what is good sound ?

Mrtennis,

If by equipment-based, you mean evaluating equipment as a physical entity, its reputation, or its cost as opposed to listening to its acoustic output, then I could agree to such a dichotomy. If you mean critical as opposed to ralaxed listening, I could also agree to such a dichotomy. If you mean listening as a physiological/psychological, i.e. perceptual, process as opposed to something else, I think you are mistaken.

My doctoral and post doctoral work was in binaural processing, and I can assure you all hearing is a physiological/psychological perceptual process. Those who blab on about an "emotional" amp are doing just that, blabbing.

The psyhoacoustic correlates of complex perception (as in appreciating a Mozart sonata) are not subject to scientific study.

db

hi lenny. you are discussing another topic.

let me restate my position.

there are two ways to evaluate a stereo system.

first there is the performance of the stereo system itself, whether through use of measurements, or by listening.

the issue here is not what does a stereo system sound like.

the issue is how do you evaluate a stereo system ?

of course, people wwill disagree as to what a stereo system sounds like and will also disagree as to what constitutes sonic excellence.

the other approach is to ask the listener to describe how he/she feels after listening to music played through a stereo system. is there some sense of improvment in mood, lowering of blood pressure, reduction in anger, etc. ?

what are appropriate criteria for evaluating a stereo system.

i have observed several answers from asute individuals, but i suspect that there is no definitive answer to this question.

if that is so, i would hope that people would be open minded an accept many ideas as to what constitutes a high quality stereo system other than the concept of neutrality, accuracy, transparency, lack of coloration, etc.

by the way, just for the record, my own preference for a reduction in treble energy has nothing to do with the quality of a stereo system. it is my own idiosyncratic taste.

this is another philosophical question whose purpose was to stimulate a discussion and provide an impetus to change attitudes about what constitutes good sound.

Mrtennis, why do you want to "change attitudes about what constitutes good sound"? Have these so-called "attitudes" kept you from enjoying your good sounding stereo?
I think that Lloyd has it right.
Bob P,.

mrtennis, you've have to too much time on your hands. How 'bout trying to pick fly shit out of pepper wearing boxing gloves? Start with white pepper if you're having trouble.
:)

“there are two ways to evaluate a stereo system."

"first there is the performance of the stereo system itself, whether through use of “measurements, or by listening."

I agree, sound either has to be heard or measured.

"the issue here is not what does a stereo system sound like."

The title of the post is “what is good sound”

"the issue is how do you evaluate a stereo system?"

Well, again, it is impossible to answer this question because there are countless ways to evaluate the stereo for purchase, such as size of the room, size of the stereo, price, look, smell, feel, perceived value, you think it will get you more dates etc…this is a silly question that cannot be answered, but is intended to corral other’s thinking into the issues you want addressed. If you are truly trying to discuss evaluation and the reader is to assume that you appropriately entitled your own train of thought (namely, “what is good sound”) and that is really your underlying intent, then listening and measuring are the way to do it.

“the other approach is to ask the listener to describe how he/she feels after listening to music played through a stereo system. is there some sense of improvement in mood, lowering of blood pressure, reduction in anger, etc. ?”

What does that have to do with the way a stereo sounds and performs. Music can make you feel certain ways, Heavy Metal (maybe energy), Latin (maybe to dance), Marvin Gaye (well…lights out because when I get that feeling I need sexual healing, sexual healing, ohh baby). I believe a better system should bring those feeling more intensely, why would I want Led Zeppelin to make me relax, if I want to relax I will listen to Satie. Music should bring about a emotional response…not hardware, which is just a tool. You have stated that you want to be bored and put to sleep when listening, so do you judge a system by how quickly you doze off? For example, would someone hear an exclaim of excitement if you were at an audio shop when you said “This CD player only took 10 minutes to sleepy time and this one I put me to sleep in 2 minutes! It is the BEST! It is sooooo boring!” How could you ever evaluate emotionally based on you likes, by you own words you are unconscious and bored, that would be the opposite of emotionally captivated.

“by the way, just for the record, my own preference for a reduction in treble energy has nothing to do with the quality of a stereo system. it is my own idiosyncratic taste.”

That is exactly what I thought.

I will write more later on your perceptions of neutrality, but I got the Marvin Gaye on, so it is time for a little healin'