Ultra high resolution

I think it is all of the above and talent and experience of the designer. It helps a lot if he has extensive live music listening experience. Every parts is and should be 'costed' not soley parts quality/price but how it works in his current design as a whole.

I don't think there are only two amplifier brands out there w/ UHR. There are several or could be many (Small brands are sometime overlooked)

Once you have UHR amp, it comes down to how good is your source and preamp. Otherwise, garbage in UHRed garbage out!

With that said I agree w/ Mr Tennis's take on UHR. I like my music to sound natural and 'simple' (no exaggerated harmonics and details- which many well touted UHR system produces). Live music is not complicated- sound characteristics wise)

Rodman99999, that is very good position to be in- exposed to live music on a regular basis as compared 'typical' audiophile who goes to live event once in a while- to make some kind of statement reg the def of resolution.

Could you post some of the titles that you think are accurate- available on CD or Vinyl? Thanks.

Details are definitely good to have and absolutely essential. It is the exaggerated details and thin, ill defined and scratchy 'tonal balance' of this details that I don't appreciate. Same goes w/ harmonics. Proper ' tonal' balance of these details and harmonics is the key ingredient of music to sound life like.

Chris,

Yes, It does clarify what kind of treble and tonal balance we are all talking about. Sometime there is music content that is embedded in recording that just pops out either from way back or side with such a realistic tonal balance that you just say out loud wow and for a moment you wonder whether it came from somewhere around the house or outside or what?

Also other aspect of the disagreements here is as to how much details one prefers relates to which seating position (5th or 10th row- actual seating position near field or far field at home) perspective he or she prefers (like Mr T). Once you get HR system, I think it does not matter if you are 5 ft away. 10 ft away or up and around the house or how loud the system plays, you should get in general similar palatable and believable tonal balance and right details amount.
My preference (or have right now) is to have this (right tonal balance, harmonics and detail combo) at the level tad (extremely small) below what should be right in real life. I would rather have my mind fill-in/ make up for rest of the tiny amount. Weird reasoning I agree, but for me it works and thus more records/material becomes listen-able. I have 2 digital and 2 anaIog sources and this set up works great for large % of perm and combination. Although I have optimized my system for one Digital and one analog source in particular. I think it does not take very long (different recordings have different balance) to tilt the balance the other way so quick that it gets unrealistic so quick more often.

Okay I will get off my soapbox now.

I do ( and I think others) recognize what Chris is talking about.

Rodman99999, Thanks for the software recommendations.

Hmm, I have to dig up my old GRP discs. Have not heard them in a while. Even on my low rez system years ago i remember the disc having 'good' dynamic and punchy sound...

Rodman99999, I also have many artists you mentioned above - some in both CD and Vinyl. bought and collected when I was heavily in to smooth jazz and New age music. Here in LA another collection was available on Wave Aid series of CDs released by KWAV 94.7 FM.- A very good well matched (volume and tempo wise) compilation also.

Well, the last Shadornes' insightful post high light the gist of audiophile dilemma and indicate that indeed there are no absolutes in high end audio. There is wide range of sound between 'accurate' to recording and life like sound reproduction.

It is easier to discern what sounds like life- like as compared to ' accurate' ( unless you happen to be recording/mastering engineer). Even after recognizing that not too many audiophiles go to live acoustic performances on a regular basis.

Hence it is easier to tune the system that sounds close to life -like ( both you are there vs they are here perspective) v/s neutral, transparent or accurate. High rez equipment help achieve this goal certainly to a great degree but not necessarily.