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

"Musical" is only a qualitative attribute statement coming from an EXPRESSED subjective experience with a word used to pointed to it as "good experience" ...

It is not a logical statement we can described as in a logical analysis as an argument...Except when marketting conditioning ask to us to compare two amplifiers for example..

When i say the soundfield is "musical" i do not refer to a marketing argument about an electronic component compared to an another one, because there is then no OBJECTIVE ACOUSTIC argument in a comparison between isolated components or the different possible coupling with other components IN AN UNCONTROLLED ROOM .. Electronic components and even speakers to be analysed optimally and more objectively must be put out of a living room in an industrial laboratory or in a room acoustically dedicated to them with the right synergetical components coupled with them ...

 

In acoustic experience saying that a speakers/room is "musical" refer to specific ACOUSTIC conditions and principle which will make by a balance between many OBJECTIVE acoustic and psycho-acoustic factors and their optimal ratio an OPTIMAL "musical" experience for all people and not for only some person taste as the choice between electronic components may be in isolation from each another or coupled in a acoustically UNCONTROLLED room ...

"Musical" then become less a mere subjective attribute and more an objective description now by virtue of acoustic mastery of the speakers/room relation by an acoustician or by someone who try his best to control room acoustic...

There is "petition of principle" using the term "musicality" only when we spoke of the musicality of one component compared to another TO SELL THEM , but the falsehood here is that what is good for some ears in a living room with specific components will be less good for other ears who will prefer other components in the same living room...To determine which set of components is really better we must acoustically control a SPECFIC room where they will be embedded and compared together... And even then a room must be acoustically control FOR A SPECFIC COMPONENT to make it shine.. It is why it is difficult to compare which of two amplifiers is the better in the absolute, or between speakers, it is difficult because the room acoustic setting will change our impressions of them ...

There is also a scale in the quality of electronic component design which can make us prefer a 10,000 bucks amplifier instead of a 500 bucks one simply because one isbetter designed in quality parts and in complexity and efficiency...

Acoustic can make a difference between components which are not too far from one another in the electronical design quality scale...

But when the speakers/room relation is under relative control, as kota said, then musicality became more and more a quality acoustically determined by many OBJECTIVE factors ... It is why great hall acoustic is an ART of listening based on acoustic science...The ratio ASW/LV is objective and can be controlled precisely in acoustic laboratory experiments but his perception is subjective, it is psycho acoustic..

Then what "musicality" means in electronic marketting competition has nothing to do with acoustic listening experiments in room/speakers under acoustic controls in general, it is two different jobs...

For sure we must pick good designed component first, but once the choice is made we must design the room controls to make them shine in an acoustical "musical"or acoustically balanced way ...

 

It is why the dictum among acousticians is true : "No speakers can beat their room"

Translation: no electronic component can beat acoustic control even speakers...

In audiophile experience the easiest thing to do, so hard it seems to be, is picking the right component first , the hardest thing to do is putting them after the purchase in the right acoustic optimal conditions..

And there is also the mechanical and electrical embeddings but it is another story, and the acoustical embeddings control is the most important and the more hard part of the job to set right...

For sure no room even the best room  in the world will NEVER  redeem a badly or poorly designed or un-synergetical audio system...

Acoustic make miracles yes, but  only with good components...

@mahgister wow, a very long description of the word "musical". Glad you are willing to tackle it more.  Just for grins, I looked up the word in the dictionary. 

mu·si·cal

adjective

  • having a pleasant sound; melodious or tuneful.

English is not my first language...

This above post of mine had too much words and is not enough clear ...Thanks for your kindness..

 

"Musical" in audio context refer to the more subjective components brand name and electronic design marketing experience OR to acoustic controlled experience...In one sentence it is all i said ... One use of the word , the first, is more subjective than objective when a customer evaluate it for a purchasing choice , the other useof the word in acoustic is more objective than just subjective, because acoustic rules are not purchasing rules ...

Then speaking about "musicality " can be misleading if we dont specify the context: Component experience OR room acoustic experience...

Most people in audio as customers has no idea how acoustic control can transform component... Then they use the adjective " musicality" speaking about a brand named design... It is not EVEN WRONG...It is misleading...Because component dont exist ONLY in abstract design measured electrical values...

 

Because"musicality" is first and last, a subjective experience in controlled acoustic objective and variable conditions OR in invariable uncontrolled acoustic conditions..

It is more clear the way i put it than just only stating that the word " musicality" is misleading adjective or worst a bad argument...Saying this is not EVEN wrong...

Because context is necessary to be meaningful.. And the word "musical" can be acoustically meaningful in acoustic controlled conditions OR can be meaningful for electronic engineer evaluating their design by industrial standards...

If the word "musical" was only a petition of principle and useless  argument as some say,  there will be no "musical" concert Hall , nor any TOP OF THE WORLD very "musical" room... There is "musical" room and "unmusical" one; and they are designed by acoustician and not by chance but by a learned craft...

My past room was not TOP OF THE WORLD, but was very "musical" because of acoustic control, compared to the same room BEFORE...And EVERYBODY will pass the same judgement on my room BEFORE and AFTER  as i did because acoustic is not arbitrary craft...

"Musical" here means something OBJECTIVE in the acoustic ratio ASW/LV ratio... It is not "a petition of principle argument", but the result of acoustic listenings  experiment with variable   control...

Thats all...

I hope i was clearer in this post than in my other past post above ...

@mahgister wow, a very long description of the word "musical". Glad you are willing to tackle it more. Just for grins, I looked up the word in the dictionary.

mu·si·cal

adjective

  • having a pleasant sound; melodious or tuneful.

« We dont banish  word, we must understand their context instead "» -- Groucho Marx 🤓