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How close to the real thing?

Recently a friend of mine heard a Chopin concert in a Baptist church. I had told him that I had gone out to RMAF this year and heard some of the latest gear. His comment was that he thinks the best audio systems are only about 5% close to the real thing, especially the sound of a piano, though he admitted he hasn't heard the best of the latest equipment.

That got me thinking as I have been going to the BSO a lot this fall and comparing the sound of my system to live orchestral music. It's hard to put a hard percentage on this kind of thing, but I think the best systems capture a lot more than just 5% of the sound of live music.

What do you think? Are we making progress and how close are we?
peterayer
edseas2
12 posts
 

Bob Katz and Pop Music - you're kidding right?

Ever hear of Chesky Records?

The notion that we don't have the ability to "reproduce "live" music" is taken out of context?

Guess you didn't read the OP's original question.

Sounds par for the course with you, you didn't read Katz' bio either.
edseas2
12 posts
 
Yeah Physics Genius , I know that physics has changed a lot since 2002.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
"BK: Yes. I've heard great recordings that stun me. But every time I go to hear the group live in front of me with no amplification, I think that we are so far away from the live experience that we will never have that experience."

The truth of that use to make me frown, till I accepted that recorded music must be appreciated it on its own terms and its inherent limitations - yet totally satisfying and magical for what it is. I think Katz is 100% right about recorded music versus live, unamplified (critical)music. The gap is obvious and permanent, but no reason not to love and enjoy our home systems.
irvrobinson
295 posts
 
Edseas2, not only did I read the OP's question, I own a copy of Katz's "Mastering Audio" book.

OK, you got me - I didn't know about his Chesky work, so I learned something there, but if you read his book it is definitely pop music oriented, as is the majority of his work I'm familiar with.
edorr
714 posts
 
Many variables. Type of music being a very important one. I have never heard any system capabable of reproducing the almost physical low bass energy you experience live in a Jazz club. Thenagain, solo instruments and small acoustic ensembe music can come pretty close in a high end system. Recording quality is also a huge factors. Ironically, the closest to "the real thing" I experience in my system is actually a multi channel surround sound SACD solo piano recording on the Norwegian 2L label (Mirror Canon) - no Chopin though. This is as close as having a Steinway in my room as it gets.

I also remember walking in a show floor and believing there was a live ensemble playing around the corner, only to find out they were playing a studio master tape over JBL monitors - so 5% seems a rather conservative number.
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