Fidelity to what? Or what are we tying to achieve with all our expensive gear?

[steveinspain]

My system has to give me emotional response - meaning I listen to be moved. Accuracy or detail are not really relevant, but I do get a buzz from hearing that little noise not heard before.
Often I fail to get sucked in, but when I am in the right place, mentally, I will often shed tears and have the biggest smile, even at the same time.
I have never been able to describe what one bit of gear does or sounds like, but I do know what sounds better TO ME. That is all I care about really.
Live music can be amazing, but rarely am I relaxed in my own home when I hear it, so I cannot become immersed in it. My father was a musician, and as a kid I got to hear lots of live music at home which was fantastic. Living where I do there are few chances to get to any concerts, but there have been a few times when I have listened to musicians jamming, and the pleasure is there, but it is different from being in my house, listening to what I want to hear when I choose.

[Themis]

Nice subject and nice posts from everybody.

To me, listening to music, is NOT just reproducing with some kind of fidelity the instruments (or the recording or whatever).
What I seek for is create a canvas where different memories can pile up, and where my mind can wander freely mixing these memories with my actual state of mind. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst. Probably what some call "emotion".

In order to achieve this, ideally, the system must reproduce the recording without any artifacts that may attract my attention.
Any artifacts, be good (excessive detail in a part of the audible spectrum) or bad (unwanted distortion, blurring or unbalance) spoil my pleasure simply by being noticeable.

So, "balance" is essential for my version of "hifi" but "accurate reproduction" (whatever this may be) may not be important.

[Haselsh1]

Hmmm... I've just got on to this thread and I like it. I for one certainly do not want a 'live' sound from my Hi-Fi. If I want it live I go to a gig. What I do want from my Hi-Fi is music of a certain quality, played to a certain standard. I know not what that standard is until I hear it, and that I guess, is why we audition. I also want the music played in such a way that I can chillout and relax, maybe going into an almost dreamlike state. Yes, I know this is very personal but then the whole Hi-Fi/music thing is very personal. I do not own one 'live' album.

[Clive]

I strive for a sound that gives the impression of being real, a presence in the room. This isn't the same as striving for an exact replication of a live sound, this simply isn't possible (yes, drum, piano etc - they real thing is incredible and challenging), it would be a pointless and fruitless journey.

[DSJR]

Sixteen years ago, I attended many small scale jazz gigs, often in local pubs (ahem..) TC's I had gave me the scale and intensity of these instruments close-up when playing good 1950's recordings on CD (the CD mastering engineers obviously *listened* to their work and almost certainly had decent tape masters to work with).

These days, I find the *warts-and-all* approach of pro monitors a bit too much. I can't play at ear-splitting levels as I used to when the neighbours were out and no longer care for the absolutely ruthless analysis a good monitor brings to the musical party. I suppose a pair of ADM9.1's would be perfect in my smallish room, but the bridged Crown/BC2's I use have easily enough clarity in the mid and top and the bass, although nowhere near world class, is good enough for now. I can just sit back and revel in the music, often hearing musical details I hadn't noticed before. The valve bits I have add to this "humanity" either by doing things solid state doesn't or, more likely, retaining the bits in better harmony with my ears and losing what doesn't matter (if you see what I mean).

At the end of the day, we consumers are limited to the abilities of the mastering/cutting engineer for the quality of the software we buy and this is about as close as we can get to the original recordings I think.

[anthonyTD]

Sixteen years ago, I attended many small scale jazz gigs, often in local pubs (ahem..) TC's I had gave me the scale and intensity of these instruments close-up when playing good 1950's recordings on CD (the CD mastering engineers obviously *listened* to their work and almost certainly had decent tape masters to work with).

These days, I find the *warts-and-all* approach of pro monitors a bit too much. I can't play at ear-splitting levels as I used to when the neighbours were out and no longer care for the absolutely ruthless analysis a good monitor brings to the musical party. I suppose a pair of ADM9.1's would be perfect in my smallish room, but the bridged Crown/BC2's I use have easily enough clarity in the mid and top and the bass, although nowhere near world class, is good enough for now. I can just sit back and revel in the music, often hearing musical details I hadn't noticed before. The valve bits I have add to this "humanity" either by doing things solid state doesn't or, more likely, retaining the bits in better harmony with my ears and losing what doesn't matter (if you see what I mean).

At the end of the day, we consumers are limited to the abilities of the mastering/cutting engineer for the quality of the software we buy and this is about as close as we can get to the original recordings I think.

[steveinspain]

Hmmm... I've just got on to this thread and I like it. I for one certainly do not want a 'live' sound from my Hi-Fi. If I want it live I go to a gig. What I do want from my Hi-Fi is music of a certain quality, played to a certain standard. I know not what that standard is until I hear it, and that I guess, is why we audition. I also want the music played in such a way that I can chillout and relax, maybe going into an almost dreamlike state. Yes, I know this is very personal but then the whole Hi-Fi/music thing is very personal. I do not own one 'live' album.

That is what I was trying to say.
However, I do own several live albums, and many can hit the spot for me when heard in MY room..

[Macca]

That is what I was trying to say.
However, I do own several live albums, and many can hit the spot for me when heard in MY room..

I listen to a lot of live albums - a good live recording adds something special that you never get in a studio recording - Off the top of my head I'm thinking of Neil Young - Rust never sleeps, Hendrix in the West, Sinatra at the Sands etc

[steveinspain]

..and I'll add the Allman Brothers 'Live at the fillmore east', CSNY '4 way street' and Genesis 'Seconds out' among my favourites..

[Haselsh1]

..and I'll add the Allman Brothers 'Live at the fillmore east', CSNY '4 way street' and Genesis 'Seconds out' among my favourites..

Ooops... I have Genesis 'Seconds Out' on vinyl...!!!