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Do we ask too much of our audio systems?

In high school, I taught myself to play guitar and later started playing in rock bands for about 10 years. I used a low powered mono tube record player in my bedroom to study Clapton, BB  King, Page, Hendrix, Beck and all guitar heros of the time and learn how to play. In those years, I never bothered to upgrade my system, mostly because nothing seemed to be able to replay what I experienced playing live in a band, with a Les Paul in hand and a screaming tube guitar amp. As the years went by I built half dozen speakers and had a decent Pioneer front end, using a Philips TT. My system sounded better, but never equalled the emotion and involvement of playing live. So, I guess I grew into Audiophilia thinking nothing is as good as live music. Now I have heard some very good systems and speakers, but still wonder..."am I chasing something un-attainable?" Do we ask too much from our audio systems?
dtapo
turnbowm
353 posts
 

oregonpapa4,224 posts05-13-2020 12:45pm"The Holy Grail in Audiophilism is to recreate the live event in our listening rooms.... we are chasing something that is unattainable."

Went through audio "burnout" on several occasions until I realized (and accepted) that the Holy Grail in audio is unattainable. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I only want a reasonable facsimile of what’s on the recording. I’ll leave it to others to try to get live music at home. 😐 As Bob Dylan is fond of saying at the end of all his records, good luck with that, dude! Music soothes the savage breast. 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,800 posts
 
“What’s important in the home environment, is the emotional connection to the music. If one is getting that, then that’s where it is at.”

Frank nailed it.  That’s been my goal all along...I am pretty happy where I am with my audio system. There is always room for improvement but one should never loose sight of what you have accomplished.
tablejockey
4,081 posts
 
A good system will get pretty close to experiencing live "woman" tone or a crunchy LP thru a stack of Marshalls, but it's still just "pretty close"

The pressing you're using and the system does make a difference, but in the end still just sounds like good hifi.  Personally don't "feel" it with any of those digital files or CD's.

All the extra time lately has allowed for a little extra  play time with my LP&Strat/Deluxe reverb. I've been jamming with Page, Hendrix, Beck, Trower, Howe, the 3 Kings...

Nothing replaces standing in front of a stack of Marshalls.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,353 posts
 
Tablejockey, don't leave out Earl (the 4th King of the Blues Guitar).
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