Is a highly discerning system enjoyable?


I argue that in terms of musical enjoyment, connection, feeling the musicians and composers maybe a highly discerning system is going too far? Maybe I want the warts airbrushed out.  Maybe I like a system that lets me listen to a broader range of recordings  without whincing?

Then there’s systems which are discerning of performances vs. discerning of upstream gear. I personally feel they are not the same thing at all.

Lastly, if your room is an acoustic mess, how can you tell?

If you feel strongly either way I'd appreciate examples of the gear that made you go one way or another.

erik_squires

Showing 1 response by audphile1

My personal preference is realism, natural tone, presence and for the system to be able to convey emotion to the listener. I’m also trying to strike a good balance between being able to enjoy music and get the most out of a recording without overstepping the boundaries and crossing into a discerning or analytical. It’s tough to do and you end up walking on the edge where a smallest possible change like vibration control pucks, etc. can tip the scale.

But…I don’t want to be sitting there listening to a system that is a lab instrument, subjected to an aural microscope type presentation. 
So I guess a high resolution revealing (transparent to change) system rather than discerning (picky eater from a recording quality standpoint) is my preference. I’m close to the goal with my current set up but as we all know, never done.