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My audiophile take on the symphony last night.

65 piece Santa Cruz Symphony at the Civic Auditorium.

My wife said it wasn't loud enough and I agreed. The highs were rolled off and there wasn't an expansive soundstage. I couldn't "hear behind the instruments" like I can at home on the hifi. The soloist sounded small and far away and the bass drum lacked definition.

In spite of all that we were listening to a live and real performance. Our seats were the highest price available.

This was very interesting, intriguing and food for thought audio-wise. Also great people watching.
bizango1
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Herman, as I understand it:
soundstage refers to total width, height and depth
imaging refers to individual placement and scale within the soundstage, left to right, front to back, top to bottom.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Good thread! I believe when one becomes very focused on the "sound" the beauty and musical message can become quite obscure. One can tailor a system to meet desired sound preferences which may have little to do with actural instruments played live i.e. natural vs tuned sound.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the evidence that high frequencies are attenuated should be provided. instead, one may think they are reduced in spl, because one listenes to a stereo where high frequencies are elevated.

live music beats any stereo.

its like preferring a copy to the original.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
As soon as I read the op, I was going to scroll down and post. Then I noticed Frogman already had. What he said.
jonahsdad
9 posts
 
Just a comment on volume - My local symphony is about 110 musicians and they play in a 900 seat theater. From my seats dead center 10-12 rows back, the volume is perfect and sonically wonderful. I just started going last year, inspired by my audiophilia, and it's true, there is nothing better than a live performance of unamplified music.
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