Perception

Go to live music, particularly unamplified concerts.  Listen, listen, listen to what real music performances sound like.  Then aim for that "same" perception with your system.  Rely on NO ears other than ones that are musically perceptive and exposed to live music.

Time to ditch this "friend" and meet some new people.

I mean, what's more important: your satisfaction with your carefully purchased & curated audio system? Or a long-time friend?

Going to live performances is perhaps the only practical way to really hit that "reset button" in regards to perception of what real music can sound like.

Only then you are in a good position to start objectively assessing the sound quality of recordings and the toys used to play them.


Be warned: what you hear in the jazz club or symphony hall will not sound like what you hear at the amplified rock concert. But it’s all real! Go figure! How about those recordings? Live or Memorex?

The long-time friend may be history!

Aside from trying to find new and mystic ways to keep those never ending, pesky Martian dust storms or the perpetual spinning of the earth from screwing up our perception of how our system sounds, we should, from time to time, remember what it is (or was in the first place) that we, as individuals, want and expect from our system and surroundings to present the elusion of a living performance.

For me, it isn't about re-creating the full scope and volume of a concert performance, at 90+ decibels; it's more about the richness timber and presence of real instruments and good vocals in Light Pop and Contemporary, or small venue Jazz, Celtic, Folk and Chamber at a volume my old ears can handle.

While it can be helpful to get the opinions and advice of others and to make and take opportunities to audition equipment, accessories and tweaks that may help to build or improve our system, what's important to remember is that it is individually specific to - our ears, our budget and our preference of listening and music............Jim