How important is it for you to attain a holographic image?

A holographic image is part of the joy of audiophile-ism, no doubt. But ... it's not everything. The main thing to me is tonal accuracy. The instruments have to sound right first. That entails listening to enough live music in order to be able to identify the natural sound of instruments. With good electronics, speakers and proper tweaking, one can attain a very transparent, holographic, seamless, and tonally accurate system. On the best recordings, master tapes, for example, the musicians can seem to be live in the room.  Again ... tonal accuracy first.

Frank

I would have to agree with Frank accurate tone and timbre is a must and what I look for first. I don't really care that much about a holographic image and my small room and cramped setup make its pretty impossible anyway. I do like a solid center image however and early stereo recordings that are hard right and left are not my favorites.

Dynamics is king. Everything else is secondary.

That imaging stuff is, IMHO, a parlor trick inside a parlor trick. I don’t hear any of that stuff in the concert hall and don’t want it at home.

Which is not to say that there is anything wrong with those that get musical enjoyment from the effect.

If it ain't holographic it ain't the highest of ends. I want it for serious listening but can enjoy listening without it often as well.