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Are my ears just fooling me?

I have been in this hoppy for a couple of years. I have been through alot of equipment, trying to find the sound for me (dont we all!) I have really enjoyed it but something is starting to bother me. I for some reason feel that every system I have ever heard cannot reproduce a saxophone with the body and emotion like when I hear it live. I am young but I have listened to and owned equipment all over the board. Most hifi gear I find is just really thin sounding to my ears, even with owning many tube amps. Is this normal? Does my ear just want to hear distortion with playback that really isnt there on the recording? I have never heard SET amps before and think they maybe down my alley...but is it just some more "ear candy"??
macd
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Macd,
I tend to agree with the posters who are suggesting tubes with either horns or hi effiency speakers with larger drivers. I know exactly what you mean by"that tone" and full 3D body and presence. I listen to live jazz in small venues fairly often. Those who have mentioned preamps with tubes other than the common miniature 9 pin type may be on to something also. My preamp uses 101D tubes(which are directly heated triodes). The speakers use dual 6.5inch drivers for the midrange(you need to move lots of air to mimic size and presence). DRIVEN by 300b amps, it`s as close as I`ve ever come to that live feel.I think the Klipsch with a good DHT tube amp (SET or PP) will get you well on the way.
Best of Luck
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
The Merlins actually can do the job quite well and you don't have to get crazy expensive amps to do the job.

But you want to keep in mind that anytime you hear a sax live, the perspective will be different from that of a recording if for no other reason than the mic placement. IOW the only time you can really expect that to know what that sax really sounded like means you have to have been at the recording session.
armstrod
612 posts
 
Stringreen asks the right questions and Atmasphere hits the nail right on the head, as usual. Until you find a recording that you KNOW captures that live sax sound you're heard and crave, you're just chasing your tail.

There are a couple suggestions in this thread, such as the ones from Shadorne and Rrog, but you need to find the recording that works for you as a test before you start auditioning equipment. If your recording isn't up to snuff, no piece of gear will magically transform it.

My pick would be Body and Soul by Joe Jackson. Well recorded with great sax work and designed to sound live with that Blue Note feel.

David
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
David,

Indeed that is a great recording.
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
Never pretended to be worldly with my limited brand experience but I've only known a few speakers that have been satisfying with sax, none of which would I recommend to a student. Too big, too demanding. However, I did notice a pair of Kappa8's for auction (Boston area) if you have the room and amp for them. Always been particularly critical since I used to play sax, badly. Sometimes, to be polite, I would audition speakers for several minutes when I wanted to walk way after the first few seconds.
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