Can your system be optimized to sound better for classical or non-classical?

Mr. Pass (Pass Labs) once said that stereo reproduction is an entertainment and not dialysis.  What he meant was that in a sense, whatever it takes to sound good.  I do believe if a system is optimized for rock, pop and so on, will probably won't sound as good in classical and likewise.  

Just like anything in life, if something is optimized to perform optimally in one area, will fall short in another.  A really great sport car won't feel comfy in a long journey like a Lexus.  I have never seen a great artist and a great physicist exist in one person.  

I don't think Einstein can play as well as Beethoven, but that doesn't mean there isn't a person who possesses both qualities (if not equally), just that if that person exists, he or she won't be remembered as well as if they were separately.  Likewise, a system can sound "good" in both classical or rock/pop, but it won't excel in either area.  I guess the word is "compromise".  

Pragmasi,

I tend to agree with you. Whereas I’ve heard horrible representations of classical music on some sets that excel in rock, there is much less of a drop off (if at all) in the quality of sound of rock on a good classical system.

Classical is the most demanding genre for a Hi-Fi because of its dynamic range and wide frequency spectrum. During quiet passages you want a jet black background without a hint of hiss but you need the power in reserve for the louder sections. Generally other types of recording have more compression so a bit of background noise could go unnoticed. Also, the range of frequencies (from a pipe organ to a piccolo) is going to need a pretty flat 20Hz-20kHz response to sound natural. Pop / Rock / Electronic music will have been mastered to sound good on a wide range of systems so is likely to be more compressed and have less sub 80Hz content.
So I guess I’m saying that if you have a system that sounds good with classical music then it should sound good with most other genres.

@artemus_5  Technically, the term 'classical music' refers to a specific era. It specifically excludes Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, and other eras. Nevertheless, some wonderfully involving and interesting music was composed at these times, and repays serious attention. I call this 'serious music'.

This includes, but is certainly not limited to, such giants as Tallis, Bach, Wagner. Modern examples of serious music are David Hykes' New Harmonic Choir, Gorecki, and Paert.

This contrasts with Dylan (which I also like), and U2 (which I do not).

@terry9 , Will you explain what "serious music" is?

I too spend a lot of time with classical (or, at least, serious music of any era). For me, the essence is clarity, tonality, and coherence from bass to treble.

Every component in the signal path has a sonic signature, and that most assuredly applies to EQ, regardless of technology or cost. I think that extra processing always gets in the way of serious music. For R&R of course, extra processing is the whole point.

My system sounds great with everything because its high resolution.

Depending upon your equipment, the only item I could recommend would be a equalizer with user adjustable presets. You have the choice of a stand-alone unit or (if you're running your set-up with either a desktop or laptop) one of the on-line available programs.
Currently, I'm using a pair of Behringer 8024 eq's; one 'in-line', the other as a monitor with it's calibrated mic.
To update from these, I'd spring for their newest unit, the DEQ2496.  One of these could replace both, and add additional functions.   Just the 'auto room eq' to adjust your speakers to your listening space is an 'eye'...or should I say, 'ear opener'.  Pick up their calibration mic with it, and you're good to go. *S*
On line, there's a bevy of selections, but my 'go-to' is this:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/
Add the Peace interface for the APO; it makes it more 'user friendly':
https://sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension/?source=typ_redirect
If you listen to Anything online, this will 'do the deed' before the signal leaves your sound card. ;)  And has it's own memories; it also has more adjustment capabilities than you could likely ask for...

Oh, yeah...shop amazon for the 2496...don't pay full retail, and you get buyer protect as well. ;)

There's other 'fun stuff out there'...contact me direct if you've got any questions. *G*  Happy listening....

Go to the Salk Sound website and check out their SS7F speaker.

It has an "open back midrange" with 3 options: a) wide open
b) partially stuffed  c) closed off

These are options to help control room ambiance; and, it uses the example of listening to a live symphony versus a small jazz club.

Classical depends largely upon not compromising too much on tonality and instrument timbre whereas Rock and Pop thrive on punch and dynamics.

Of course, as usual, unavoidable loudspeaker compromises - as every loudspeaker designer wil only be too aware of - will depend upon which model you use. For example a JBL K2 will have different strengths and weaknesses compared to a Harbeth M40. Both excellent loudspeakers but neither of them are perfect.

It's precisely issues such as this that make system building and upgrading so difficult. Many times you can find yourself going forward in one area and back in another, even eventually arriving back at your starting point many years later. [Not that I know anything about this kind of foolishness of course - oh the pain!].

However as lowrider57 states above, it should still be possible to shuffle the various unavoidable compromises around so that your system can handle all genres reasonably well if you wish.

That's the unavoidable choice you always face when assembling a system - specialisation or generalisation.

As we know, despite our best efforts, no system gets anywhere near close to the real thing.

I built a system to primarily listen to classical, but be able to reproduce any genre. The correct tonal qualities are important, as well as soundstaging and imaging. The image for classical should be focused and reveal textures and depth of the orchestra.

If you have good components and the speakers are set up correctly, and the room is acoustically treated, your system should be able to reproduce other styles of music. I’m a Zeppelin fanatic and wasn’t quite getting the proper slam, so I changed tubes in my amp and moved some room treatments and even classical sounds better now.
I think it’s possible, I did it. The room is a major contributor to obtaining proper sonics. Of course, your components must be up to the task. IOW, good synergy.

Jazz, reggae, rock, blues all sound terrific in my "classical music" system.

Should read “doesn't sound so terrific.”