production or reproduction

all components are imperfect, i.e., each has a sonic signature which can be identified after some duration of careful listening.

while many embrace neutrality or attempt to minimize the audibility of a sonic signature as their goal when configuring a stereo system, after one's best efforts, all stereo systems will exhibit some "color".

why not accept the fact that a stereo system has some "flavor", and therefore, select your favorite?

less color is not intrinsically better than more coloration. rather it is the conventional wisdom and opinion of many audiophiles that a consistent sonic signature is indicative of a less-than-ideal state of performance. however, since the goal of listening to music is pleasure and that the end result of our hobby is entertainment, coloration may not be so important.

since all stereo systems are imperfect reproducers of a recording, they are producers of something other than the
recording itself.

why try to achieve perfect reproduction when it doesn't exist ?