Paul McGowan writes:
None of us have ever heard the true sound of music. In fact, everything we hear, in particular, if it has been recorded, is colored by uncountable distortions: microphones, speakers, headphones, the room, cables, equipment, mastering, varying air densities of any particular day.
Even without the recording/playback medium in the way we don’t hear the truth. Perhaps if two people entered an anechoic chamber they might get close to the ideal. But then it would sound awful.
Perhaps we have to accept that getting closer to the source—without benefit of the aforementioned distortions—isn’t really all it’s cracked up to be.
I think what we mean when we suggest we’re striving to get close to the audio truth is better stated as striving for audio bliss.
Why would this picayune hair-splitting matter? Because if we’re working towards the wrong set of goals we might flounder along our path. For example, if flat-line frequency response in the room is what we’re after, we might just lose all the magic the many distortions impart—and enjoy the music less.
I’ve assembled a few more thoughts on the matter which you can WATCH HERE