Musicality" in a system? What IS that ?


I thought I would venture to bring a question in, the interest in which unites us all. What has happened, when we describe a system as "musical"? Is it just a subjective and passing state of mind, which fills us with joy as we listen and if so, what does it need for us to get there? System tweaking perhaps or rahter "ego tweaking" like good company, a good wine, a good cigar etc? Both perhaps? Or could there be objective criteria, which have to met for a system to attain this often elusive and volatile quality? I am convinced that there are...but to your mind, what are they?
detlof
KD,
For me, it’s that moment when you’re listening with someone that “gets it” and you’re sharing the sweet spot. It comes to a passage in the music where you both elbow one another slightly or give that “whoa, did you hear that?” look to one another while listening. I tend to close my eyes a lot when listening, so for me, it’s also those times that cause you to open your eyes. You know those moments, when you hear something that you never heard before or you can’t believe what just moved around the room? You can have those listening alone, too, of course, but for me, it’s magnified when you can share the experience.
It really is like meditation, everything else melts away (even it’s just for a little while). and, a good wine doesn't hurt, either :-)
kind regards -
Wow! I am dumbfounded reading all of the above excellent, well articulated posts. I only wish, I could do as good a job as describing what I feel about Musicality.
Although I agree with lot of what is being said (written) above, Sean's Post ( His first para) is as close as to what I think musicality means. System is not Musical when you stare in awe in between the speakers space marvelling at the imaging, details, depth, macrodynamics and microdynamics, crystal clear focus, and finally staring proud at the equipment. Musicality happens when awe factor disappears, you are completely caught off guard, and begining to enjoy the music, develop goose bumps, close your eyes and all that you are there feeling, like when you are attending a great live performance.
I always read musical as not neutral in reviews, with music having warmth, euphonics, distortion, which, thanks to this post, now I think, is a good thing.
I don't know I have expressed completely what I really feel, words escapes me, especially due to intimidation caused by some of the great writing above.
Question: I sometimes think we, the audiophiles and musicians ( I am not, but wish I was) are very wierd emotional special breed , probably at the borderline outright queers. Any one agree?
Scratch that question. I did not mean to change the subject. That is a different post altogether!
Detlof; your 4/7 post above really lays it on the line personally, it's hard to do that as gracefully as you have, thanks. Craig
I agree with Jayboard whole heartedly in that I use the words "musical" and "musicality" when I am too lazy to come up with better descriptive terms. I still intend on using them though, in a pinch, and can only add that sometimes "musical" to me is no more than a feeling that, regarless of how much effort I make, I still find hard to describe it in words. Other than the obvious quality of making instruments sound like they should (right size, tonality etc.) a musical piece of gear (or system) "always" allows me to relax (even with high energy as well as soft music). A non musical piece (or system) causes me to tense (even with soft music) and this has nothing to do with whether it is a bright or dull sound as both types work both ways with me. I have been performing biofeedback exercises for approx. one year now and am very good at it, or so I am told when they monitor me on test machines. A good (or musical) sound puts me at ease as I do not have to strain to be absorbed by the music, nor is it in my face. Instead it (the music) ends up replacing almost all of my concious thoughts and I certainly am not thinking about the equipment (I even forget temporarily the fact that I can barely afford it:-).