What do you mean by real in this scenario you've set up? What are you trying to match? If you're asking can anyone reproduce the experience of a live full orchestra presentation in say Carnegie Hall with their home stereo, no. If you're asking can a reproduction of a Jazz quartet in a venue of 75 people be done with their home stereo, no. It's not possible to capture the sound field as you hear it, can't be done with two channel . You can get closer with an immersive system but still no cigar.
How much reality do you really need?
The real question to the audiophile is, “how much reality do you need” to enjoy your system? Does it have to be close to an exact match? How close before your satisfied? Pursuing that ideal seems to be the ultimate goal of the audiophile.
The element of your imagination has to come into the equation, or you’ll drive yourself mad. You have to fill in part of the experience with your mind.
But this explains the phenomenon of “upgraditis.”
The element of your imagination has to come into the equation, or you’ll drive yourself mad. You have to fill in part of the experience with your mind.
But this explains the phenomenon of “upgraditis.”