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Should the best systems sound almost identical?

If the overall goal of audio equipment and the various media types is to reproduce recorded music the way it sounded when it was being recorded, then it seems that as an audio system gets closer to achieving this goal various systems should sound more and more alike.

For example, in a utopian world my stereo system would so perfectly reproduce a singers voice that if they were standing between the speaker you couldn't tell the difference in an A/B test. If the equipment is adding a characteristic sound the listener would be able to tell a difference. The less of the systems characteristic sound the closer to the actual singer the recording would be.

Taking this another step, does it make sense that the "better" speakers are the more they should sound the same? Should they not be getting closer to the perfect reproduction of the signal that is given them?

How about the Focal Grande Utopia speakers that retail for $180,000 vs. some of the crazy expensive MBL stuff. I'd venture a guess that they sound nothing alike. Almost seems like speakers at this level should almost be interchangeable in a system at least at the sweet spot.
mceljo
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
Tmsorosk - Audio systems would be a better comparison with various kit cars trying to replicate an original. Fiero had a few models that looked almost identical to a Ferrari, but they drove like a VW bug. Some people were very excited with this level of replication.

I think the industry has become more about "do the best car's drive the same" and are no longer working toward replication of an original sound, just their own signature sound.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
Mceljo - good analogy . But although kit cars have become better handling ect , I don't know of any that perform or feel like the originals .
unsound
7,333 posts
 
Ideally yes, but at present there are so many different variables that are still varyingly different degrees away from mastery, and different systems demonstrate their different degrees of mastery at different variables.
We still have aways to go, hopefully we'll get there; soon.
rja's avatar
rja
2,376 posts
 
"If the object of an audio system is to reproduce music as close as possible to the real event, then logic seems to dictate that the "best" audio systems should sound very similar." Mr. Spock, Second in Command, Starship Enterprise, Somewhere in the Galaxy

"In reality I don't think this is true." Capt. Kirk

"Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor not an audiophile!" Bones

"I can't hold it together much longer captain! I think all the power tubes are going to blow! " Scotty
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the basic problem is the words after "if the object of an audio system.....".

i believe there are many goals for the sound of an audio system. while , according to any criterion, the best systems will sound similar there will be audible differences.
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