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Should the best systems sound almost identical?

If the overall goal of audio equipment and the various media types is to reproduce recorded music the way it sounded when it was being recorded, then it seems that as an audio system gets closer to achieving this goal various systems should sound more and more alike.

For example, in a utopian world my stereo system would so perfectly reproduce a singers voice that if they were standing between the speaker you couldn't tell the difference in an A/B test. If the equipment is adding a characteristic sound the listener would be able to tell a difference. The less of the systems characteristic sound the closer to the actual singer the recording would be.

Taking this another step, does it make sense that the "better" speakers are the more they should sound the same? Should they not be getting closer to the perfect reproduction of the signal that is given them?

How about the Focal Grande Utopia speakers that retail for $180,000 vs. some of the crazy expensive MBL stuff. I'd venture a guess that they sound nothing alike. Almost seems like speakers at this level should almost be interchangeable in a system at least at the sweet spot.
mceljo

Showing 3 responses by inna

inna
7,178 posts
 
They should but they don't. That means that they all are very far from the reality of the recorded musical event.
And I don't really care if I like what's coming out of the speakers. And if by any chance this illusion actually sounds "better" than the reality, I will be more than happy.
The analogy with performance cars is incorrect, by the way.
inna
7,178 posts
 
Agreed. Really good hearing is just that - good hearing. Preferances is another thing.
Hell, I don't even know what the half of those instruments in a big orchestra are called. But when played live they sound, well, live; that's for sure.
inna
7,178 posts
 
Don't know about Stradivari's violins but I heard many acoustic guitars, bad, good and great. All sounded different even if slightly so. But guitars made by masters usually do have particular sound signature, so they are recognized by those who know and can hear it. The same, I suppose, with Stradivari and other invaluable instruments.
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