Two Type of sound and listener preference are there more?

kijanki, it comes down to taste and compared to what?? IMO, the only losers are those that don’t audition enough gear.

Here is a comparison of the AHB2 to the Schiit Vidar by the audiophool.

The tonal balance of the AHB2 tends towards lean. It’s not bright. From the mids on up, the balance is excellent. The bass volume is like the D-sonic class D amp recently reviewed, lower in level compared to Vidar. This helps add a sense of clarity. I am unsure whether VIdar or AHB2 is clearer sounding at this point as the AHB2 seems to simplifies music (and simplification sometimes lends itself to a clearer sound). Will try out more tracks; but currently as it stands, I’d give the AHB2 the benefit of the doubt and a slight nod in clarity.

Where the AHB2 totally falls apart is in the plankton, layering, texture, microdynamics, soundstage, and immediacy department. Upon a switch back to the AHB2 for the Vidar, my 9 year old son was like "that other one (Vidar) was WAY better!" The difference to me was immediately apparent (like in two seconds) on the initial and first switch to the Vidar.

The stage and the music along with it just got sucked in to 2D plane, much like a how an NOS DAC would do it. But worse, because not just that, musical information that was abundant with the Vidar, the guitar and vocal textures, smack of lips, breaths, mix overlays, ambient information, reverb, etc. suddenly dropped away. It was pretty dramatic of a change. Don’t get me wrong, Vidar is competent but hardly the bee’s knees (which I still consider the Hegel H2 or Pioneer M22 to be). TBH, I’m not going to pull the H2 out to compare because it would be a waste of time.

Last edited: Sep 24, 2017
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Doctor, I'm not sure how imaging can fit into a preference camp. Imaging is more to do with factors like driver spacing, crossover point, size and number of drivers, and baffle size/shape.

High dynamic range speakers that can pressurize a room and look like coffins are typically weakest in the imaging department, whereas smaller point source type speakers tend to be imaging champs. I'm not saying that you are wrong, I just don't understand where you are coming from.  

If you are in the more musical camp, imaging may not necessarily be as inportant than by having a very smooth sound, dyanmic range may also not be as important as perhaps this listener plays very softly or plays music like small ensembles.

Sounds like the Doctor is more interested in drumming up business by oversimplifying the exercise of system building by creating the impression that systems are best designed by only targeting original sound expectations, and that anything falling outside that should be carefully rejected (adding an unrealistic degree of technical difficulty)...and naturally thereby creating the dependence on a dealer for ’expert’ advice on a topic that could just as easily be left on its own since much of the fun of the hobby is in the discovery of the unexpected surprises, even in the midst of what we might otherwise think of as a purchasing mistake - like how much we didn’t realize we might like, say, imaging...until we heard it in, say, a new amp we were trying out for ourselves, even if the component was for us a no go for other reasons and we returned it. But, what would the next move then be having run across something that made us rethink our sound priorities? I think it unnecessarily constrictive to suggest that the only valid expectations are those we originally start with. And if it’s going to be a given that our expectations are subject to change as we go, what then do we really need the advice of others for? Particularly in advance of the question. I fail to see the need for any of it.

Going by OP's first post I would say Naim Audio gear is a little bit of Type  1 and Type 2.  Their reputation I think was created out of Type 2 sound - the full PRAT without soundstage and super resolution But through the years the Naim sound has changed (without losing the PRAT) but gaining soundstage.  I would imagine that if goung through their gear at different stages from entry system to high (Statement) more of Type 1 sound would appear in the 'Niaim' sound.

for me it´s more a matter of what I´m trying to obtain;
to recreate an exact reproduction of a recording I have no clue what sounded like in the first place
or
create a credible realistic reproduction of a performance in my living room

I´m in the last category
to make that happen I need
controlled, but not dead acoustics in large volume rooom
harmonics
dynamics and proper headroom
no postcard size soundstage
absolute quiet at 112db system, even at full volume open phono

after having been a dedicated audiophile and music lover for 45 years
an all out custom hornsystem driven by se electronics and NO DSP is what cuts it for me...