My brief audio philosophy in statements is:
Two channel audio production over stereo can not replicate an original acoustic event so what I listen for in an audio reproduction system are detail retrieval, that is, I can clearly hear all the distinct sounds in the recording separated from one another.
I enjoy the attempt two channel stereo makes at creating a left to right image between the speakers and do not concern my self too much with depth, finding that most recordings are either all in your face close, all distant, or sometimes about right in their attempts at depth in any case. But detail retrieval is what I most admire. My ear/brain would like to hear an actual center channel, as for me, the stereo construct is never totally convincing but that's just me and I while I enjoy the left to right imaging there is never enough "energy" there in my own ear/brain world, I would have loved three channel stereo, that is a center channel speaker.
Also, while I do believe in the sanctity of the original recording, I do not have a problem with any process I may do in my playback system to tailor the sound to what I feel like hearing at the time. For example, sometimes I want the chorus effect of my SET amplifier and its interactions with the recorded music. So, I want my "normal" play back system to be accurate as possible, but I have no problem changing the sound with either an outboard processor or SET amp or different headphone etc to match my mood at the time.
Two channel audio production over stereo can not replicate an original acoustic event so what I listen for in an audio reproduction system are detail retrieval, that is, I can clearly hear all the distinct sounds in the recording separated from one another.
I enjoy the attempt two channel stereo makes at creating a left to right image between the speakers and do not concern my self too much with depth, finding that most recordings are either all in your face close, all distant, or sometimes about right in their attempts at depth in any case. But detail retrieval is what I most admire. My ear/brain would like to hear an actual center channel, as for me, the stereo construct is never totally convincing but that's just me and I while I enjoy the left to right imaging there is never enough "energy" there in my own ear/brain world, I would have loved three channel stereo, that is a center channel speaker.
Also, while I do believe in the sanctity of the original recording, I do not have a problem with any process I may do in my playback system to tailor the sound to what I feel like hearing at the time. For example, sometimes I want the chorus effect of my SET amplifier and its interactions with the recorded music. So, I want my "normal" play back system to be accurate as possible, but I have no problem changing the sound with either an outboard processor or SET amp or different headphone etc to match my mood at the time.