Should We Prioritize Detail In Our Assessment Of Audio Quality?

@musichead

Excellent article… thank you. It took me decades to really sense rhythm and pace. For the longest time, I had noticed if my foot unconsciously started moving to the music it had something that was missing on many systems. Over time, I was able to sense it and detect it in a system… although my foot is still the easiest indicator. A system with really good rhythm and pace allows you to fall into the music instead of listening to the system. Now I recognize this attribute is far more important than detail or imaging… although it is great to have those as well.

Ok, very funny… (first article) how did Dave get his wife or girlfriend to pose with him, as if she spent all that time listening to his system with him… don’t believe it, unless just married or starting a relationship. I remember my partner listening with me… 35 years ago… once every five or ten years since.

You have hit on something it took me a few decades to put in perspective. Detail is good… but it is only one of many important sound characteristics. I have gone running from a number of high end systems that emphasized detail over other aspects… like noice, distortion and lack of rhythm and pace. Highlighted details can destroy the musical connection with the music. It is one of the easiest parameters to detect… along with slam. Build a system on those two parameters alone and you have a sterile and  uninvolving system… that may cause fatigue.
 

I remember being so happy hearing the drummer slide his foot… I can hear that on my current system, but it is not in the spotlight, and I probably will not notice it because I am lost in the music.