Sonic Signature

[Macca]

In my opinion you always have to actively listen. When you're on stage it's all "just there" because there is no reproduction system getting in the way, but you still need to actively listen. You'd be amazed how many people don't listen. They're not nice to play with.

Playing in a band isn't really the same thing though, it is an active as opposed to passive activity and is quite demanding (unless you're just covering Quo tunes).

Obviously you would need to listen - perhaps what I should have said is that on a very good system there is no need to concentrate or pay special attention in order to hear everything there is to hear.

[jandl100]

I have often seen people say that when they get a new component or up-grade an existing one "it does not seem to add or subtract anything" which suggests that what they are hearing is to them a purer representation than what they were hearing before.

How do you know?

When people say things like "it does not seem to add or subtract anything" or, one of my bugbears, "it extracts every last bit of detail".
Well, you know that they haven't a clue what they are talking about and need to listen to a wider variety of gear.

[Yomanze]

I have had experiences where I felt the usual artifacts I associate with components were dramatically reduced or removed, so a sound more like a component being taken out of the chain rather than a new signature. I suppose this is just really increased transparency​.

[Dynamics]

With regard to the original question I'd say everything adds or detracts because everything in hi fi is different.

[hifinutt]

got a beautiful hi end pre amp at the moment [grandinote] . its as beautiful as my pre modwright dm
but it has a different sonic signature . mine is slightly fuller in the midrange and the one i have on demo is more extended at bottom end . they both sound absolutely delightful but a very different signature