larryi- This is what you said, ".....it is not that realistic because you almost never get the kind of precise instrument placements one has on recordings when hearing the music live. If you close your eyes at an orchestral performance, you really don’t hear as precise an image; you use your eyes to get the placement." And then, "It is true that one could find a seat up front that provides a nice stereo spread and allows one to aurally locate instrumental groups/soloists.....". If you’re intentionally choosing seats, that provide for other listening perspectives/objectives, why would you bring up recordings not being, "that realistic", with regard to imaging and instrument placement, knowing that seating, which would provide such at a live venue, is available? Personal preferences are just one of a plethora of variables, when listening to music is the subject. Happy listening!
What should you hear?
I'm new to the hobby and curious what type of imaging sound stage you should hear. I have a pair of Vandersteen 2ce signatures and they sound great. What I find however is that the imaging, sound stage is very dependent on the recording.
Norah Jones? She sounds like she's sitting right in the room. It's amazing.
One I'm particularly interested in learning more about is Brubek's Take Five. The saxophone images great. Sounds dead center. The piano however is clearly coming from the right hand speaker and the drums are clearly coming from the left. Is this typical?
Thanks for your input and tolerating a "newbie" question.
Norah Jones? She sounds like she's sitting right in the room. It's amazing.
One I'm particularly interested in learning more about is Brubek's Take Five. The saxophone images great. Sounds dead center. The piano however is clearly coming from the right hand speaker and the drums are clearly coming from the left. Is this typical?
Thanks for your input and tolerating a "newbie" question.
Showing 3 responses by rodman99999
People that attend live musical events and fail to locate instrumental voices, via ear, should spend a bit more, on their seating. Of course; it helps to know something about the hall/venue, the seating arrangements, and acoustics. For acoustic Jazz, Blues, Chamber Music, etc gigs: get there earlier and pick a seat, that allows for a balanced sound stage, imagining where binaural mics might be placed, if one were recording. That’s all assuming venues with decent acoustics. |
Whenever a question arises, regarding sound stage and imaging; I make this suggestion: The following provide tests, with which one may determine whether their system actually images, or reproduces a sound stage, as recorded. ie: On the Chesky sampler/test CD; David explains in detail, his position on the stage and distance from the mics, as he strikes a tambourine(Depth Test). The LEDR test tells what to expect, if your system performs well, before each segment. The Chesky CD contains a number of tests, in addition to the LEDR. (https://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_ledr.php ) and: (https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/2818064?ev=rb) An article, in Stereophile, on the subject: (https://www.stereophile.com/features/772/index.html) |