What is your definition of "musical"?...a discussion

treitz3 · Feb 15, 2013

Hello, WBF members and good evening to you. I hope all is well. It seems as if there are some folks who would like to consider the word "musical" a word to describe how a system sounds and others who seem to hate the word used at all in audiophilia. Others, think that it has to do with only the music itself. With that said, what does the term "musical" mean to you and how would you describe it?

Tom

Mike Lavigne · Feb 15, 2013

treitz3 said:
Hello, WBF members and good evening to you. I hope all is well. It seems as if there are some folks who would like to consider the word "musical" a word to describe how a system sounds and others who seem to hate the word used at all in audiophilia. Others, think that it has to do with only the music itself. With that said, what does the term "musical" mean to you and how would you describe it?

Tom

personally, 'musical' is a term i rarely use describing the character of a system or particular gear. to me it's too undefined, unlimited, and an oversimplification. mostly i think it's used as a shorthand for meaning that the subject gear or system is not harsh, clinical or ultra-detailed, and errs on the side of tone over detail....although the meaning varies based on who is using it.

i'd rather use 'listenable and non-fatiguing' instead of musical, as it's closer to what i want to say.

normally the terms i'll use instead that relate to a 'generalized description of presentation characterisitics' are natural, refined, lively, vivid, warm, clinical, neutral and clarity/detailed among others. i'm sure these are also not defined enough for some, but i feel i can communicate with most listeners and we understand what we mean when we us these terms.

i'll also use like music or real or sounds unprocessed when something seems to really sound right; to me the term 'musical' infers 'like music' but mostly it's not used that way and is thus confusing.

Gregadd · Feb 15, 2013

musical, musicality A personal judgment as to the degree to which reproduced sound resembles live music. Real musical sound is both accurate and euphonic, consonant and dissonant.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/sounds-audio-glossary-glossary-i-m

rockitman · Feb 15, 2013

I agree with Mike. Hard to quantify musical in any meaningful objective way. To me, musical is just that. I'm listening to the music and not even thinking about stereo performance criteria.

andromedaaudio · Feb 16, 2013

It does have meaning to me , musicality means musical flow to me , stepping away from hifi into sound/ music one can " lose" itself in , it is thereby also non fatiguing and listenable , and makes the money invested in gear worth it

Example: Krell is hifi , Boulder is music , Zanden is " reality"

Note this is only my opinion

Johnny Vinyl · Feb 16, 2013

You know, I have a nice little system and I enjoy it a lot, but I wouldn't call it musical, nor would I say that about any other system. Of course that's not to say higher-end or SOTA systems don't do a better job of reproducing media more faithfully, because obviously they do and should. But to label one system over the other as being more musical doesn't make sense to me. Accurate? Yes!

I guess what I'm saying is that I can't pinpoint what the term "musical" actually means, and I therefore never use it when describing something I hear. I prefer to use terminology such as Mike stated and with which Christian agreed.

Bill Hart · Feb 16, 2013

I'm sure I have used the term many times, but I don't think it describes any particularly characteristics, more a conclusory term describing end result, and as a shorthand for systems that don't sound 'mechanical' or 'reproduced.' But agree that it does not serve much value as an analytical description. Then again, most descriptions don't- we laugh sometimes about reviewers waxing eloquent. And the objectivists call us out for it. I love words, and love to write when I'm in the mood (thus, my often lengthy posts) but that's where the subjectivist school fails (and I am largely in that school): one man's 'detail' maybe another man's 'overly analytical.' But, assuming common ground at ear level, maybe it's like pornography: you know it when you see it. The trouble then is describing it using precise terminology. Didn't J. Gordon proffer a set of 'defined terms' way back when?

mep · Feb 16, 2013

andromedaaudio said:
It does have meaning to me , musicality means musical flow to me , stepping away from hifi into sound/ music one can " lose" itself in , it is thereby also non fatiguing and listenable , and makes the money invested in gear worth it

Example: Krell is hifi , Boulder is music , Zanden is " reality"

Note this is only my opinion

Hey, hey! Them thar's fighting words!

Gregadd · Feb 16, 2013

Didn't J. Gordon proffer a set of 'defined terms' way back when?

Yeah. It is available on Amazon.

Shaffer · Feb 16, 2013

I don't use the term. Hate it, frankly. In essence in means, "I like it."

DonH50 · Feb 16, 2013

In my sig.

What is your definition of "musical"?...a discussion

treitz3

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Mike Lavigne

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Gregadd

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Bill Hart

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mep

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Shaffer

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DonH50

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