What are we really trying to replicate?

Mceljo: I tend to agree with you also as atmosphere for music and, for that matter, the sporting events. I have turned down free tickets to the Rose Bowl game and to NFL playoff games and when I go to the symphony, which is quite often, I listen like Karajan conducted- with my eyes closed the entire time. To me the crowd, driving there, parking, etc, are all simply a nuisance. I would like to point out that the goal of replicating the live event or the sound of the live event is only one possible goal of playing recorded music at home. Remember that unless you are listening to a recording of a live concert, what you have on the CD or LP is not one 'live' event anyway. Rather, you have a studio version which is perfected takes seamed together. So a certain extent hearing the real thing at home is kind of artificial to start with. A better question may be "Do you like the way music sounds on your system?"

I haven't invested tens of thousands of dollars so that I can play that vinyl record that was made poorly, but, rather, to listen to the music that was recorded exceptonally well. I think that we "audiophiles" concentrate on the better recordings. We all have old, poorly recorded ones that are dear to our hearts, and make us feel good when we listen to them but what gets my little hairs on the back of my neck raised are those incredible recordings. They make the musicians sound like they are in the room with me--or, I guess, like I am in thier room, with them.

Live Classical concert at Carnegie Hall!!

For me, it isn't about the volume, it's about the clarity and accuracy. Live un-amplified sound has a physical characteristic to it. My ideal system would be the one that best replicates this physical presence. Hence I look for dynamics, vocals, piano and strings.

I'm sure it's no surprise, but I much prefer acoustic performances to amplified performances.

Musicnoise, your comments are certainly on the mark. The sound experience at a live rock concert is entirely different from that at a symphony concert. Even at the highest sound/dynamic levels, the ears are rarely assaulted in the same way they are at rock concerts, which often use electronics equipment to further amplify the sound. I also agree with your point about raising the question, "Do you like the way music sounds on your system?" Indeed, that is THE most significant concern when listening to reproduced music at home. Notwithstanding, the live event is most often "a horse of a different color." It would take too much time and effort for me to relate how remarkable sounding the experience was for me and my friends at a recently attended concert, and it wasn't just the performances or the particular compositions either. Though I had heard wonderful sound at other concerts, I was unprepared for sound this glorious. I will remember it for a long time.