[Bob Reynolds]

According to the loudspeaker "listening" research done by Floyd Toole and Sean Olive, there is a solid consensus on what is considered good sound. Preferences are not as individualized as many like to think. So the notion of an absolute sound is probably statistically valid. But, of course, there will always be outliers.

A great audio system for me is one that encourages listening for extended periods of time.

There was a similar study done by the NRC in Canada in regards to loudspeakers, the listening group was very varied, from people who had very little interest in audio, to audiophile types. There was much agreement between which were considered better sounding speakers.
But I think, if the group were exclusively "audiophiles", then you would start to see people become increasingly picky and particular. I think in that context, the gap would widen.

Yes, that should have been Dr. Toole's earliest studies. He has continued them at Harmon. It turns out that  audiophiles and audio reviewers made poor listening subjects - they were not consistent  in their subjective evaluation and tended to contradict themselves. I've not read the original publications only the summary that Dr. Toole has published in his paper at Harmon.com.

[mjosef]

Its a great system when you are swept up into the music and forget about the system...and suddenly you wonder where the time went.

[SwedeSound]

Hear, hear!

It's about the music. When you finally shut-up, stop tinkering and start listening to the music -- then you know you've arrived.

[soundbitten1]

What makes a great audio system

a great recording

[Jabroni]

Great Question.

My short answer would have to be one that consistently
a) puts a huge smile your face
b) makes you shake your head in awe and admiration
c) encourages - no, dares you to keep turning it up (i.e. it's extremely non fatiguing) &
d) above all, one that makes you forget that you're actually listening to speakers


My long answer would be this long winded email that I sent to recording engineer Dave Moulton in 2006 who was involved in the design of the Beo Lab 5 speaker:


Hi Dave,

I just wanted to share my experiences of hearing the BeoLab 5 at the Montreal Sound Show earlier this year.

I was going down the escalator to leave after spending a good 7 hours going to all the various rooms when I heard live music on the mezzanine.  The strange thing was, I couldn't see any musicians.  So, tired and hungry as I was, I decided to investigate.  Enter the BeoLab 5 and needless to say, I was shocked to find out that it wasn't live music but for all intents and purposes it may as well have been - and this, from a company that in my mind, was firmly entrenched in the "lifestyles crap" category! 

I have zero audiophile or audio engineering credentials except for arguably the most important two:  I listen without prejudice and I know good sound when I hear it and what I was hearing was by far the best reproduced sound I had ever heard.  As hungry & tired as I was, I ended up staying there about 2 more hours - I simply couldn't leave.  I even enjoyed listening to what I perceived as shitty songs and I am generally extremely intolerant of shitty music (it is for that reason that I can't stand listening to radio but I digress).  On 2 separate occasions I got up to leave however, both times I was compelled to return before I made it out the front door - such was the beauty of the sound I was hearing.

All this to say, congratulations for being a part of the design team for such a staggeringly revolutionary product.  As amazing as it is to listen to the music that comes out of it, it must be even more gratifying to listen to it knowing that you played a part in it's r & d.

God Bless,

**********************************

An unfortunate characteristic of a truly great audio system is that makes you very dissatisfied with your present gear if said gear isn't in the same league!

Since that fateful day on which I heard the Beolab 5, I rarely sit and listen to my own system any more, it's mostly just background listening.  Before that, I had never heard a system at any price that made me feel like I was missing much at moderate volumes compared to my little B60 DAC and PSB Silvers.

On the other hand, a positive thing about hearing a truly great sound system is that it makes you realize just how laughably insignificant things like cables, dacs. amps and preamps are compared to the recording quality and to state of the art, boxless and active speakers like the BeoLab 5s and the Linkwitz Orions.

Every music lover owes it to themself to listen to music through these speakers.

[rob80b]

I believe a lot of audio systems can be quite satisfying, we as audiophiles have a tendency to get way too anal when it comes to equipment.
I’ve just thrown on a newly acquired disc Battels “Mirrored” http://www.myspace.com/battlestheband and without knowing anything about the group I really have no complaints about my set-up, I’m just listening to the music and quite enjoying it. And, I guess, that’s what it’s all about.

[Midnite Mick]

Simple....conveying of emotion.

Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike,

OK but would you not say that a persons 'expectation' of what is great sound will influence what makes the hairs on the back of there necks stand up and gives them an emotional 'rush'.

james

I guess you're right, it may be different for different people.  For me it is a big, engulfing type of sound with great detail and warmth.  As if the music is giving you a big warm hug.  When I say detail I am referring to textures and micro-dynamics.  I think a lot of people confuse detail with digital edge.  I absolutely hate digital edge as it just sucks the emotion out of the music for me.

If you are not feeling any emotion in your very expensive, high end system, then to me what is the point?

Thanks,
Mike

[rabpaul]

When the music draws you to get off your feet, plunk yourself in a chair and just listen.
You are tranported into another world where there is no HW, only music and nothing else.
Its additive, you just want more and your day just won't be complete without having listened to music.

[grsimmon]

For me,  there are factors other than the sound that are important to me for making up a great system.   They include:

- toughness & durability

- serviceability:  sticking with manufacturers that have a proven track record and will likely be in business and have parts 30 years from now

- ease of use (I want to encourage my wife and especialy my kids to use the system and be exposed to lots of music)

- warranty (with all the garbage being made these days,  this is big on my list,  and why I respect companies like Bryston, Theil, etc.)

