For me it eventually comes down to 'suspension of disbelief'. There simply is no way to close the gap with live music, either acoustical instruments in a dedicated real acoustic space (sometimes called 'the absolute sound') or amplified instruments played anywhere.
Let's face it folks, even from around the corner you can distinguish if the music you hear is coming from a street musician playing live or recorded music coming from a store or something. It's a different 'gestalt' that your brain immediately identifies.
Being able to sit in front of an audio system that every once in a while succeeds in fooling your brain and make you forget you're listening to a recording played through electro-acoustic devices is probably the most we can hope to achieve. It puts a big smile on my face every time this happens.
These days I seem to smile more than I used to, so this 'audiophile thing' apparently did bring me a little bit closer to the 'real thing'. Nevertheless, a visit to the concert hall is always a sobering experience, telling you exactly how unattainable that real thing is inside your home. Now with COVID-19 unfortunately also outside the home. At this point in time 'suspension of disbelief' is all we have as music listeners, so let's cherish these moments.....
Let's face it folks, even from around the corner you can distinguish if the music you hear is coming from a street musician playing live or recorded music coming from a store or something. It's a different 'gestalt' that your brain immediately identifies.
Being able to sit in front of an audio system that every once in a while succeeds in fooling your brain and make you forget you're listening to a recording played through electro-acoustic devices is probably the most we can hope to achieve. It puts a big smile on my face every time this happens.
These days I seem to smile more than I used to, so this 'audiophile thing' apparently did bring me a little bit closer to the 'real thing'. Nevertheless, a visit to the concert hall is always a sobering experience, telling you exactly how unattainable that real thing is inside your home. Now with COVID-19 unfortunately also outside the home. At this point in time 'suspension of disbelief' is all we have as music listeners, so let's cherish these moments.....