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3D lifelike sound and impeccable measurements - mutually exclusive???

The more I investigate gear the more it seems that it’s easy to get organic involving sound with flesh and body and a 3D immersive soundstage with the right matching of components but it also seems like it necessitates choosing some components that don’t measure well/add colorations/even order harmonics etc My question is are there components (specifically amps/preamps and integrateds) are out there that combine great measurements and in your mind also have that organic immersive sound that really helps many of us get more emotionally involved in the music or are these qualities mutually exclusive? 
128x128clarinetmonster2
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Absolutely not;


These are some of the specifications for the ARC LS 28 and it delivers what you specified.




FREQUENCY RESPONSE

+0-3dB, 0.4Hz to 200kHz at rated output (Balanced, 200k ohms load)

THD+NOISE

Less than .007% at 2V RMS BAL output.

NOISE

Less than -100dBv at max volume (103).

DYNAMIC RANGE

122dB (AES17).

CROSSTALK

-105dB
erik_squires
16,016 posts
 
On the colorful and measurements be damned, Conrad Johnson Premiere amps.

On the neutral but expansive and immersive: Luxman, Ayre, D'Agostino
clarinetmonster2's avatar
clarinetmonster2 OP
201 posts
 
I’m currently running an integrated (croft Phono Integrated with Harbeth) that’s firmly in the colorful and measurements be damned camp and combo sounds fantastic esp for the price but I’m interested in moving to the other camp If I can find an integrated or separates that fill both bills. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I don't understand the question. Do you want what sounds good? Or what measures good? Don't say both. Life is full of choices. Nobody gets everything they want. Nothing is ever perfect. So your choice. Which one do you want? 
clarinetmonster2's avatar
clarinetmonster2 OP
201 posts
 
Millercarbon
essentially you answered my question in your own way. Yes it’s a “can you have both” question - great measurements and organic involving sound or are they really mutually exclusive. By your answer you are saying that you believe they are exclusive and you pick one or the other. Understood. 
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