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Originally Posted by GregM
. . It makes the music less realistic, thinner, and more "synthetic" sounding. Hiss is our friend, especially in older music that was recorded to analog tape.
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Hiss is not present in musical instruments. It is a by-product of the analog recording process. Digital recording equipment exhibits no hiss on a recording and it does not employee hiss removal techniques because it doesn't have to. Hiss is not my friend because it reduces dynamic range.
Music recording and reproduction is a synthetic process. It does not matter if you have Altec W7s powered by a WE 300B triode, or a pair of Polk's powered by a stock head unit; it's all fake and cannot compare in any way shape or form to the live experience. All we can rely on is our feeble systems and a great imagination to convince ourselves that it's real.
My roommate and I used to build and collect HiFi equipment as well so I know what a good system sounds like. However, good sound is relative and purely subjective (Analog vs. digital debate). If it weren't; we would have 1 speaker manufacturer, 1 amplifier manufacturer, etc.
Upgrading and tweaking is a hobby for most of us and a profession for some. However, if a better sounding system can help the commute more bearable, then it's definitely worth it-light show and all.