Awesome responses guys, thanks. We all have our own perception of what "live music" sounds like, given our different concert-going experiences, our own experiences as musicians, or just differences in our ears. But can't you tell quickly when a system suddenly clicks into what your idea of live music is, or at least comes pretty dang close?
Personally, the things that knock my socks off when I first hear them are the systems that sound like my aural memory of live music. Things that do not knock my socks off are improved bass response, less etching in the treble, etc. Or at least I don't think they do... Granted, what makes me hear "live music" is surely a conglomeration of all of those little points, but I would never make an upgrade based on "improved bass response" or "smoother highs". Anyway, just some random thoughts.
And word to the silver cables. Not my cup of tea either.
Personally, the things that knock my socks off when I first hear them are the systems that sound like my aural memory of live music. Things that do not knock my socks off are improved bass response, less etching in the treble, etc. Or at least I don't think they do... Granted, what makes me hear "live music" is surely a conglomeration of all of those little points, but I would never make an upgrade based on "improved bass response" or "smoother highs". Anyway, just some random thoughts.
And word to the silver cables. Not my cup of tea either.