2. digital
  3. 159374-145483

"Bridge Over Trouble Water" sounds artificial

During the pandemic I've been upgrading my sound system.  I used to enjoy Simon & Garfunkel, "Bridge Over Trouble Water".  With my upgraded equipment the hi resolution audio sounds very synthetic, with one track on top of another, not like real music at all.  The voices are doubled and violins just layered on top.  On my same system, I played a live concert of Andre Previn playing Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue".  It sounded real and beautiful, like a live performance.  Am I doing something wrong?
aeschwartz
ishkabibil
422 posts
 
Nothing wrong at all....
Hi Res sucks the "Secret Sauce" right out of the listening experience.  Some material sounds "impressive" but does it Jam like the way especially that song was originally recorded?
Absolutely not.
Hi Res Audio is the equivalent that Handy Cam TV eperience.

Impressive audio but no soul.

Bridge over Troubled Water sounds better on an old  AC Delco car radio than a high res system.
digepix's avatar
digepix
121 posts
 
My feeling is we can upgrade our equipment to the point where the music we love is no longer listenable. At that point it's time to step away and evaluate your goals for your system. No one would be impressed with my 25 year old system but I can pull any album and just enjoy without evaluating the sound.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
BOTW Reeks with Reverb!!!  They were recording it for its intended playback venue...AM Radio 📻 It’s a garbage recording...live is the only way to hear it properly.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,344 posts
 
Wow now in hindsight they should definitely revoke those Grammies for BOTW. Clearly they had no idea what they were doing. There are a bunch of people here alone that seemingly could have done it better. They should have consulted with more audiophiles. They definitely missed out on the way more heralded  audiophile seal of approval.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 
mapman,

Do you choose music based on how many Grammy or MTV awards it's gotten? 

Well recorded music is the exception not the rule, and that makes sense from a record label point of view.   Why spend money improving the quality of recordings when it won't increase sales?  I wish they thought of what they do as more of an artistic endeavor, but they don't.  It's just a business.
More to discover