I find that Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh has some strange reflections. I prefer Synod Hall in Oakland. I decided to do a comparison once. I got a balcony seat at Synod Hall in the middle and leaned out and listened very carefully. Then I went home and put on a Telarc vinyl LP of similar music and listened carefully. The sound was the same ! I closed my eyes and I was back at Synod Hall. I opened my eyes and found speakers instead of musicians. I own full range electrostatic speakers. The bass is incredible with power and authority. You would swear I have subwoofers but I don't.
Sat front row at the symphony...
Yesterday, I got to sit in the front row to hear the Pittsburgh Symphony do Beethoven's Piano Concerto no 1 and the Shostakovich Symphony no 10. I know we all talk about audio gear here, but I have to tell you, sitting in the best seat in the house (Heinz Hall) was an amazing audio experience. I'm not sure the best audio gear in the world can quite match it. Maybe I'm wrong, but I was mesmerized by the acoustics of the hall and the dynamics of one of the world's best orchestras.