Assembling a world-class high-end audio system is like putting together a tasty meal.
Think of a dish where everything works together—sweet balancing sour, a bit of heat offsetting richness. That’s what we want in a system: balance. A touch of warmth without thickness. Heaven-reaching highs without harshness. Bass that’s full but never bloated.
How many times over all these years have I heard systems where the highs were so extended they could etch glass, but lacked any grounding warmth? Like biting into a lemon with nothing to offset it. Then there are systems so smooth and rolled-off you’d think the tweeters were on vacation.
A good chef knows how to bring flavors into harmony. We audiophiles need the same instinct.
When you get it right, you don’t think about the sound. You just enjoy the experience. That’s when the system disappears, and the music takes over.
The best systems, like the best meals, are perfectly seasoned.
