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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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