If Warmth Is a Distortion, Why Do So Many Audiophiles Still Defend It?

Isn’t the idea of an expensive set of electronics (call it HiFi) to faithfully reproduce what’s in the recording?  

Not really, the overriding goal is increased “engagement” with the music which could be that goal.  

Audiophiles typically seek either “realistic” or “as you like it” Sonics  (like SET amps).

Audio components are not dead neutral, so subjective sonic preferences are important. For instance, after demoing many speakers at many audio show and stores,  you hear a lot of great Sonics but not identical- different “presentations”.  For instance, the speakers that “resonates” with me (pulls me into the music) is Magico and YG. Although I heard Wilson many times, the Sonics never resonates with me - subjective preference.

I find that quality warmth and detail is usually associated with more expensive components, unfortunately for my wallet 

Hello, everybody.

This topic maker has mentioned:

Warmth is pleasant, but it’s still coloration.

Yes, that's true. And, it's also true many audiophile like the sound of WARMTH.

I have enjoyed the warm and smooth sound. Not any more. Whenever I go to music concert, I feel the sound from the concert somewaht harsher. But, the harsher sound is true to the music, and I like it better! Because it is simply more vivid! Some people whose ears are trained by the real concert sound do not much prefer the WARMTH. I am the one of them.

It is because there are as many different concepts of warmth as there are audiophiles.

Some recordings like acoustic are naturally warm and should sound so.  If such recordings are not warm there is noticeable distortion . Warmth is the sound left after peeling away a enough of the icy layer's of noise that permeate our systems.  Some like it some don't.  If warmth doesn't sound good then you still have noise you can hear.

I've had tube pre-amps that colored the sound and added warmth at the expense of noise.  After a while the rose fell off the bloom and all I could hear was the distortion.  My current DHT pre-amp is tube and the trade-off of musicality and warmth is worth the smidge of even harmonic distortion.  Most if the noise in my system is not from the gear but from AC, EMI, RFI, ground plane and the like.

For me accuracy of reproduction is secondary to enjoyment of the music.  I much prefer a sweet sound over a detailed cooler presentation.  Its just better for my nerves.

Unveiling warmth is a long and arduous road.  The foundation is controlling noise in the system not just upgrading parts.  Noise is something I generally don't hear the scope of until it's gone.  I find it beguiling in that I am surprised and pleased when I peel away another layer and I think it can't possibly sound better, but yet I know there is some I am not fully hearing.

It's what keeps me tinkering.

Odd question. Some people prefer the sound of distortion. That's why so many people listen to vinyl. Why does that matter?