Tennis: I think Jason Victor Serinus' posts from RMAF regarding pianist Robert Silverman made clear the point that even the best mega-buck systems out there have a long way to go before they can emulate the dynamics and power of live music.
I think of music-reproduction as being akin to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle: you can do dynamics but not efficiency, at the same time. You can do extended frequency response but not a reasonable size, at the same time. And so on and so on, ad infinitum.
There is a mind-bending string of trade-offs that go into the design and configuration of an audio system. Being obsessive souls, we will cling to one or two parameters as being "the important ones"; naturally, choices of WHICH ones are most important differ from person to person.
The elements that say "real" to me more than other elements are instantaneous, unfettered dynamics and a lack of edge on the highs. Most other elements strike me as architectural artifacts, and those two elements can NOT be faked: it's either right--or close to it-- or it ain't. Period.
Most of the time it ain't. ;-> Do I really need to point out that these are my opinions, and my opinions only? Well, they are, and they're not humble opinions, either. I've spent decades of my life formulating them, and humility be damned.
And by the way: this completely sidesteps the whole metaphysical dilemma of "which is more real: I am THERE, or the music is HERE?" Oy. Sometimes it pays to just shut up and listen.
Michael: more power to you, dude.
Thanks to you both for your kind comments.
I think of music-reproduction as being akin to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle: you can do dynamics but not efficiency, at the same time. You can do extended frequency response but not a reasonable size, at the same time. And so on and so on, ad infinitum.
There is a mind-bending string of trade-offs that go into the design and configuration of an audio system. Being obsessive souls, we will cling to one or two parameters as being "the important ones"; naturally, choices of WHICH ones are most important differ from person to person.
The elements that say "real" to me more than other elements are instantaneous, unfettered dynamics and a lack of edge on the highs. Most other elements strike me as architectural artifacts, and those two elements can NOT be faked: it's either right--or close to it-- or it ain't. Period.
Most of the time it ain't. ;-> Do I really need to point out that these are my opinions, and my opinions only? Well, they are, and they're not humble opinions, either. I've spent decades of my life formulating them, and humility be damned.
And by the way: this completely sidesteps the whole metaphysical dilemma of "which is more real: I am THERE, or the music is HERE?" Oy. Sometimes it pays to just shut up and listen.
Michael: more power to you, dude.
Thanks to you both for your kind comments.