Describe the "new HiFi sound"?


Recently had a discussion with an audio friend over the word "musical" and what this word means to each of us with regard to sound from different amplifiers and speakers. Some debate too.  And, reading this other comment on Agon once in a while...how some equipment has the "new HiFi sound".  

ASK: 

Can someone describe this, in your words, what is the new HiFi Sound to you?  Examples? Or, opposites of the new HiFi sound, what does this sound like?

 

 

 

decooney

This video shows the transformation od the "old" hifi sound to the "new HiFi" sound at Capitol Records.

Guys, you need to ring out the old to bring in the new:

https://youtu.be/SxaKDNt5v_U

When the audience sits at the center of the performance, and the musicians play around them, encircling them, Atmos might make more sense for music listening.

Most music recordings start in stereo format. Hearing cymbols and instruments playing behind you and above you is odd when comparing to live performances.

@kota1 did you happen to read feedback comments below the video you shared?

@decooney 

IDK what you mean by audience sitting at the center and atmos making sense. 

Before I type a response I just want to ask if you have a system setup for atmos in your home. If we are talking what makes sense we need to be specific. There are good and bad mixes in everything. There are atmos mixes where it sounds like you are standing right at the position of the conductor. There are mixes when you are in the audience and many other types. What specific track or album are you referring to where cymbals play behind you?? Your post is written like you don't have a proper atmos setup or just very little experience.

Do you realize that most mixes start at the microphone into multiple tracks before they get compressed into just 2 channels for stereo? The don't start in stereo at all.

Listen to the way mastering engineer Michael Romanowski describes atmos music at the 1:30 mark, that is a pretty good summary. At 2:20 he talks about the difference between stereo and atmos both from the listeners perspective as well as the composers:

https://youtu.be/zWhJqsg6F30

Right, well the problem is that Atmos is based (started) primarily as a movie format. That makes sense…multichannel sound for special effects and cues. Problem is it involves mostly non audiophile equipment and or would be cost prohibitive if scaled up for most people. Ideally, it would add more of a sense of space around the sound if it were a live recording, but could only offer fake cues for studio recordings. Most of my music is from by gone days…certainly not current mainstream garbage. A properly set up stereo with a great recording can be immersive on its own…music designed for Atmos sounds like Frankenmusic! Strong Quadraphonic vibes I’m afraid. But again…midfi gear, so it’s a non starter.