I think larry5729 and I have a similar view. I can’t put up with recordings that sound horrible on my system. I listen to many choice well recorded CDs that make my system scream with pleasure! I lived in CO. and Red Rocks rules, baby!
stuartk....your listening room is the auditorium. I always went to the seat closest to 2/3rds back from stage and center. I never liked the overly loud location near speakers. I preferred to protect my ears and at 67 feel I still have good hearing. In the words of Mick "can’t always get what you want" boo-hoo for sure. I hear you man!
I agree with you about live performances but doubt I will hear it at home like in the venue. There is a place in Indy (the Murat Theater)....it will probably be my favorite venue ever. I attended the Yes concert when all of the original members joined together again. Chris Squires bass sounded like it does on a studio recording....In fact the whole concert was like a studio recording.
So I’ll offer this out for listening to everyone: George Harrison’s "All things must pass" reissue 2 CD set.(2001) Track 11 and 12. You want to feel a "live" performance in your room? This is amazing. I get goosebumps and hair rising from it. The raw emotional performance George gives is so satisfying. He is in my room playing for me. This is effortless in my opinion, also....at least in my room on my rig.
To all of you....happy audio-in’ till death do we part. "In heaven I walk through fields and reach out and the best doob lands in my hand and when I say I want to hear a band, they appear and play for me live." Amen. :) Rick