Does Heavy Metal music benefit from a high end audio system?

IMO this is a great subject...thanks to OP for that.

I'm not a fan of this genre, either. But the few times I've heard heavy metal, I couldn't help but notice it was so compressed that whatever fidelity good audio gear brings to the party might not be as noticeable on typical recordings in this genre.

Of course, that wouldn't hold true for well recorded heavy metal. Someone who's into this genre would know which recordings those are...

But the few times I’ve heard heavy metal, I couldn’t help but notice it was so compressed that whatever fidelity good audio gear brings to the party might not be as noticeable on typical recordings in this genre.

Of course, that wouldn’t hold true for well recorded heavy metal.

Compression can be especially true of some metal, but it is by no means a defining characteristic - so you are correct that there is well recorded/produced metal. Check out the link provided above and simply type in the artist for a measure of compression. Red very compressed (bad?). Green/yellow not compressed (good?).  That was an edit - I was initially imposing a judgement, now bracketed.

Many quite well known and contemporary artists who are miles away from metal also issue very compressed recordings. Not that I know many these days, being over the age of consent. Difficult to listen to without quickly becoming fatigued, I wish it were otherwise.

I read alot of different opinions here..about difference, when did hard rock become heavy metal...Cream ,Hendrix,Led Zepplin...Blue Cheer,Mountain, Black Sabbath ,Deep Purple where the first explorers of the new world.

Oh I forgot yes,it would hopefully your not going to blow your speakers up....

@noske,

Dave Grohl quoted Lemmy (late of Motorhead) - "Lemmy’s the king of rock ’n’ roll—he told me he never considered Motörhead a metal band, he was quite adamant."



Quite right too. Motorhead were never JUST a metal band.

On the other hand, just like Zeppelin, they are automatically considered to be one of the most famous metal bands to emerge from the UK.

Basically, you don't have to be a 'metal' band to play metal. There are no such rules and distinctions in music where crossover is often king.


In fact here's another great metal track that wouldn't normally be associated with this artist.
William Shatner's awesome take on Pulp's Common People

https://youtu.be/zI3UfxyIdgs