How do you judge your system's neutrality?



Here’s an answer I’ve been kicking around: Your system is becoming more neutral whenever you change a system element (component, cable, room treatment, etc.) and you get the following results:

(1) Individual pieces of music sound more unique.
(2) Your music collection sounds more diverse.

This theory occurred to me one day when I changed amps and noticed that the timbres of instruments were suddenly more distinct from one another. With the old amp, all instruments seemed to have a common harmonic element (the signature of the amp?!). With the new amp, individual instrument timbres sounded more unique and the range of instrument timbres sounded more diverse. I went on to notice that whole songs (and even whole albums) sounded more unique, and that my music collection, taken as a whole, sounded more diverse.

That led me to the following idea: If, after changing a system element, (1) individual pieces of music sound more unique, and (2) your music collection sounds more diverse, then your system is contributing less of its own signature to the music. And less signature means more neutral.

Thoughts?

P.S. This is only a way of judging the relative neutrality of a system. Judging the absolute neutrality of a system is a philosophical question for another day.

P.P.S. I don’t believe a system’s signature can be reduced to zero. But it doesn’t follow from that that differences in neutrality do not exist.

P.P.P.S. I’m not suggesting that neutrality is the most important goal in building an audio system, but in my experience, the changes that have resulted in greater neutrality (using the standard above) have also been the changes that resulted in more musical enjoyment.
bryoncunningham
Vince, I hope you realize that what sounds neutral to you might sound too warm or too cold to somebody else. I don't question that one might perceive sound as neutral but it is just only personal subjective opinion.

Dgarretson wrote - "There are many instances in which internal mods to electronics improve resolution while also preserving and even enhancing warmth. A move in this direction is an uncompromising step toward neutrality."

This statement makes warmer equal neutral. In addition there are mentioned "undesirable colorations" or "negative colorations" (oppose to desired colorations or positive colorations)

If there is a proof that neutral is subjective this is it.
Kijanki, let me give you an example. I have a DAC that is tuned to warmth. This is accomplished by the use of signal constricting diodes for the most part. Replacing that diode with a wide open gate diode. I get to hear those twinkly highs, and high pitched piercing sounds.
Tuned to warmth - that is your preference. I don't care for warmth (other than winter clothing here in Chicago).
You did not read what I wrote. I said I changed that colored DAC to a DAC with equal access to all frequencies. That is what I want.