[Icarium]

Yeah, how can you tell if you have a better system if isn't revealing previously undiscovered detail? How can you feel that its better if it doesnt have that better resolution? Musicality will come.

 

[F107plus5]

Depends on mood. One day's a listening day, the next is a LISTENING day.

In a noisy room, musicality is most important. In a quiet room the details better catch my attention.

 

[Carl]

Simply get something with a low mass, low excursion diaphragm and you can have both.

 

[Assorted]

I think musicality is too general compared to something small like detail.

 

[Brat_Boy]

Unlike many here, I don't sit back and listen to music just to do so. I listen to my music while I'm doing something else - surfing the net, driving, doing homework, etc. Having a beat to go along with my activities is more important than hearing every little detail without a good feel. I'd take the rocky, punchy feel of the SR80's I'm wearing or my similar KSC75's over an analytical, neutral headphone anyday.

 

[Mindless]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif The two are not mutually exclusive, but id pick musicality on the basis that a headphone with a lot of musicality and little detail is okay, whereas one with a lot of detail and no musicality is no fun.

Same here.

 

[gblade]

HELLA BASS FTMFW!

 

[vcoheda]

it seems like you need one to have the other.

 

[locu64]

It depends on my mood.

 

[Zorander]

I'm going to have to pick musicality (with details closely behind). However, it's not something I need to be concerned about with the HD-650 and K340: both have them in loads.

 

[SONGsanmanwah]

I currently go for detail but frankly, if I'm a castaway I'll go for musical phones for sure!

 

[mrdeadfolx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherepashka /img/forum/go_quote.gif Stupid.... What's more important-food or love?

Food, easy.

 

[kramer5150]

Musicality has a very slight edge over detail, hence my RS1 preference.

All of one without any of the other would be terrible.

 

[onvn]

Both are important.

If only musicality is important, why buy such expensive headphone gear? You can get very musical cheap ear/headphones. On the other hand, if only detail is important, it cannot be used for music-playiback.

 

[mercbuggy]

Voted musicality as this is why I listen in the first place, although a balanced system should deliver on both musicality and detail. Of course a truly neutral, detailed presentation should simply communicate what the original artist intended in terms of musicality and detail. I guess most of us are sampling the original recording in some way and only subjectively know whether what we are listening to is musical and/or accurate and to what extent.

I also believe our listening habits and enjoyment are affected by our personality traits. Someone who is analytical may focus on a individual instrument in a mix and pursue a transparent and detailed presentation. In contrast someone like my father, who directs a male voice choir, is listening for a more seemless presentation.

While I try to focus on the music as a whole I too have enjoyed those 'I never heard that before' moments when I have upgraded components or listened to friends systems.