2. amps-preamps
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Isn't it really about quality of recording?

Are most of us just chasing our tails?

I mean you listen to a variety of recordings and some sound a lot better than others. Your system has limited impact on how good recordings can be. I am awestruck how some music sounds and clearly my system has nothing to do with it, it all occurred when the music was produced.

We talk about soundstage and imaging and I am not sure all the effort and money put toward a better system can really do that much for most of what we listen to because the quality is lesser than other recordings.

You can walk into a room and hear something that really sounds good and you say wow what an amazing System you have but no!!! It's the recording dummy not the system most of the time. Things don't sound so good it's probably the recording.

The dealers don't wanna talk about Recording quality no one seems to want to talk about it and why is this? Because there's no money to be made here that's why.

 

jumia
ghdprentice
7,135 posts
 

@aewarren

It depends. There are systems built on the basis of more details are better… in that case correct. But there are systems based on musicality and natural presentation: for those recordings will sound much better.

Two or three decades ago I realized systems could be too revealing… with the loss of musicality. I remember correctly choosing between a Sim Moon 650D and 750D DAC / CD player… where the 650 balanced detail/musicality and the 750 scraped every last detail off of a disk or file… but would completely ruin a less than perfect recording.

The trick is to balance detail with musicality… like a knife edge… one step too far in either direction and you either end up with overly revealing non-musical music from all but great recordings or warm lacking in details presentation.

My personal view is that Audio Research has nailed the balance perfectly at their highest level Reference Series.

boxer12
8,656 posts
 

The quality of the recording certainly matters but a good system will make a good recording sound better. Simple really. 

aewarren
662 posts
 

@ghdprentice

Thanks for your insight. Actually I own an all ARC Ref system. Good recordings sound really good on it. Crappy recordings sound like what they are.

mazian's avatar
mazian
410 posts
 

+1 aewarren

pedroeb
493 posts
 

Without the music, what's the point of chasing sound reproduction perfection?

Once a certain level is obtained, going to the next level makes so little difference it is basically pointless.

There are some crucial things all loudspeakers require. Grounding speaker baskets and magnets makes an insane improvement. As does treating the front of the baffle so sounds are absorbed and not reflected towards the listener.

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