You know you have audiophile system when...

My definition of an audiophile system is that it sounds exactly like live music. I set up my new system with my new audiophile speakers, synced the subwoofer so it blended in perfectly, got speaker position perfect and everything sounded terrific.

I auditioned it for my wife. She listened and said "It sounds like they’re in the room with us." Now inside my head I was doing my happy dance, because that’s exactly what I was going for. Then she said "It’s creepy. I don’t like it."

@natman 

I auditioned it for my wife. She listened and said "It sounds like they’re in the room with us." Now inside my head I was doing my happy dance, because that’s exactly what I was going for. Then she said "It’s creepy. I don’t like it."

I'd rather have someone say, "It sounds just like we've been transported to the concert hall, jazz club, rock club', than it sounds like they are in the room with us, when they hear my system. But that is my preference. Even with a singer with an acoustic guitar, I would rather be transported to the original recording space.

Just how does on get a simulation that there is an 80 piece orchestra in the room with me? But having it sound as if I am 15 rows back at Disney Hall, sound more attainable. 

But then, I am probably just being pedantic. 

I’d rather have someone say, "It sounds just like we’ve been transported to the concert hall, jazz club, rock club’, than it sounds like they are in the room with us, when they hear my system. But that is my preference.

You are right!

It is not a taste or a preference, but an acoustic result when a system /room is under control...

If they are in " the room with you" but you are not there in the concert hall or jazz club with them to begin with it, is because the acoustic trade-off of the recording engineer is not revealed well in your system/room...

Our room must be erased by passive and active and acoustic and psycho-acoustic control to reveal some aspects of the recording original trade-off, then it is you who are there on the stage or near it,  out of your room, with an intimate relation with the sound around you , not them in your room ...

It is my acoustic experience...

I've kept a detailed audio journal for over twenty years. I've looked back through the journals and the angst and disappointments of so many entries makes me wonder how I had such persistence. Based on journal entries I perceived my system worthy of audiophile quality around five years ago, lots of 'best ever' entries since then. For myself, I had to reach a level of resolution that gave illusion of performers in room. I continue to reach new plateaus, which means less mind games to convince oneself there are flesh and blood performers in room

. I'm convinced further gains are in future, so, at least in my case, a self defined audiophile system is not an end point. One can reach one mountain top only to see another higher mountain in the distance. I can say it does feel great to reach those lower mountain tops, it all becomes good at some point.