will
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Hey Bob.... You are surely welcome. I am glad these thoughts were of some use.
Looking at the many details of what makes our musical experience great causes me to think of how we listen; what makes us want to listen; and from being seduced by listening more and more, how we naturally develop better discernment of what we hear.
A lot of it to me comes down to natural, harmonic beauty. And since we are "of" nature, we are innately able to discern natural beauty. But pulled around from this to that in our cultural training, distracted by other things, many of us do not necessarily take as much notice of natural beauty as we are capable of, or learn to discern what makes it.
Whether creating an innovative math equation, designing a car that is more efficient from more advanced synergy, making art that is so complete it reveals its mysteries to many, and in as many ways as those experiencing it.... and of course, making a harmonically complex and complete amp or cable.... or being able to appreciate the experience of natural beauty.... These are all creative experiences that help us align with our own harmonic nature, and "harmonized" we feel better!
Which leads to good sound versus great sound in home systems. Some developers and listeners "need" more natural and complete sound complexity to feel "right." And others, might not be lucky enough to be shown, or notice the difference between naturally beautiful sound, and more intellectual representations of great sound that is not quite complete, but appears to be.
For those of us lucky enough to stumble onto designers like Steve, Bob, and Randy, who live and breath good music, and are creatively motivated to try to facilitate getting it in home audio systems, we start with greater potential for more natural tone and timbre....more natural harmonic complexity. And the more natural the musical experience, the more the music can bypass intellect and engage us with our own more harmonious aspects of nature.
Then, by becoming more easily captivated by the musical experience, we hear more into its beauty. In this process, for me, an aspect of creative engagement is sliding part way out of pure engagement, separating a bit, and noticing how amazing the sound is. Then, as quickly, comforting amazement fluidly guides me back into more complete immersion.
This basic combination is endlessly interesting to me, our natural ways of consciousness shifting from immersion to captivated discernment, and back to more complete immersion.
I think in the process, as we become more attuned to the vast complexity of natural music, we tend to notice more of the many small things that make the music feel complete. At the same time, we tend to notice things that are less natural and real sounding/feeling. Finally, for me, having a system/room that compels me to listen more, naturally stimulates better listening discernment, while also awakening more desire to experiment as a means to deepen the beauty.
Then, if experimenting with ongoing system/room refinement becomes important, I think "getting there" can be notably accelerated by more actively developing listening discernment. Along with regular listening that can be compelling and enlightening with revealing gear like ours, what better additional discernment refining tools than experimenting little by little with AB comparisons that can lead us deeper into natural beauty.....tubes, cables, room treatments, vibration mitigation, power......
For me, seeking the subtleties of beauty, even with ears that are not necessarily great... as the system/room becomes more musically resolving, the life-enhancement from interacting with harmonizing beauty becomes more seductive. Compelling enough to keep me engaged and amazed, I am creatively nurtured by it, while also being stimulated to seek deeper refinement. And each successful step on the way toward more resolving musicality creates a new baseline from which to experience and learn more.
What a great playground!
Will
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