I voted because this poll had
exactly my response!
What I care about, still... even in 2023
... first and foremost, is what I would call
tone. Maybe that's just frequency response, but there's a qualitative piece to it as well. In the 1970s, it was often referred to as
definition.
I also like what is often referred to in the larger 'audiophile' world as
transparency -- the sense that the sound cannot be pinpointed as coming from one box (or, more typically, two boxes).
... and I
hate the word
soundstage -- at least when applied to a simulated three-dimensional "soundfield".
OK, I hate the gerund
soundstaging even more.
... and I'm not gonna even mention the verb form!!!
Spent a chunk of time this morning listening to these, as it turns out -- and boy howdy, do they sound nice.
(sorry about the
schmutzig tweeter dome -- and the upside down badge!)
PS I should mention that, classically in hifi-dom (at least as I understand it)
imaging is a stereo thing and relates to two dimensions only -- good imaging will put a mono signal right in the middle between two stereo loudspeakers. That three-dimensional stuff was historically invoked with that "S" word that I grudgingly invoked above
It may be that the rise of quad, errm, ahh... googlephonics, umm, I mean, home theater has redefined the terms operationally. I don't know.