what is good sound ?

for me, the closer i get to the sound of an instrument in a live setting, the happier i am.

Then spend more time listening to live music.

You're subject is the reproduction of that music by an artificial means. First off, what music sounds like in a live setting may be different to you than it is to me. It will certainly be different depending upon the setting, where you listen from, live mixing, the crowd, the room, your mood, blah, blah, blah. Sometimes live music can sound simply horrible, as we all know, and we wonder why we spent the coin when we could be more moved by the same music on our own system at home. It happens. It all comes down to subjective opinion...what makes you "happy" may not be what makes me "happy". That said, yes, I think I agree with you on some level that what one of the things that engages me most about my system is the illusion of a 'realistic' presence. I don't know that brings us much closer to some objective definition of "good sound" though but I suppose it's something. Again, it becomes subjective...those qualities in a system that make music sound "live" to you may be quite different to those that I am engaged by.

Marco

Marco: Accuracy isn't subjective. Personal preference, obviously, is subjective, but many of us don't care what someone else thinks "sounds good." That person may like exaggerated bass or treble, which is not at all true to the source. Or that person may simply not be qualified to judge a system because he or she has no idea what an unamplified instrument sounds like. As John Dunlavy noted, much of this actually can be measured. Good -- meaning accurate -- sound really isn't such a big mystery.

9rw,

I noted your post to Marco - I can't help but wonder how you judge a system to be 'accurate'. You say it "really" isn't such a big mystery".

Why don't you explain to those of use who want accuracy, but have a hard time being sure we have achieved it, exactly how you know when your system is in fact accurate and not just a sound you personally prefer.

Thanks

Newbee: Compare it to a reference: live unamplified vocals or instruments. In addition to possessing the obviously necessary hearing acuity, a person has to have reference points. He or she has to know how instruments really sound. Then find albums or CDs that have minimal processing and see how it compares. Nothing I've heard matches the live event, but the best systems can recreate a decent illusion. Sometimes it takes an adjustment period to appreciate a more accurate system.