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High definition vs. tonal balance

After many, many years as an audiophile, I’ve come to a conclusion that a goal of tonal balance is far more rewarding and less crazy producing than the quest for greater and greater definition.
Of course, both together is Nirvana.  But so many audiophiles go awry in the holy quest for lucidity.
Years ago I had a system that was far less defined than the system I have today. But, tonally, it was in perfect balance.  A violin sounded like a violin, an oboe like an oboe, a trumpet like a trumpet, you get the idea.  But, it was lacking in those elusive fine points of definition that I thought I needed.
Then began a many year’s quest to find the right component, wire, fuse, what have you to get the sharpest picture I could attain.  Trouble is, I would improve one aspect at the expense of another.  More piling on of fixes and I couldn’t get to the place of happiness I had before I started.
Finally, probably by luck and after thousands of dollars I’ve reached the point of content I was at several years ago.
Maybe my system is better defined now, but it also has achieved that synergy.
My point is, was it worth the torture?



128x128rvpiano
erik_squires
16,009 posts
 
I agree with the OP, with data to back it up. My view is that "definition" is artificial, and deliberately enhanced.


It often happens in the frequency response curves. By using relatively tight peaks and valleys of frequency response, a speaker can bring out certain details that an actually neutral speaker would not, but at the same time, it would do so at the expense of other notes.


I have written quite a bit about the "Stereophile curve" here:

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/05/stereophile-reviews-data-doesnt-lie.html

But as always, you should buy what you like, and enjoy. Whether something is objectively neutral or not is not an absolute marker of value. I just know what neutral is and I personally really like it.


There's a different kind of definition, which when executed well is just neutral you can hear through. This happens through excellent room acoustics, and a speaker to match well with it.


Best,

E
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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Zen Master shkong78 writes:
I recommend you to stop paying attention to sound and just enjoy the music.


There is an old story. In the version I heard Alan Watts tell, a Zen Master says, "In the beginning mountains are mountains, waters are waters. Later on you see mountains are not mountains, waters are not waters. Later still mountains are mountains, waters are waters."

Or something like that. We begin knowing music is music. Then we learn music is inner detail, pace, timing, attack, decay, frequency response, harmonic development.... That music is not music.

Finally, wisdom: Music is music.

Thank you. 
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Absolutely. I would call that balance. Like TV to use an analogy: You want the highest definition possible but colour, contrast, black levels and brightness must be authentic and accurate. High definition with exaggeration is eye catching initially but quickly becomes tiring.
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
Exactly!High definition with exaggeration is fascinating at first,but it makes me tense after a while.I enjoy a presentation that leans toward euphonic.
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