Is there really a ‘right’ hi-fi sound for different music genres?

Two crates of reggae vinyl albums
(Image credit: Future)

There are very few absolutes in hi-fi today. What definitely isn’t one of them (and never will be) is what defines the ‘right’ hi-fi sound. Ask a room of music and hi-fi enthusiasts for their thoughts on the matter and things would all too soon erupt into the kind of pandemonium that would derange a digital-cable convention. (Just probably not as quickly.) 

The die-hard rockers might throw out words such as “powerful”, “atmospheric” and “bassy”; those who instinctively request Norah Jones at hi-fi shows may advocate the one that delivers the lushest vocals (midrange); the greatest lovers of life – the bon vivants – could say anything that makes music fun to listen to. Those deliberating quietly in the corner, including myself and probably many of my colleagues, would champion the most transparent-sounding system – that is, the one that communicates the music as close to the recording as possible, stamping little of itself on it. Opinions, opinions, opinions. We would all be right, and all be wrong… depending on the ears of the beholder.

But more bass is better for hip-hop, no?

Now, is there really a ‘right’ hi-fi sound for certain music genres? Perhaps – so what genre(s) of music you listen to could reasonably sway your hi-fi buying decisions. 

If you were asked to conjure a system through which to enjoy Muse’s Live at Rome Olympic Stadium album to the fullest, you may very reasonably pick a powerful-sounding system with momentous scale and mighty low-end. It’s probably more likely to be headed by Q Acoustics’ 5040 floorstanders than the PMC prodigy 1 standmounts, which don’t have the Q Acoustics’ scale or bass power to rip through the album’s cacophony of bass and drums as well and communicate the expanse of the live recording as effectively. Conversely, suppose you are the biggest contributor to Tidal’s monthly streams of Sergei Rachmaninoff. In that case, you might well snap up those PMCs quicker than you could say “piano concerto” for their greater dynamic expression and precise, to the point of analytical, nature.

“It's all a matter of tools for the job,” said a former What Hi-Fi?’er, before offering the parallel that just as a classical guitar is wonderful in a hushed concert hall it won't do much when it comes to filling a stadium. Indeed, the kind of system that sounds lush, mellow and well-detailed with orchestral works probably won't also be the ideal sort to vibrate the walls with Charlie XCX’s latest foot stomper.

So if you exclusively, or even mostly, consume a sonic diet of one music genre, whether that is classical or blues, dub-step or hip-hop, a certain sound of system may well work best for you – and that’s fine. Many hi-fi manufacturers imprint a ‘sound’ on music, whether that is to emphasise bass, honey vocals or mellow it all out, because it sells. A lot of people worship single-ended tube amps for tending to sound congenially warm (due to their even/second-order harmonic distortion); others don’t. Psychoacoustics is a funny thing, isn’t it?

Don’t let us or anyone else put you off acquiring a sound that excels in one or two particular areas just because it might not be the most unadulterated, ‘purest’ sound. (Though do be aware that when a component favours or emphasises one element, it will likely have a weakness in another, so you’ll want to accept that as wholly as you do its strength(s).)

In fact, such varying disposition is primarily why we urge readers not to ignore our four-star reviews: what may not get a five-star What Hi-Fi? rating due to a tonal imbalance or colouration that we don’t find faithful or appealing to the majority might actually be exactly what suits your tastes. For example, just last year Focal’s Vestia No.1 speakers were awarded an admirable quartet of stars, missing out on the final fifth for being so refined and amenably natured in character that they somewhat put a lid on lively recordings (we gave Funkadelic’s Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On as an example) and don’t let their innate energy shine through. For those who listen mostly to easy-going music, that shortcoming might not be an issue – but the speakers’ frequency-wide detail levels and well-defined, open soundstage sure would please them. It’s a tuning Focal has seemingly long-favoured for its speakers, and we don’t believe it is about to go under! 

All hail the agreeable, authentic all-rounder?

So what if your taste – like, we imagine, most people’s – is varied, your algorithm-led Tidal playlist suggesting GoGo Penguin next to Fontaines D.C.? Is the best system the safe, neutral, balanced all-rounder? I personally think so, whether it is for listening to one music genre through or all of them, and it’s generally the approach we What Hi-Fi? reviewers take in our quest for objectivity (as objective as any review can be, of course). The more transparent (‘non-coloured’) it is, the more of the recording and artist’s intention you are hearing; and isn’t that the most enjoyable and, therefore, The Best?

Some years ago a colleague asked a handful of British engineers what they thought constituted ‘British hi-fi sound’ (which I think was, reasonably, understood by them as also 'generally good hi-fi sound’) and “faithful”, “accurate” and “natural” sprang up several times. Faithfulness is, after all, the definition of (high) fidelity.

