I believe that the primary thing to listen for is the proper tonality of instruments. That, of course, requires knowledge of what live instruments sound like.
A proper audio system will have enough resolution to enable the listener to discern between an oboe and a soprano sax, a violin and a viola, vibes and marimbas, and even drums heads equipped with animal skins vs acrylic.
A proper audio system will be seamless in its presentation from top to bottom. It will have crystal clear highs that don't pierce the eardrums, a midrange that allows the human voice to sound natural, and a bass that is not boomy, but tonally correct.
A proper audio system gives the listener a performance that is as close to real as possible, where one puts away the thought of the sound, and just gets absorbed in the music.
A proper audio system will recreate music in such a way that it will get the listener emotionally involved in an almost spiritual way. That, in my opinion, is what I would call the Holy Grail.
My current system has all of the above ... in spades.
Frank
A proper audio system will have enough resolution to enable the listener to discern between an oboe and a soprano sax, a violin and a viola, vibes and marimbas, and even drums heads equipped with animal skins vs acrylic.
A proper audio system will be seamless in its presentation from top to bottom. It will have crystal clear highs that don't pierce the eardrums, a midrange that allows the human voice to sound natural, and a bass that is not boomy, but tonally correct.
A proper audio system gives the listener a performance that is as close to real as possible, where one puts away the thought of the sound, and just gets absorbed in the music.
A proper audio system will recreate music in such a way that it will get the listener emotionally involved in an almost spiritual way. That, in my opinion, is what I would call the Holy Grail.
My current system has all of the above ... in spades.
Frank