Best rig for "live" music (bootlegs)


I was curious what gear people use for recorded shows, i.e. Dead, Phish, Panic etc. I'm not talking about the show where a tape deck was crotched to capture an unauthorized concert. I'm talking about bands that "allow" a taper's section. I've always enjoyed a sweet front-of-board recording from a live show. A good one is always better than the soundboard!

Back in the 90's, early 2000's, I was a cassette trading fiend! My Pioneer, Yamaha, Bose setup was all I knew, so I was happy.

Later I bought some Heresy II's. Although I loved the punch they deliver on studio recordings, the live stuff becomes pretty shrill. I've tried different tube amps to try and tame them, but I just don't think the Heresy's are the right fit for live recordings. (At least the ones I'm talking about).

It got me to thinking and I figured I'd throw it out to the A'goner's. Any former (or current) tapers out there with audiophile gear at home? What rig do you find sounds best for live music recordings?

Thanks everyone,

Bob

(Currently I've got a BAT VK-31se -> BAT VK-60-> Klipsch Heresy II's)
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@bobdg2000 

You're welcome, and thank you.

And yes, I do agree that certain soundboards are problematic and less ideal (compared to a good audience) from an overall quality perspective. Usually, in the case of the Grateful Dead, shows that are distributed in SBD where a technical problem of some kind exists (and there are quite a few), a notation to that effect is written in the associated text file. On the other hand, there are certain types of boards and mixes - such as a "Betty" board or a "Healy" mix - that often stand out as "preferred" or better than most.  That said, if you can get any kind of Charlie Miller sound board (he primarily does GD but does Phish and perhaps others too) they too are often the "best". 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Healy_(soundman)

https://www.relix.com/news/detail/the_betty_boards_are_now_in_the_grateful_dead_vault

https://glidemagazine.com/100957/charlie-miller-turns-his-transferring-sights-on-phish/

Hal - that's quite an impressive list - and room you've got there! 

I guess I did get a little carried away with my "always" comment, but I remember sometimes being excited about a board tape, only to find the mix for that hall, didn't quite work so well in my living room! You know what I'm talking about ; )

I was mainly just looking to see what components fellow live-music listeners used to listen...

Thanks
Nothing different in selecting a rig for audience recordings than for any well recorded music be it studio or live.

+1

And I only listen to (recorded) live music (SBD, AUD, MTX).
http://halr.x10.mx/shows.html


I've always enjoyed a sweet front-of-board recording from a live show. A good one is always better than the soundboard!

I wouldn't say/write an FOB is *always* better. Sometimes, yes. Consider that virtually every commercially available GD release is SBD. 




Nothing different in selecting a rig for audience recordings than for any well recorded music be it studio or live. Get the most accurate playback system your wallet can afford and which your ears can discern.

If the recordings are not the best try an eq.