One can always take advantage of the DAC filters, tone controls or custom EQ tools that increasingly appear in products nowadays when they want a bit more of something for a particular track or album (even if such features have varying degrees of effectiveness and tend to muck something else up!)

But ultimately, what sound you enjoy most is the best sound. Only the other weekend did someone at a hi-fi show denounce speakers that I consider highly transparent – and highly enjoyable – as “boring”. Fair enough; the ‘right’ sound is the one you like! 

MORE:

There’s nothing wrong with buying vinyl and never listening to it

We asked three big record stores what young people are buying – surprisingly it’s not just Taylor Swift

When should you upgrade your hi-fi? How to control ‘upgradeitis’

Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

  • ilant207
    I have a pair of Morel Octave 5.2 at home, and when I'm at work I use a pair of Meze 109 pro. Some things sound amazing on the Octave and just ok'ish on the 109, and vise versa. For instance, anything from Dire Straits just shines on the Octave, the 109 are great too but not as good. GNR's Use Your Illusion 1 sounds much more lively and engaging on the 109, quite boring on the Octave. I guess we can't have one tool that does it all great, it's true for creating the music in the first place, still true for recreating it by playback.
    Reply
  • wescandela
    Hello
    My opinion on it is the following
    The whole point of high resolution, digital music is in my opinion to get the digital audio as close to the original analog master as possible.

    This is why I am a huge advocate for high fi music, hi Fidelity high resolution. In the end, you want to sample the original audio file so much that the samples are microscopic and the sound waves curve and contour seamlessly as does the original analog recording.

    And to do this, we need to have a very high bit rate and sample rate. I cannot walk around with the turntable and plug my headphones in I don’t believe in Bluetooth headphones or earbuds because I need to be plugged in to hear precisely what is on the digital track

    But all of that being said, that’s when I bring my EQ into it

    I like to hear a punchy bass drum, I like to hear the bass guitar, I like to hear sharp vocals and crisp high hats the sound of the snare drum along with pianos keyboards, especially orchestral instruments

    My go to earbuds have been for the last 13 years Shure in ear monitors.
    The SE line. I now have two pairs of the shore SE846 earbuds
    Four drivers, two for base one for mid range and one for high-end

    But listening to music without an equalizer seem to bring the music to life enough for me.

    I subscribed to Tidal when their prices were Competitive and not ridiculous, and I loved the sound… I did not feel the need for an equalizer

    But now I just stream my music from home on the Plex media server “Plexamp” app.

    My cellular data usage is ridiculous. But I know that the source of the music is pristine and bit for bit high resolution as it is on my Home media server.

    The only reason I bring all of this up is that they give you the option to listen with an equalizer, and they also have presets designed for almost every earbud or headphone out there

    I don’t think that there is any way to say that there’s one perfect setting to listen to music. It’s all preference.
    But the source has to be lossless and beautiful
    And in high resolution, we’re getting more than lossless, we’re getting close to Studio quality lossless.

    Give me a 96 kHz 24 bit copy of an album. I love with dynamic range and tact… No loudness wars brick walled audio for me.

    And then I adjust as my mood sees fit.

    To each their own, just enjoy your music65826583
    Reply
  • Ian AV
    If you buy equipment that is neutral, then you will reproduce the sound as intended, any music genre will sound right. However, most equipment these days are more coloured than Joseph's coat and are not really HiFi, but as I term, NiceFi. Taylored to suit what appeals to the majority audience.
    There is also the small problem of budget to consider too. Without a significant budget nirvana is unachievable. I also find that my sound perception changes like my tastebuds and what I would like to eat, which influences my listening preference. However, having the ability to change 'Q' factors at any frequency helps adjust to my taste if neutral does not suit my listening pleasure.
    Reply
  • wescandela
    Ian AV said:
    If you buy equipment that is neutral, then you will reproduce the sound as intended, any music genre will sound right. However, most equipment these days are more coloured than Joseph's coat and are not really HiFi, but as I term, NiceFi. Taylored to suit what appeals to the majority audience.
    There is also the small problem of budget to consider too. Without a significant budget nirvana is unachievable. I also find that my sound perception changes like my tastebuds and what I would like to eat, which influences my listening preference. However, having the ability to change 'Q' factors at any frequency helps adjust to my taste if neutral does not suit my listening pleasure.
    Agreed agreed

    Agreed my good sir.
    Reply
  • Rodolfo
    My current system is always my "right" hi-fi system for all the genres I purchase or borrow and play. I have only used, happily, two integrated amps to drive my systems in the 40 years I've been listening earnestly, enjoyably, and relatively seriously to 20 or so genres.
    Reply
  • lensview
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    Are imprinted sonic characteristics sometimes preferable or is transparency and faithfulness king every time?

