Get out and listen!

Good day all. A few final thoughts on this, then I'll sign off. But first, @millercarbon - I haven't seen you in awhile. I think you encapsulated things best: "...I think a lot of what ails high end audio would go away in a heartbeat if only more of us would take your advice and go out and listen."

Welcome back.

I believe that the best any audiophile can do with an imperfect room, speakers and whatever source and source material they have is to create a facsimile of the real thing. (Note: I'm stating that as a belief, not fact.)

Yes, we can spend thousands, hundreds of thousands even, but to actually recreate a live performance?  I don't believe so. OTOH, I do believe that as long as we don't lose sight of the idea that "the music is the thing" then why not enjoy the pursuit of the most pleasing recreation we can muster? That's why they call it a hobby, right? 😉

Happy listening.

@musicfan2349

I appreciate your post and sentiments. I attend local jazz venues regularly and have done this the past 30 years or so. Fortunately the performances in these relatively intimate settings are un-amplified. So the natural beauty and sound of the instruments are un-corrupted or manipulated.

In addition There’s a Steinway Piano Gallery near me that provides a steady amount of live classical and jazz musicians performing (Again, fortunately un-amplified sound). As a music lover, nothing surpasses hearing all these acoustic instruments in these pure and natural settings. My frequency of attendance is once or twice a month.
I have posted pictures of a few of the performers on my system page. My respect and admiration for these talented musicians is immense.

Charles

That reminds me, one of the most amazing things I ever heard was Holly Cole at the Showbox. This intimate dinner/jazz club seated only about 100 or so. The show started with no one on stage. No announcer. No introduction. Everyone was chatting when Holly Cole began singing I Am Calling You from off-stage.

Just Holly Cole. No mic. No amp. That place got quiet, FAST! 

The song starts out very low and builds. As it does she comes on stage, still unamplified. Wow. String bass and piano join in. Pure acoustic bliss!

For the rest of the night she used a mic. Just too hard on the chops not to, I guess. But I asked around the table at the end of the night, everyone agreed that was the best part and the most exciting thing most of us ever heard.

For the rest of the night she used a mic. Just too hard on the chops not to, I guess. But I asked around the table at the end of the night, everyone agreed that was the best part and the most exciting thing most of us ever heard

That is a good observation. When vocalists perform at the local jazz venues or Steinway Gallery, they use microphones. The musicians do not.  Too much strain for the vocal cords? Very likely so. I’ll take what I can get. Un-microphoned tenor saxophone, trumpet, cello? Pure bliss.

Charles

Couldn't agree more.

Live, unamplified music provides a reference point.

Opera (various Met performances) and big band jazz, when it was an option (Woody Herman, Buddy Rich) were the purest music I have ever heard.