How good does great music sound

[Alrainbow]

As I have gone to better and better sound systems weather it's speakers or headphones the issue remains.
Better systems require better recordings.
It's always the draw back of a better system.
Example jethrow Tull aqualung
I must own 5 copies of the album. On a car or lesser stereo it's great music ona great system the music is almost horrible. Pink Floyd is another example.
Over my lifetime I have learned to like so much more music I never liked simply because it's sound was excellent
How do others feel about this. ?

[Johnny Vinyl]

There is no question that better sound quality enhances the listening experience, but I wouldn't say lesser quality is a horrible experience. For me, and despite the two variables in terms of sound quality, I can equally enjoy the music...and do.

[nc42acc]

As a generalization equipment manufacturers are making the gear more and more revealing and less "musical"??

[MylesBAstor]

As I have gone to better and better sound systems weather it's speakers or headphones the issue remains.
Better systems require better recordings.
It's always the draw back of a better system.
Example jethrow Tull aqualung
I must own 5 copies of the album. On a car or lesser stereo it's great music ona great system the music is almost horrible. Pink Floyd is another example.
Over my lifetime I have learned to like so much more music I never liked simply because it's sound was excellent
How do others feel about this. ?

Maybe a reason to own a Cello Pallette? I know suggesting "EQing" is tantamount to blasphemy but it's better than the alternative.

[nc42acc]

Here is what I use.

[nc42acc]

I don't want to EQ out that bite of Eva Cassidy's voice when she goes up high, she deserves to remain unadulterated.

[Alrainbow]

Bad is the wrong word , and after a short while the Brain is making it better. My thought we purely from a comparison view . Way back when when I bought my first set of infinities it was th first thing I heard when I turned them on. How lousy my manic was. And at the time I was stoned on pot lol . Of course my friends heard nothing as I did. It was the biggining of a life long journey that stills goes on as o await my new cross over network. My fear is how much of my great music may fall prey to even more details I just do not want it to be worse as the best gets better. I won many headphones mosly flagships with top amps. The level of details I hear is absurd but speakers have details that no headphone shows. The actual sound of the studio or as some call it abience that only speakers give us. Maybe I expect too much , by the way Myles a few of the tracks you played for me are of the best I won. Expecially Elvis maybe because it's simple close miked music that I love . I enjoy the breath or lips making noises . In fact magic that is from a far is far less enjoying to me. That day was a marvel to me not just how good or that it was a top end analog setup. It was the music choice you picked that made the day . If the magic OS not great a great system is not period. The music is enjoyed by me but not to a level that it is when it's great. Elton john is a great Muscian and has some really great recordings. Tumbleweed connections is one of his great albums recording wise. Talking solders or come down in time are just as good as it gets for him. Although there are many great songs those two just stand out in pure quality . Maybe I am just looking for too much getting cranky a little .

[Alrainbow]

Also eq is a great idea and worth tube rolling I achieve this Ina pure analog state . But it's way above eq that lacks a path to great stuff

[Rust]

Over my lifetime I have learned to like so much more music I never liked simply because it's sound was excellent

I may be the polar opposite. The technical quality of a recording has never made me like anything I wouldn't have liked in the first place. There is a small section of my shelves, larger than I would prefer, that consists of things purchased on the technical merits of the recording. Generally none of it generates any emotional involvement, extended attempts at listening went from boring into annoying.

As my system grew, tone controls went from something left switched out or centered to something used to make less than good recordings of excellent performances more listenable. Then came equalizers in the tape loop. A system should be flexible enough to accommodate a full range of recordings.

[nc42acc]

Rust we look at this topic as you said, polar opposite. If my system is reproducing the performance as close as possible to how it was recorded I would prefer to hear it that way. On the other hand I usually do not purchase or listen to material I just don't like. I suppose my analogy would be would you walk out of a concert because one note sounded off or offensive?

[Rust]

Marty - It's like a book, it's the story that matters. To me, the music matters first regardless of how poorly or well it was recorded and transferred to consumer medium. I have some poorly recorded things in regular rotation. It's nice if what I like is well recorded and I wish that it was more often so. Even if the performance is a little off, if it is significant personally that's still OK. Live recordings are like that.

I have left a live performance, discretely. The soprano was having a bad day, I thought my eyes would cross I was wincing so badly.

[Alrainbow]

I listen to music a big part of the day. Taking trains or driving to job sites . When I do get home and want to listen to my system any music is fine , but the qulity matters always. I have been like this all of my life . My new apartment is really a large two channel place . Everything being put into it . Although it's basically a flat with a bedroom it's completely open . The magic sounds very diffent from close to far . While I am still tuning things and there is an obvious sweet spot I do feel some music sounds better at different locations . Even from the back while I cook as the IRS v play both front and back it's pretty cool. But how good it sounds matters. I won many types of setups , from ciems , headphones and speakers . Soind just matters to me , it could be I need this to take me away from my thoughts

[MylesBAstor]

I listen to music a big part of the day. Taking trains or driving to job sites . When I do get home and want to listen to my system any music is fine , but the qulity matters always. I have been like this all of my life . My new apartment is really a large two channel place . Everything being put into it . Although it's basically a flat with a bedroom it's completely open . The magic sounds very diffent from close to far . While I am still tuning things and there is an obvious sweet spot I do feel some music sounds better at different locations . Even from the back while I cook as the IRS v play both front and back it's pretty cool. But how good it sounds matters. I won many types of setups , from ciems , headphones and speakers . Soind just matters to me , it could be I need this to take me away from my thoughts

You know it's funny. I really like good sound and probably some of the lesser sounding albums don't get as much time on the table as well recorded music. On the other hand, with a huge collection, always find some good sounding albums. But sometimes as the system improves, even poorly recorded music sounds better because you don't have complimentary issues in the recording and the system. That said, I was separated during my separation from my audio system for probably 2-1/2 years and still really found pleasure in my Sony discman! It's all about the level at which one is listening to the music as I alluded to in one of my audio jargon section posts.