Fidelity vs. Musicality...........Is there a tug of War?


I lean towards Musicality in systems.
ishkabibil
In order to retrieve the tonal correctness of voice and instruments see above. High fidelity. Inaudible NOISE and DISTORTION and FLAT  UNCOLORED FR.
“Fidelity is Musicality”! Surely one can dissect the sound from an audiophile perspective. But I choose not to “tear apart the flower”.
By doing so, the flower is no longer beautiful.
Admittedly, I do take note of the imaging. But am very fortunate to have a system that is able to create a suspension of disbelief.
And that term brings me to a central element of the difference of a live performance. Amplified or not, disbelieve is not at issue.
THE central element of a live performance is that there are human beings. Not an electronic recreation. No matter how much fidelity/musicality of a system, it cannot recreate a live experience.



If instruments sound the way I think they should,  that is an accurate system that is enjoyable, therefore musical.
When I go to a concert I can enjoy not so good fidelity if the performance and live experience are good enough. Not at home.