Do we ask too much of our audio systems?

@mapman and @oregonpapa you guys are spot on are as many comments here. I'd like to add, there have been many live shows where the actual sound was pretty crappy--I surely don't want my system to sound like that!

Cheers all!

Anyone involved with photography knows that a camera cannot totally capture what the human eye sees; so, the same goes for our ears when comparing an audio system to a live concert or being a fly on the wall in a  recording studio.

So, I guess it comes down to:
                                                A) How realistic are your expectations?
                                                B) How big is your budget?

I keep reading that nothing beats live music for sound.  I think that depends upon the type of music.  I enjoy “hard guitar rock” (as opposed to heavy metal), but it comes off much better IMO on a recording than it does live.  Yes, it is fun to see the band up there before you jamming, and the enthusiasm of the crowd, but in my experience the live sound is more like noise than music.  I’m a big fan of Three Doors Down, and I was at their concert a couple of years ago, about 20 rows back, and the screams of their guitars made it impossible to tell who was playing what or what the singer was singing.  It was the same with Kenny Wayne Shepherd — much better on recordings than live.

Now, if I were into orchestra music, I can imagine it would be different.  That seems more suited to hearing individual instruments more than with rock music (plus the acoustics of symphonic halls versus those of your typical sports arena).  The closest I came was attending an open-area concert by Tony Bennett and his 4-piece backing band — very nice (though I’m sure he would be the first to admit that he didn’t have the pipes then that he had as a younger man.)  

But for someone like me that grew up with 60’s-70’s-80’s rock music, there was a reason that we complimented an artist that “sounds the same live as they do on their records”.  There have been few live albums that I have enjoyed as much or thought sounded as good as their studio albums.  Yet, I still like to go hear live music when I can.

bob540, +1 *G*  Nothing beats 'live', although my main issue is the audience. The 'white noises' of cheering, screams, whistles, and the sheer volume play hell with my ears....

Which is why I go to most 'contemporary' concerts with ear plugs...;)

When engrossed in the performance, most venues fair reasonably well.  Worse was a Dave Matthews in a basketball arena; the reflections made it hard to enjoy.  Some things should not be done....

Like real estate, location, location, etc.

I can 'play loud', but at that point I've opted for 'roadie' ear plugs.  Also over the head ear protection when running tests for room eq....

Do we ask too much?  Oh, sure...the more $ spent, the more expected.  It becomes a socially acceptable addiction of sorts. *L*  'Nirvana' remains just out of reach but one still yearns to hit the porch....

Not having the disposable treasure for the quest, I've resorted to amuse my muse within my means.  Not 'perfect', but 'acceptable'; a way to enjoy what I like to listen to without frying the budget.

Spouse support has grown over the years by this approach as well.
There's a pleasant aspect to that, so I'll continue 'doing what I do'. ;)

BTW...geoffkait, " Music soothes the savage breast."

Breast?!  Sounds exciting...please expand on that....intriguing....;)

I think that you can achieve a live sound experience with a home system and I don't believe you have to spend a fortune to do it.

As with anything you do need the proper tools and don't forget how much your room affects your sound.