Originally Posted by JobSeeker
I've come to the conclusion that, for us, there is no such thing as the original sound when playing a recording. I know that, theoretically, it's meant to be the Holy Grail for us all and that many of us spend a great deal of money in trying to achieve it. We eschew the likes of tone controls on amplifiers, pay silly money for players, amps, loudspeakers and cables etc.

Yet, for all this, studio recorded music has been through a myriad of microphones, processors, wiring, mixing desks etc and has been Eq'd and Mastered by a particular individual through particular equipment in a particular room on particular loudspeakers and particular headphones. With the exception of a full live performance (and you'd have to have been there), there wasn't even an original sound to start with, as we are presented with many individual overlaid tracks.

I know we talk about things like 'instrumental timbre', 'timing', 'reproduction of the original acoustic' etc. but I really do think that sometimes we are fooling ourselves about this 'realism' because all these things relate to our own ears, prejudices and opinions. I've come to accept that the truth of the matter, for me, is I simply try to get the sound how I like it - and I've sure spent a lot of money over the years doing it.

TOTALLY AGREE!

Hi-Fi is all about finding kit with the sonic signature you like the sound of.
They all change the sound slightly and we all like a different signature, and for us it is Meridian.

No Darling, I've had it months!