Hopkins asked this interesting question in another thread that made me reflect a bit and respond. I would like to post that question and response here:
That’s an excellent question. I think of it like hearing a piano being played in another room. You know it is a piano and not a harpsichord. You know it is a live piano and not a recording of a piano. That knowledge is based on direct experience with my reference of live sound. As you move closer to the open door of the room, you start to sense the energy of the instrument. You begin to hear more character from each note. As you pass through the door opening and take a seat in the room and start listening to the music, you see and appreciate the emotion on the players face and body. You begin to appreciate more nuance in the playing and notice the ambience of the room. You become more engaged. The listening experience becomes more complete. The sound energy and the beauty of the music now more fully captivate your attention. You are drawn to the music from the beginning, because it is live, and you want to move closer. As with natural sounding systems, each degree of naturalism draws you in closer to the music and the experience becomes richer.
These are the different degrees of natural sound, both live and in an audio system: with each degree, the listening experience moves closer to the music.
That’s an excellent question. I think of it like hearing a piano being played in another room. You know it is a piano and not a harpsichord. You know it is a live piano and not a recording of a piano. That knowledge is based on direct experience with my reference of live sound. As you move closer to the open door of the room, you start to sense the energy of the instrument. You begin to hear more character from each note. As you pass through the door opening and take a seat in the room and start listening to the music, you see and appreciate the emotion on the players face and body. You begin to appreciate more nuance in the playing and notice the ambience of the room. You become more engaged. The listening experience becomes more complete. The sound energy and the beauty of the music now more fully captivate your attention. You are drawn to the music from the beginning, because it is live, and you want to move closer. As with natural sounding systems, each degree of naturalism draws you in closer to the music and the experience becomes richer.
These are the different degrees of natural sound, both live and in an audio system: with each degree, the listening experience moves closer to the music.
