordings accurately or does one want hear the sound the way one thinks that it should sound? "

 

So and in my case is more or less easy the answer because my target is to " stay nearer to the recording " and in my this means try to put all kind of audio system developed distortions at minimum and yes I need that my system has a wide high resolution from 20hz-25khz . I'm " here " I mean the performance level of my system after 30+ years in MUSIC/audio and after to many first hand experiences through attend live MUSIC seated at near field position trying to " mimic " the recording microphones positions.

 

If what is in the recording likes me ( " musicality " )  or not this is a different matters where I have not any kind of " control " because I can’t modify what is in the recording what was recorded.

The quality peformance levels in different home audio system with digital/analog sources is defined ( at least for me ) for its overall distortions levels.

 

As I said: truer to the recording could be the name of the " game " but again: each one of us have a " little " different listen room/home audio system targets and many of us could be limited to stay truer to the recording for several reasons and one of that reason could be that " first than all I like mussicality ".

 

Btw, each one of us audio systems reflects our MUSIC/audio targets.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

 

 

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,449 posts
 

OP,

I can’t imagine sharing audiophiles from mt iPhone would be likely to answer anything. The YouTube videos you shared don’t sound much different on my iPad. I’m an audiophile… I’m not interested in spending the hundreds of hours it would take to get The correct recording devices in order to capture the essence of my system. I certainly don’t want to be sending something that grossly misrepresents it, which certainly would happen with cheap microphones and recording device devices.

but as I said, if you’re in my neck of the woods, give me a holler.

kerrybh
680 posts
 

@carlos269  I think you have set up a false choice. People have different preferences in audio components just as they have different preferences in what flavor ice cream they like, what clothes they wear, etc. Some people really love the sound of Focal speakers. They sure sell a lot of of them. On the other hand, some find them bright and fatiguing. Some people love the sound of Sonos Faber speakers. Some people find them too soft and warm.
 

I understand that “some of us believe that some things are better than others” I think we all have those beliefs, but I wouldn’t begin to assert that lwhst is “better” to my ears and taste is true for everyone. If someone has cracked that code, and has the system that is universally the “best“ there’s an awful lot of money to be made out there. The sheer diversity of the products available in the marketplace is pretty compelling evidence that there is no universal “best.”

 

I don’t think there is an objective truth that applies universally to everyone. You and I have proved that point, I think, as we obviously hear Zellaton speakers differently. I wouldn’t try to convince you that the way you hear them is “wrong“, that would be truly stupid since I can’t hear through your ears, and the fact that you don’t care for them wont diminish my enjoyment in the least- each to their own. 

When I express an opinion on components, first, I make sure it is somethingI’ve actually heard, and I try to always say “to my ears.” Because it is an objective truth that is all any of us can say with any authority. What I can say about Zellaton is that at the price they provide the best performance to my ears of the speakers I’ve heard. I would never say that my judgment is somehow universally correct for everyone, that would be the pinnacle of arrogance. So, if they don’t do it for you, I’m sure you found something that does. Not surprising, otherwise there would only be about one brand of speaker. 

so, I think you and I and everyone else can say with authority what components combine to produce the sound that we find most pleasing from the range of the components we have actually heard. What I can’t do, and neither can anyone else with any authority, is tell someone else what sounds best to their ears. 

 
in terms of “what we are doing here“ I guess everyone gets to answer that for themselves. What I’m trying to do is pretty simple- assemble a system that provides me the most enjoyment for the resources I’m willing and able to put toward that goal. I assume that’s what most of us are doing.  What I have may not suit you at all which, presumably, explains why there are so many choices available in the marketplace. 
 

I do think the notion that there is some perfect reproduction of recorded music is specious. The music as produced by the artist has already been altered in various ways long before it ever reaches our system. 
 

 

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