Can a system sound too Holographic?

IMO, No such thing as too holographic if all components are leveled matched.

The only time I find something my system is too holographic is when I upgrade to a next level component which then reveals the weakness of the other components in the chain. 

Then it's "too holographic". Once I level match the chain, the balance is returned and the new found transparency only reveals more in the music and not the limitations (cable, dac, amp, etc.).

@antialiased 

"IMO, No such thing as too holographic if all components are leveled matched."

Huh?

Once again, I think that there is a gross misunderstanding by several here about the meaning of holographic

@roxy54 Sorry to confuse. I'm speaking about the means and not the end. IMO, Holographic is obtained when the stereo phase is nice, clean and separated with zero noise.

The only way to get those qualities is if your components, cables and power supply and conditioning are at a high enough level.

When you achieve those qualities, your music becomes holographic. Higher levels of holographic stereo phase images can be obtained with improvements in the chain.

IMO, when you improve one component but not the other and your system is resolving enough you can start to hear limitations in other parts of your chain. Improve the limitation and the balance is returned, and the holographic qualities become more so.

Too holographic isn't a problem if the signal is clean and balanced. It's why people spend money.

Too holographic with high frequency noise is a problem. Or to holographic and receding bass. Or too holographic and forward souding (too mid centric)

I once heard a pair of Fried Model H - two satellites and an enormous stereo subwoofer, a rectangular box containing two 18 foot (I think) channels ported out the right and the left.

(As much as I love my REL subs, I suspect a Hegeman type subwoofer such as the Fried might be better.)

Incidentally, the Fried Model H is a rare model nowadays; I’ve been looking for a long time.

The sound was everywhere.

It was like being under water and the water was sound - like no other system I’ve heard.

It was wonderfully warm, rich, as full as can be, lush, very beautiful, mesmerizing - inoffensive, listenable for long periods - but I do not recall a coherent soundstage.

It’s the kind of system I’d want as a second system - kind of what I suspect the Design Acoustics D-12’s sound like - another difficult to find pair of speakers.

So, was it too holographic?

Yes, by far.

I’ve heard the recordings I heard on that system; they have a coherent soundstage that the Frieds obliterated.

My current system would render everything right where it should be.

But, as I said, I’ve wanted a pair since I began this endeavor five years ago.

Nature recordings would sound particularly fine on that system.

@mapman ...*L*  Only vaguely jealous of you having heard some MBLs' IRL...

I'd love to.....but, would be insanely tempted to sell what's left of my immediate family into leather slavery to the aliens and what's left of my organs to a mystery market....  "Use or eat with whatever, I don't give a ....."

When I first heard of the MBLs.....I thought "Game may not be over, but they can only make them smaller....less $s' would be nice, too..." ;)

Nice to read that John (and others...*S*...feel that the Ohms' (and Walsh in general) can still punch at Goliaths' knees... ;)

All that's needed is to pop a little higher.

One might get kicked....but you've gotten some attention. *G*

Holographic....and here I thought that was the Idea in the first place.

Something to stare at...

Once upon a place...  I owned a C9....with the Kenwood L07 system (tuner/pre/07M mono amps, the cables for them, an AudioControl C-101 eq with the mic for room eq, ESS AMT-1Cs', Sony CD, Revox A77, Technics SL-10...

...about as SOTA as I could afford to go at that time, in that place...

(Of Course, there was Better...There's Always Better...But, It worked.)

And, so did the C9....when the recording and that 'Polk in the box ' agreed to 'mesh'. 

When they did....Didn't need no herbal or chem compensation, no...

When no, easy 'nuff to bypass...

Of late, I've been able to edge back to 'more of that' with surround Walsh...and surround Heils; yes, dipoles & omnis.  Haven't gotten around to the SMGa Maggies', but...

It's nice to have goals...*L*

I let that C9 slip away.....

Time to revisit....'Back to the Future Through the Past!'

(Oh, the last comment on the HF VCorner....is not me...but note the date....)

Surrealistically yours, J