What is meant exactly by the description 'more musical'?


Once in awhile, I hear the term 'this amp is more musical' for some amps. To describe sound, I know there is 'imaging' and 'sound stage'. What exactly is meant by 'more musical' when used to describe amp?

dman777

I guess opinion and taste might enter into it?

No accounting for taste.

As far as what makes equipment sound musical, that is very predictable, For those who do not understand engineering, their opinion will matter (to them), but that won't change how equipment behaves...

No accounting for taste.

As far as what makes equipment sound musical, that is very predictable, For those who do not understand engineering, their opinion will matter (to them), but that won't change how equipment behaves...

Sure,  @atmasphere  , but what is meant by "more musical"?

@mahgister  you continually use words like "impression" and "perception" and "well."  "Impressions" describe subjective experiences, "perceptions" describe subjective experiences, and what some consider "well" others do not, so "well" is also subjective.

OP asked "what is meant by more musical"?

Musical = pertaining to music, as in a musical instrument such as the cornet.

Unless the term music is also subjective, that definition is not subjective.

When a reviewer writes that "a certain piece of gear is more musical,"

I would assume that the reviewer means that the gear produces music "well" and that the experience is listening to something  "having the pleasing harmonious qualities of music."  However, what pleases some does not please others and what some find harmonious others do not.

I have nothing at all against Cher Bono or her heritage--however I find nothing harmonious or pleasing about her nasal catterwalling in a monotone about being a half breed.  I would say the same about the thrash-metal sound of the band Mega-Death.  My perception or impression of both is that neither meets the criteria of being very "musical."

But there are a lot of people who would argue that I am wrong about both (however, it wouldn't be the same group of people that would argue that the sound of Cher is musical that would also argue that thrash-metal is musical).

 

When a reviewer writes that "a certain piece of gear is more musical,"

 

 

"More musical" means an upgrade of gear or /and upgrade of room acoustics...

If you own atmasphere top amplifier for example which is designed in account of some psychoacoustics facts, then you may try to upgrade instead of his already TOP amplifier a low cost speakers to a better one , but if your speakers are relatively good already BEFORE upgrading, it is better to improve the room ...

One piece of Gear upgrade at some level of price toward another gear piece in a similar price scale will not compare generally to the huge impact of room dedicated acoustics at all ...

What you seem to MISS IS that anything , any piece of gear will sound in synergy with all the other piece of gear but IN A DIFFERENT WAY in a different room ...The room acoustic will make a HUGE difference on speakers impressions...

If the room is bad, or if it is not bad but a simple living room or if it is a dedicated tailor made room acoustically controlled for a specific pair of speakers then you have here 3 cases of two increase in .SQ .. A bad room versus a good room with no acoustic control or/and treatment , and now going from a good room without any acoustic optimization to a dedicated acoustically controlled room ... Most gear upgrade will not compare to that if you already own a synergetical system already then upgrading anything is way less impactful than upgrading the room ...

Now dont believe any  reviewer when they say that a piece of gear is " more musical "... It is relative not only to the design of the piece of gear but also to the synbergy with the other gear pieces  but also to the room acoustics ... There is too much factors at play here to believe one reviewer...

I believe atmasphere because he knows psychoacoustic facts  about human hearing which he use in his design to improve it and make it more musical...Then the only way to make the amplifier of atamasphere "more musical" if your sperakers are on the same level is giving to the system a dedicated acoustic room the best as possible in your house ...

 

"More musical" means an upgrade of gear or /and upgrade of room acoustics...

Seriously???  That is what you think the definition of "more musical" is??  A simple "upgrade of gear"???  And if the gear upgrade doesn't work and the result actually sounds like hammered sh!t, then is it still "more musical"?

At least you were finally able to provide a concise definition.  I'll give you that anyway.