A rare opportunity (or at least I think it's rare)


I got to experience a rare opportunity. The other night, neighborhood friends and family were sitting out back enjoying the fireplace when I had an idea. My son’s good friend was in town and had joined us. He’s a musician and has recorded an EP under the name Cottonwood Trio, which is available to stream on Qobuz (44.1k, 16b) Once I got the music playing I invited him in to have a listen. He stood there a moment, listened and then turned to me with one of those side-eye looks and said “damn, it sounds like we’re back in the studio, that’s amazing”!! It was a very cool moment for me as a music lover. That was so satisfying to hear said about my pride and joy - my sound system, especially coming from the guy that was in the studio making the music.

I love the ongoing pursuit of searching for the best sounding and most musical system my budget will allow and his comments were very rewarding. Moreover, it shows that well-made, decent equipment can be capable of producing life-like, in-the-studio quality music.

Just wait until I add that subwoofer - ever in pursuit.😉

NB: It was night time (music sounds better at night, right?) and we had had a couple of beers, but I’ll take it!

drbb

Good question. He just recently finished renovating a house and we talked about how to "build" a good sound system. Sooo...maybe!

Sooo . . . will he be buying one?

I think there would be more audiophiles if they realized they could have sound this good for a few thousand dollars.

Since I do not have audiophile friends coming by to hear my system, it becomes a bit too conceptual as time goes by, all alone, gathering information, making choices, evaluating…

I’ve doubted my choices and questioned what I’m hearing, and said to myself with less than 100% conviction, ‘that sounds fantastic!’

So, indeed, as drbb said, “These kind of validations are what keeps you going.”

An acquaintance said to me, ’Now, every time I listen to music I wonder what it would sound like on your system.’

A friend said in an amazed tone of voice, ‘The first thing I notice is that it’s so clear, everything is so clear.’

@drbb ,

What a great story!

 Maybe you can swing an invite to his next recording session?

@condosound I have my system listed and by this forum's standards I'd call it mid-fi with aspirations for hi-fi. By the average joe's standards it is night and day better than what they listen to. Room treatments are something I'm in dire need of, but I want to remain in my marriage 😀. Listening room is a sunroom with 7 foot windows and brick walls (ouch). At least the ceilings are 9 foot with acoustical tiles.

 

 

OK, Step 2: What do you have in your system? Room treatment?

Thanks Music Lover.

That's just about thte coolest thing I've heard today.  So far.  

Well played.  Literally.

These kind of validations are what keeps you going. Lucky when you can get one. I might add this forum/community is pretty inspiring as well.

Good job. I can totally relate. My nephew was in town the other night and came by to visit. He was a bass player for the Arkansas Philharmonic.  Is is now on the board of directors.  Wr put on Dvorak by the Chicago Philharmonic.  He could pick out every instrument section and tell wha5 would be next and point to where it would come from. I was amazed. He was amazed. He told me this is the first time he could pick out all the instrument from a 110 piece orchestra from a 2 channel recording.  He said the ebb and flow of the bass was spot on and even heard a bow slap on the side of a cello , and he's heard the LP a hundred times or more. 

Yes, it's a rare opportunity. Very cool.

Listening to the Cottonwood Trio now - 5 seconds into track one was interested in hearing more - sounds great so far. 

Great confirmation you are on the right path. I have a friend that is a professional acoustic guitar musician making albums and playing concerts for the last fourth years. He completely lost himself in my system when playing some of his recordings. Good validation when they can recognize their guitar.

@edcyn Cool! Lots of talent musicians that we will never hear about. A real crap shoot.