Hi Rayd, From your post, you look like a music lover. You did the right thing going after realism, instead of hifi. You're right, there is no etched pin point imaging in real music. Neither is there any tight artificial bass, in real life. I guess most people have never heard a stand up bass to know how fat and loose it really is, neither does it image very well. Natural, realistic, musical presentation is what's important in a music system for a music lover, all the other hifi artifacts are for audiophiles. rgds, david k.
Sound-stage, imaging, focus......
I would like to get some facts and opinions about sound-stage, imaging and focus as presented by a system. When I began my system purchasing process, I listened for a sound which came close to a live acoustical performance. For me, that meant instruments sounded real. I was not listening for sound-staging, imaging, etc., because, try as I might, I have not been able to comprehend sound-staging, exact placement of instruments (re: two chairs to the left of the pricipal trumpet), micro-dynamics, etc. at a live performance. That just doesn't happen for me from any position in an auditorium or club. I have never commented after a concert that "the focus and depth were spectacular". Are these descriptions applicable only to reproduced sound or am I missing something?