Is a highly discerning system enjoyable?

Got home after a few days away.

Yes, got my copy of War out and listened to it on the current set up.

So much missing in the production. Preferred it in the car…

Tried listening to it on two different systems. My main set up, as well as on a vintage set up I’m playing with. Ariston RD11S, Marantz 2230 and Dynaco A25’s.

Main system far more revealing, and showcased the complex production that lies hidden in all that upper midrange. Vintage system did not reveal all that detail, and because of not revealing it, kind of made it into a bigger jumble of noise.

The problem I have w this recording is how there seems to be a heaping amount of mid/lower midrange tone that is missing. It’s missing in both systems.

But given the choice, would rather hear the clarity in the detail, than not.

Just my experience with one recording as I explored this questIon.

So much missing in the production. Preferred it in the car

@perkri 

Right?

The problem I have w this recording is how there seems to be a heaping amount of mid/lower midrange tone that is missing. It’s missing in both systems.

And to think this was before digital drums were really a thing.  I mean this is the producer making drums sound awful.

Maybe we should also bring up Stop Making Sense?

@erik_squires 

Could be so very much better sounding. I get the raw quality to the production. But there is something very engaging by the layering of the sounds in the mix. So that kind of brings the raw quality of the production into question, perhaps they made a bad decision. 

Yeah, drums sound terrible, and it sounds like the mic was put inside a tin can for the vocals. 
 

If there was ever a recording that could benefit from a remastering, War should be on that list. 
 

Production kind of reminds me of how Chicago’s Greatest Hits sounds. So much “stuff” going on in the mix, but oh so very bright and lacking meat. This was from a Rhino re release. Then I read up somewhere that the 77’ Japanese pressing was apparently the one to get. Got ahold of a copy and man, what a difference. 
 

Anyway, think I prefer the system that is more revealing. At least I get to hear what they did w the mix. 
 

Perhaps I’ll drag my Cornwalls out and try War w those, though I doubt that will be any better. Adding a 15” woofer ain’t gonna matter if there ain’t no tone there to amplify. 

@erik_squires 

And great, now I have to pull out my copy of stop making sense…

Also a 1st UK pressing.