what is good sound ?

“there are two ways to evaluate a stereo system."

"first there is the performance of the stereo system itself, whether through use of “measurements, or by listening."

I agree, sound either has to be heard or measured.

"the issue here is not what does a stereo system sound like."

The title of the post is “what is good sound”

"the issue is how do you evaluate a stereo system?"

Well, again, it is impossible to answer this question because there are countless ways to evaluate the stereo for purchase, such as size of the room, size of the stereo, price, look, smell, feel, perceived value, you think it will get you more dates etc…this is a silly question that cannot be answered, but is intended to corral other’s thinking into the issues you want addressed. If you are truly trying to discuss evaluation and the reader is to assume that you appropriately entitled your own train of thought (namely, “what is good sound”) and that is really your underlying intent, then listening and measuring are the way to do it.

“the other approach is to ask the listener to describe how he/she feels after listening to music played through a stereo system. is there some sense of improvement in mood, lowering of blood pressure, reduction in anger, etc. ?”

What does that have to do with the way a stereo sounds and performs. Music can make you feel certain ways, Heavy Metal (maybe energy), Latin (maybe to dance), Marvin Gaye (well…lights out because when I get that feeling I need sexual healing, sexual healing, ohh baby). I believe a better system should bring those feeling more intensely, why would I want Led Zeppelin to make me relax, if I want to relax I will listen to Satie. Music should bring about a emotional response…not hardware, which is just a tool. You have stated that you want to be bored and put to sleep when listening, so do you judge a system by how quickly you doze off? For example, would someone hear an exclaim of excitement if you were at an audio shop when you said “This CD player only took 10 minutes to sleepy time and this one I put me to sleep in 2 minutes! It is the BEST! It is sooooo boring!” How could you ever evaluate emotionally based on you likes, by you own words you are unconscious and bored, that would be the opposite of emotionally captivated.

“by the way, just for the record, my own preference for a reduction in treble energy has nothing to do with the quality of a stereo system. it is my own idiosyncratic taste.”

That is exactly what I thought.

I will write more later on your perceptions of neutrality, but I got the Marvin Gaye on, so it is time for a little healin'

Theo is an "eargasm" anything like "aural sex"?

Let me take a stab at it.

I think what Mr Tennis really means is " what is good sound to you?"

Meaning How do you choose your equipement? Based on measurements first, then listening for neutrality, accuracy, and transperancy then make, looks, proud of ovnership, bragging rights etc (in that order) even if it does not make you completely emotionally happy??

v/s if you were to choose based on lisening only ignoring if it measures rather poor on paper or you acknowledging in your mind that this particular system has colors at certain freq bands in absolute sense. Like may be upper harmonics are touch overblown, mid balance is rather weak but the bass is solid making the system sound rather romantic and smooth that actually sounds richer than neutral or real. But it brings you absolute emotional happiness regardless of its price and apparent faults

What is your leaning? What is good sound to you?

MrT is a find mucker, plain and simple. It's how he entertains himself. Find Mucking.

Futher mucking find mucker, mucked my find and now my noggin's knocked up!