- not an eyesore and taking up the whole room

- and yes, or course the sound.   Detailed,  emotionally engaging,   and pleasant at all volumes.   

[ec]

Good room accoustics!  Also I like systems that are easy to use and reliable.  Back in the day I owned an Oracle Delphi and I hated screwing the clamp on and taking it off again especially when I listened to just one track.  And for this TT, the clamp was a requirement.  Even more annoying was a MicroMega Duo (or was it a Trio) CD transport that I owned.  It had a cool looking top loading thick acrylic lid.  You would lift this lid and then take out the clamp, put the CD in and put the clamp back on and close the lid.  I thought CD's were supposed to be more convenient than records.  I found the extra (unnecessary?) effort took away from the music a bit.

Reliability!  If the system doesn't work or keeps blowing up - this is not a good thing.  My very first power amp was a Bryston 3B pro that I bought new back in the mid 80's.  I sold the 3B as many of the audiophiles stated that the Bryston amps were "bright" - I drank the wrong cool aid back then.  I then bought the first model amp from a new amplifier company that is no longer in business and this amp just kept blowing up.  Anyways years later, I ended up with Bryston amps and prepro - easy to use and reliable.

edit - Darn! grsimmon posted just before me while I was typing out my long winded post.  He values the same things I do.

[georgev3]

To my mind The Absolute Sound is a variable that is elusive, it only exists for a brief period of time.

My wife and I were in Paris, we went to St Chappel (everyone should try going if in Paris), it is right across the street from the Nortre Dame Cathedral. They were running concerts every evening. We went the first evening and it was incredible. We looked at each other and later confirmed that we had the same thought, no stereo system we have heard can reproduce this. The sound was like a warm Carribean breeze that enveloped you and was something that years later I still remember.

To make a long story short, we stayed in Paris an extra evening to see the concert again. The weather changed slightly (it became cooler and less humid) and the second night although enjoyable was in no way comparable to the first. In fact a reasonable facsimile of the second night could be produced on a good audio system.

That is when I gave up on The Absolute Sound concept. There are many factors that are important to me, # 1 is musical enjoyment. If the system draws me in and I want to continue listening then it is working, if I'm looking to do something else then it has failed.

[WEEZ]

A system that sounds good at low volumes as well as high volumes.

[audiokiep]

Ditto for low volume quality.
If the system can make you sit and listen to a CD you have never heard before things are good.

[soundbitten1]

A great preamp.

[Bigfish]

What makes a great audio system?

I admit to having limited experience but I think a great audio system is any system that makes the owner happy!  One man's junk is another man's treasure! 

Ken

[zybar]

A great preamp.

Or not...


George

[Zero]

A good system is one that puts a smile on your face. It lets you play the music you enjoy and take that experience to a level that the average joe may never experience in a lifetime.

To me, a great system is one with history - something intensely personal that extends beyond *just* intelligent planning and execution. There is a beauty in a well crafted system that is the result of feverish labor. Anyone with fat enough pockets can buy an expensive room with expensive gear. Sure, its great to lust over cost-no-object systems. Yet, to myself - I feel a great system is one that is more than just the sum of its electronic parts.  A system woven together with the elements of dedication, 'luv', with perhaps a touch of eccentricity - all the things the eyes cannot immediately see - is what creates a truly great system.

[smargo]

A good system is one that puts a smile on your face. It lets you play the music you enjoy and take that experience to a level that the average joe may never experience in a lifetime.

So well put and insightful

smargo

[94cdnm3]

To me when I sit down to "listen" to my system I want to be transported away from reality and to the venue or the performance. I really lose myself in the soundfield and feel as if the musicians are performing on stage in front of me in my room. This illusion requires a system which is musical (pace,rhythm & tone etc.), dimensional (soundstaging and depth) and resolving (low level detail). Without one of the 3, then the illusion is not attainable. 

[assafl]

I have the developed the following criteria when selecting a stereo/MC system:

1. It should sound good with most source material that I have. I like to throw Vocals, Instrumental, Drums and Orchestras at it as a variety of source materials. I choose material that has a wide dynamic range, and instruct the sales person to refrain from fiddling with the controls.

I prefer a system that sounds good with all of source material over a system that sounds great with one type of music at the expense of others. As an example, many tube amplifiers I heard are awesome with Instrumental/Chamber music but sound muddled when reproducing an Orchestra.

I rarely bother A/B multiple systems and trying to decide which sounds better. If it sounds good with different source material, it is good enough. The rest is adaptation anyway...

2.  It should have all the connectivity that I need (and can anticipate needing in the foreseeable future). When I acquired the SP1.7 and 9B SST, they had all the connections that I need for my SACD and other components. Now I am eagerly awaiting for the SP2 version that has HDMI. I will not compromise on this (for reasons of convenience as well as signal quality/fidelity).

3. Reliability and build. I always prefer balanced connections to SE. I avoid crummy RCA connectors that over time develop a layer of Oxide that rectifies the signal. I choose products with gold plated receptacles, and use the Neutrik RCA connctors because it is the one I found which doesn't to this. When installing a component, I diligently clean the contacts with Caig gold.

4. Programmable. Stereo systems no longer have a selector between phono tape and radio. Being able to select and program input is critical. Being able to use a programmable RC like the pronto is a must (I regret Sony choosing to use Bluetooth for the DVD playback control of the PS3 - as I cannot use the Pronto for it).

5. Great speakers with a controlled response that simply matches the room shape and matches the positioning of the speakers in the room.

Just my tuppence.

Assaf