    Is there really a ‘right’ hi-fi sound for different music genres? : Read more
    The "right" sound is the sound that the record producer strives for, and that might be one kind of "sound" for artist A and song Q and another for a different song or a different artist. The producer can't possibly know to what degree your playback system is capable of reproducing accurately that "sound." I therefore challenge the substance of your opening statement that "what definitely isn’t (and never will be) is what defines the ‘right’ hi-fi sound." On the contrary, what defines the right sound -- that is, the sound emanating from our playback transducers -- is the sound that realizes the intentions of the producer. Or, more precisely, the sound that reveals accurately what is on the recording.
    Reply
  • wescandela
    Rodolfo said:
    My current system is always my "right" hi-fi system for all the genres I purchase or borrow and play. I have only used, happily, two integrated amps to drive my systems in the 40 years I've been listening earnestly, enjoyably, and relatively seriously to 20 or so genres.
    I feel you, brother
    One pair of headphones earbuds until I found the right pair
    Then I upgraded
    Don’t ask me the price of these earbuds they’re ridiculous, but they’re reference quality
    And I can blast Radiohead or Rage Against The Machine or Peter Gabriel’s passion or Beethoven’s ninth symphony

    And I am good good good.
    Reply
  • wescandela
    lensview said:
    The "right" sound is the sound that the record producer strives for, and that might be one kind of "sound" for artist A and song Q and another for a different song or a different artist. The producer can't possibly know to what degree your playback system is capable of reproducing accurately that "sound." I therefore challenge the substance of your opening statement that "what definitely isn’t (and never will be) is what defines the ‘right’ hi-fi sound." On the contrary, what defines the right sound -- that is, the sound emanating from our playback transducers -- is the sound that realizes the intentions of the producer. Or, more precisely, the sound that reveals accurately what is on the recording.
    I used to listen to everything flat, so I could hear all of the sonics as mixed and released by the artists

    And then I finally said no way, I’m not doing this anymore

    When a bass drum thumps, I want to feel it in my chest
    When I’m playing David Bowie‘s Modern Love, I want that song to kick in and make me dance

    So I tweak my EQ put in my earbuds and freak out

    That’s the “right way” for me. but to each their own

    I think it depends on what exactly you wanna hear and what your equipment can reproduce accurately.

    If I’m listening to high-resolution music, I listen through a DAC (the dragonfly, cobalt) to make sure that I can hear all of the sonic information in the higher sample & Bit rates.

    And normally when I first listen to high resolution music, I listen wth no EQ.

    But then the itch begins.

    And I start to slowly play with the graphic equalizer, speaking as a child of the 80s.
    that’s just how we rolled back then
    Reply
  • Ian AV
    wescandela said:
    I used to listen to everything flat so I could hear all of the sonics as mixed and released by the artists

    And then I finally said no way I’m not doing this anymore

    When a bass drum thumps, I want to feel it in my chest
    When I’m playing David Bowie‘s modern love, I want that song to kick in and make me dance

    So I tweak my EQ put in my earbuds and freak out

    That’s the right way to listen to music is for me
    For sure. Feeling the music adds significantly to the overall listening experience. The surprise of a sharp snare drum snap does it for me too.
    Reply
  • wescandela
    Ian AV said:
    For sure. Feeling the music adds significantly to the overall listening experience. The surprise of a sharp snare drum snap does it for me too.
    ✊✊✊❤️❤️❤️

    Oh absolutely, Ian
    Whether it’s Rage Against The Machine evil Empire on super audio CD, or it’s Dire Straits Brothers In Arms especially from mobile Fidelity sound labs…
    Who in my opinion should be getting much more credit than they deserve and should have a documentary done on them and their proces…

    Or the Beatles remixes starting with Sergeant Pepper, all the way through to rRevolver,

    my choice of EQ settings will alter depending on the music. I’m listening to.

    But I personally feel like you’re losing tons of information if you don’t listen with a DAC and the proper headphones or speakers
    i’m now invested in-ear monitors because I can hear every nuance of the music.

    I had a pair of Shure SE535s that I mistakenly lent out to a person that was not a true friend

    They went away for the weekend and came home without them

    $500 gone

    While they listened to the beautiful 50th anniversary of dark side of the moon, which I provided for them, they could not believe the details they were hearing

    The drinking started apparently after one night and the earbuds I lent him we’re supposed to be in his shaving kit

    I don’t lend out my earbuds anymore
    Reply