Truth or Beauty?

[Diapason]

Yes I know, preferably both.

Still, I've been thinking about this recently. Do you want your hifi to sound gorgeous, even if that means coloured, or would you prefer an honest, warts n' all presentation? Historically I've favoured the warts n' all, but I'm not so sure now.

[DaveF]

Definitely not all out honesty! For the simple reason in that not all recordings are of the same quality. I think a small bit of warmth goes a long long way to making even the most terrible of recordings listenable. My speakers give me that so I dont need an overly warm or cuddly amp with them, hence the Devialet which may as well be a perfect wire regardless of it being fed from a CDP or TT.
As I've said before, my hifi journey has now led me to finding a system which is a 'line of best fit' through all my recordings.

Honest systems/monitors are for studios who need to know exactly whats happening.

That said, people love the valves and vinyl despite their distortions and believe that their presentation is more life like and therefore more honest. I'd agree.

Still, I've never figured out why a system with certain levels of distortion sound more like the real instrument.
Some key element must be lost in the recording chain and somehow added back in the playback system when valves/vinyl are used.

[jaybee]

Euphonic makes me Euphoric!!

Also beautiful looking, (not necessarily bling- think Nagra)

[Aleg]

Yes I know, preferably both.

Still, I've been thinking about this recently. Do you want your hifi to sound gorgeous, even if that means coloured, or would you prefer an honest, warts n' all presentation? Historically I've favoured the warts n' all, but I'm not so sure now.

Why have you begun doubting the honest presentation?

I want a faithfull replay of the performance, not one made to sound 'nice'.
If a recording is bad it is allowed to sound bad. If it is unlistenable I won't buy it and they will get a bad press about it. That will teach them :-).

No, I don't want my replay to be artificially nicened, it will reduce the truly good to a mediocre replay as well, all sounding the same.

So warts it is.

More interesting:


Less interesting:


Even though the second one looks nicer :-)

Cheers

Aleg

[nige2000]

Air brushed effect is it

I'm not into smoothing effect of detail or colouring for me it takes away more than it gives

Is it not a realism of the recordings were after

As long as it's done well no earache I'm happy with a detailed presentation

[DaveF]

Is it not a realism of the recordings were after

But thats the key issue. We don't know how the real performance was because we weren't there. As you know, what we hear is what passes through the recording chain, mic placement etc and more importantly what settings the engineer dialed in during the mixing process. We'll never truely know of what their intentions were unless documented. Sometimes they do a wonderful job, other times they ought be taken outside and beaten over the head with a rake. Repeatedly.

A little bit of valviness or a slight deviation from precisely of whats on disc doesnt necessarily take away from the experience. In some cases its a necessary 'evil' in order to be able to sit hours on end listening without fatigue.

[sebna]

My understanding of the topic is much simpler. I am in it for pleasure of listening. How do I get there I do not really mind that much and I am not even trying to name it what it means to me. The good news is that I always know when I am achieving it :)

I had DAC which was originating from strictly PRO company and I did not like it at all. Based on this experience I do not think my system is truthful to the recorded music in the sense of studio gear.

[nige2000]

Is it not a realism of the recordings were after

But thats the key issue. We don't know how the real performance was because we weren't there. As you know, what we hear is what passes through the recording chain, mic placement etc and more importantly what settings the engineer dialed in during the mixing process. We'll never truely know of what their intentions were unless documented. Sometimes they do a wonderful job, other times they ought be taken outside and beaten over the head with a rake. Repeatedly.

A little bit of valviness or a slight deviation from precisely of whats on disc doesnt necessarily take away from the experience. In some cases its a necessary 'evil' in order to be able to sit hours on end listening without fatigue.

I know where your coming from
I wouldn't disagree
Detail can bring fatigue

It's the fine subtleties that brings it all together for me
I try to lead with detail and then try to remove the harshness/edge/fatigue without losing anything

[Diapason]

Aleg, I would have been 100% on your side up until quite recently, but I've realised that quality of recording dictates my listening far too much now, and I want to do something about that. I'm a bit tired of putting on, e.g. Led Zeppelin and then turning it off straight away because it sounds horrible. Now, some of this is probably a function of my own system not *actually* giving me the truth, but one way or the other I'm starting to wonder if my old view of "bad recordings should sound bad" really makes any sense. As sebna says, I'm in it for pleasure, and if I discover that a lot of my recordings don't sound all that pleasurable, maybe I should change my approach?

I'm torn on this question, though, and I'll probably end up trying to find some kind of middle ground a la DaveF. I mean, ultimately you have to ask "what is truth in recording?" and all that.

[cybot]

Aleg, I would have been 100% on your side up until quite recently, but I've realised that quality of recording dictates my listening far too much now, and I want to do something about that. I'm a bit tired of putting on, e.g. Led Zeppelin and then turning it off straight away because it sounds horrible. Now, some of this is probably a function of my own system not *actually* giving me the truth, but one way or the other I'm starting to wonder if my old view of "bad recordings should sound bad" really makes any sense. As sebna says, I'm in it for pleasure, and if I discover that a lot of my recordings don't sound all that pleasurable, maybe I should change my approach?

I'm torn on this question, though, and I'll probably end up trying to find some kind of middle ground a la DaveF. I mean, ultimately you have to ask "what is truth in recording?" and all that.

I know I'll be shot for this but I have to say it: it's one of the main reasons why I never entertained a Naim system. Why do you think they were coupled with a Linn tt?? I believe they're a much more forgiving beast nowadays :) At the end of the day it's about balance and synergy.... Can I go now ;)