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"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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,344 posts
 
Agree with gosta.
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,405 posts
 
For the most part- old recordings that originally came out on vinyl should be listened to on vinyl. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,344 posts
 
I gave it a listen on headphones last night. Very meh overall though the piano was still solid. Much better on the big system which gives the “wall of sound” production room to breath.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Wall of Ambiance...the artificial kind.  AM radio material only!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,344 posts
 
Hmm, well semantics aside, I find it sounds better and not great but good enough to be enjoyable on my good system with room for the "ambience" to breath than on headphones (Chord Mojo to Sony MDR-1AM2).

So I don’t agree with the assertion it sounds "worse" on a good system. In fact there is a lot more to potentially enjoy if you are into it.

I will agree it is not an "audiophile/reference" recording, but I don’t think anyone ever claimed it was.
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