Is imaging reality?

Have sat down front many times and find I like the sound and the view less.

When seeing an orchestra, ballet, or opera, I prefer the ‘dress circle’ seats. I can see everything from ‘slightly’ above, while also feeling close. And typically sounds wonderful, but in reality, in places like Severance Hall in Cleveland, sounds great wherever you sit. It’s more about the view.

Very interesting and thoughtful responses.
Thank you.

My system images wonderfully, but, more important to me, which my system does extremely well ( with recording variations, of course ), are these characteristics : A sense of power; extreme detail; rich and smooth harmonics and tone; exciting dynamics ( micro and macro ); fast transients, along with natural decay; extended, well defined, deep and full bass; tuneful ( prat ); coherence, everything sounds like it belongs together. I listen to the musicianship....the expressiveness, the passion, the control, of the playing, as individuals, and, as a whole. Once a recording is made, much is lost, starting out with the mic. But, listening to these characteristics I have listed, I enjoy it all. Realistic volume levels makes it that much more enjoyable. If everyone listened, as I do ( I am not alone in how I listen ), putting a system together, would be simpler. Not many systems I have heard, does all of these things well, and I am talking about mega $ stuff. I grew up around, and involved, around live music. I was introduced to horns ( Khorns ), at a very young age. I have heard, and owned, many things. I have developed a sense, of what I like, and what I want. I know, there are better systems than what I own, as I have heard a few. However, understanding, I am listening to recordings, along, with all of my listening experience, allows me to enjoy, fully, my favorite recorded performances. Enjoy !, stay safe, and be well. Always, MrD.

I think speakers that faithfully reproduce orchestral music would be reviewed as "muddy", "smearing", "imprecise", and whatever else. So, the answer to the OP would be "no". At the same time, going to the concert used to be much more pleasant experience than putting a record on.

I would say I have also come to appreciate recorded music that is produced with an intention of how the end user will hear it. Obviously no engineer or producer knows exactly what equipment the end user will have or his listening environment. But there are some bands who maximize those considerations. Steely Dan comes to mind. It is not just the playing of the song that represents the end product. The production and engineering are equally as important and equally well done.

To some Steely Dan sounds overproduced and artificial. I get that, but that's not how I feel about it. No, it does not sound live. No, it does not even sound like they are trying to make it sound like you are there listening to it being played. They make it sound the way they wanted it to sound coming out of your speaker. I like that. And most systems will capture that intent.


And I really dislike it when production and engineering are done poorly.....no matter how well the song was executed by the musicians.