We audiophiles love to chase neutrality.
We want our systems to be a perfect window into the recording, free of colorations or biases. But here’s the thing: true neutrality doesn’t exist.
Every component, every cable, every room imparts its own character. Even the recording itself is shaped by microphones, mixing consoles, and mastering choices.
What we’re really after isn’t neutrality—it’s believability. A system that sounds real. That means making choices. A touch of warmth here, a bit more transparency there, shaping the system until it speaks to us.
The goal isn’t to remove everything.
It’s to get closer to the music.
