As a retired classical pianist and audiophile, what I look for is a natural presentation.
I am not obsessive to the point I must have the most expensive, or best of the best equipment. The audiophile in me wants to obsess over the sound, but the musician in me simply wants to sit down and have an experience of the music that closely resembles what I have heard in live situations.
I think audiophiles look for different parameters than musicians do: Agonizing over parameters that musicians don’t care about.
A musician realizes there is no “one” sound of a performance. Yes, bass may not be “tight” in certain venues. Similarly, “highs” may be compromised. There is no holy grail of one “perfect” sound. So, if a recording is not ideal by audiophile standards, a musician may accept it because it better transmits the musical message, even if it’s not acceptable by audiophile standards.
I am not obsessive to the point I must have the most expensive, or best of the best equipment. The audiophile in me wants to obsess over the sound, but the musician in me simply wants to sit down and have an experience of the music that closely resembles what I have heard in live situations.
I think audiophiles look for different parameters than musicians do: Agonizing over parameters that musicians don’t care about.
A musician realizes there is no “one” sound of a performance. Yes, bass may not be “tight” in certain venues. Similarly, “highs” may be compromised. There is no holy grail of one “perfect” sound. So, if a recording is not ideal by audiophile standards, a musician may accept it because it better transmits the musical message, even if it’s not acceptable by audiophile standards.