2. misc-audio
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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 mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
planar speakers do not sound like cone-based speakers.the dispersion of sound differs between driver types.

also it is possible that tube and solid state based systems will sound different.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the basic problem is the words after "if the object of an audio system.....".

i believe there are many goals for the sound of an audio system. while , according to any criterion, the best systems will sound similar there will be audible differences.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i think that as has been stated before, there are two camps. one tries to minimize errors to the signal, the other tries to satisfies one's taste/preferences, or whatever word (subjective) you choose to select.

the former stereo systems as a group would tend to veer towards the neutral, while the latter would vary all over the place.

so, it's a matter of what your idea is as to the purpose of a stereo system. there is no definitive answer. there is no write or wrong.

this issue has plagued serious listeners for years. it is a philosophical issue and will be argued forever.

rehgardless of the approach what is considered "best" in stereo systems will present audible differences.
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