How do you get the "real" feel of music?

You need speakers with a fast response, which go down low and which move a lot of air...and for those rimshots ...don't laugh...a tweeter,( and a good midrange driver of course ) which can handle real fast transients.

Always start by getting the most out of the system you have. When you can afford to upgrade components, then you still want to get the most out of them.

For the most part, I believe that "grunge" and noise are additive. It comes from all parts of the signal chain, starting of course with the components of the recording system (some recordings are much cleaner, more dynamic and musical than others) continuing with your source, cables, power, electronics, speakers and room. Faults, flaws and especially non-linearities, along the way add "grunge" which obscures the otherwise dark and spatious background into which musical notes decay.

My point is this: improvements can be made even with imperfect equipment. You may be able to make significant improvements in percieved dynamics by removing some of that "grunge."

There have been some good suggestions in this thread regarding room issues and speaker placement. Another very import potential improvement is in the area of vibration control. The idea is to prevent vibration from your speakers from getting into your room through the floor or wall shelf, etc. Keeping the floors and walls from vibrating can yield impressive gains in the depth, dynamics and "PRAT" of the music. So experiment with some stans, or other concepts for speaker vibration isolation. More refined improvements can be made be keeping that vibration away from your components, even cables. So give it a try, and see what you can do for free.

Charlie

PS: BTW, when it comes to vibration of components, there was a great design for component stands contributed in a different thread ("Here's How I Make My Equipment Racks") by Caterham1700 *Thankyou Caterham1700* which you might try.

Play an instrument! Or sing! Really.

Go to the Dynavector website and look up Super Stereo. It explains why the most expensive stereo equipment still does not have the real "feel" of music. It also shows why audiophiles are forever pouring more money into their systems, but still not being satisfied with what they hear. Stereo equipment has come close to technical perfection. Unfortunately stereo companies have totally missed the point concerning what makes music realistic and satisfying. The great thing about this concept is that inexpensive speakers can produce results as good as larger more expensive ones.

there is a simple answer to your question.

the reason it's not like a live concert is because the stereo you have can not evoke the emotionality of the live performance. there is only one type of amplifier that can do this and that is a set.