The use of the word "musical" as an adjective

I hear it as something that has pleasing harmonious qualities, sufficient enough to have me suspend belief in that I'm hearing a mechanical representation of the event. 👍

Next.

+1 @nonoise 

For me, "musical" as an adjective = nothing between me and the music.  A lot of the buzzwords that have been tossed around are far less clear to me.  For example, "warm" or "clinical."  While I do understand the impression that people are trying to convey, those words mean less to me when describing music reproduction than "musical."

Of course, the audiophile media has a vested interest in obtuse approaches as it sustains their livelihood.  Nothing inherently wrong with that unless terms like "impactful" start getting tossed around, but I don't want to get started on how the (mis)use of English has been degraded.  I miss Frank Zappa!

Musical means... "something real sounding and a joy to listen too".

Matt M

 Emotions preserved in the music and toes are tapping.... that's "musical" to me, vs a mechanical reproduction.

Well given the responses posted here I'd say that people have a pretty clear understanding of the term "musical". When I use this term it is meant as a compliment.  It implies music reproduction that breathes life and emotion and allows engagement and a joyful spontaneous interaction. Toe tapping as 1markr wrote. I believe people know it when they hear it. 😊

Non musical presentation would on the other hand be sterile, mechanical,  dry and lacking emotional involvement.  Some would say that the music sounds "canned" or a processed. This is not a compliment. 
Charles