> Is matching the original recorded sound really the purpose of a good hifi system ? Yes, at least it used to. Hifi means High Fidelity, which means a high deg

> Is matching the original recorded sound really the purpose of a good hifi system ? Yes, at least it used to. Hifi means High Fidelity, which means a high degree of exactness in reproducing the music, as the artists and recording engineers intended. > Hifi speakers are supposed to add their own character to the recorded sound, no? I would argue they should not. But consumer "Hifi" certainly does often colour the sound. This is why many audiophiles had to seek out "studio" monitors and earphones. However, even this term has lost its meaning. You will not find "Beats Studio" earphones in any studio. > When talking about acoustic instruments, doesn't each one sound different? Maybe slightly yes, but only in certain ways. A bad audio system might make them sound unnatural. Pianos and violins certainly have much less variation than electric guitars.