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Disturbing "Sonic Trend" showing up on SOTA audio


Exaggerated high frequencies and etch = "details"

Biting unnatural attacks = "fast transient response"

Unnaturally dry bass = "taut" and “tight”

This is what I hear at shows, homes, and stores, over the last several years!

Have "new" audiophiles lost their way, in relation to what "natural sound" of "non-amplified acoustic" music sounds like?

This "type" of sound is increasingly selling as current "State of Art".

Audio has more BS, and nonsense, than any hobby that I know of!

And as "Crazy" becomes acceptable, it drives more "Crazy".

I have been in this hobby since the 70's and heard it all.

Maybe those that kept their older systems, and got off the "marry-go-round", of latest and most expensive is best, are the most intelligent!
don_c55

Showing 7 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
There are all kinds of good and bad sound at many price points.

Let's not generalize though.modern sota to me means top notch performance. That's not necessarily the same as best sound which is a subjective judgement. Good performance is not hard to identify however opinions will vary widely on what sounds best. In general good performance enables good sound but does not guarantee it.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
I agree with shubert. You can nitpick the details case by case all you want.
If you have the right setup and a good recording what you hear at home
should sound like the real thing playing in your room though not wherever it
was recorded.

If that is not the case then there are many possible reasons. But it's totally
ridiculous to say it's because it's not possible. Time to go back to the
drawing board maybe. Or maybe reassess what it is you think live music
really sounds like and why.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
"In short, you need to be as passionate in your listening as a Musician is in their playing.

That's a very good way to put it.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
Practically, it doesn't really matter what pinpoint imaging or anything really sounds like. Only what each person thinks things sound like. Its all in the ears and mind. Live or Memorex. One chooses to be satisfied or not for reasons that only matter to them.

Of course nobody ever accused an audiophile of being practical. Or satisfied, for that matter.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
I guess what I am trying to say is if there is a "Disturbing "Sonic Trend" showing up on SOTA audio " then its the observers problem since they are the one disturbed.

It may be BS or something concrete. If enough people buy into it, there is probably something to it. Otherwise it is most likely expensive BS.

"Exaggerated high frequencies and etch = "details"

Biting unnatural attacks = "fast transient response"

Unnaturally dry bass = "taut" and “tight”"

I have no problem with details, fast transient response and taught or tight bass. Others might disagree certainly.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
It's just another aspect of recordings that can make things more enjoyable
when done well. MBL done right in a larger room is the best I have heard
to date. Same system in a larger room done not so well not as impressive.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
"Pinpoint" imaging is possible live or in a studio as in recordings but not likely in most cases. So its resaonable to expect it is possible but not resaonable to expect it as a genral attribute of all or even most recordings.

The blending mentioned above, not pinpoint imaging, is the norm and its extent is based on many factors case by case.
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