Does it make sense to critically evaluate gear with multi-miked recordings?

[caesar]

Seems like we have not had a "philosophical" thread here in a little while, so I thought I would rekindle the flames.


Anyone thoughts?

 

[microstrip]

For someone who listens to classical orchestral and instrumental music, surely yes! Most of the recordings I listen to are multi-miked and if they sound bad the system is useless for me. I have many multi-miked CDs (e.g. Deutsche Grammophon and Decca) that can sound excellent in adequate systems and I always take a few of them to evaluation sessions. I am a little suspicious of systems that only sound good with audiophile recordings.

 

[garylkoh]

I am a little suspicious of systems that only sound good with audiophile recordings.

Definitely +1

 

[vinylphilemag]

I think it absolutely makes sense (and I do just that). There's more to a realistic musical presentation than just imaging and soundstaging. Technicalities aside, one of the most important tools in an evaluator's tool chest is music with which they are intimately familiar and love a lot. It's with those pieces that they can ascertain how well (if at all) the gear connects with them on an emotional level.

 

[fas42]

And a very definite yes from me. Multi-miked or studio recordings can easily sound very congested, as there are effectively numerous acoustics or parts thereof embedded in the final playback. Only a well sorted out system won't add a further layer of congestion, in the form of distortion, thus giving the ear/brain an excellent opportunity to cleanly decode all the elements in the mix. An excellent system will make a very "messy" recording sound dramatically more impressive than the simple audiophile one, because of the far richer content therein ...

Frank

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

There are so few recordings that aren't mulit-miced that it would make no sense to only evaluate equipment with them. Is your only criteria the recreation of the ambience of a room you've probably never set foot in? OK, if that's it, yeah, evaluate with the rare audiophile stereo-mic'ed recording and imagine that unknown ambience, bro. But if you're interested in imaging, resolution, frequency response, dynamic range....bring your best studio and multi-mice'd live recordings to the listening party.

Tim

 

[JackD201]

Yet another yes from me. I don't think we're going to get many dissenting opinions if any. This is one case where the practical side totally overwhelms the philosophical side.

 

[caesar]

I think a purist, like HP, would definitely not want to evaluate the quality of the system with multi-miked recordings.

But from a practical manner, I want my system to sound good with all kinds of recordings. It's all about letting go of the disbelief...

 

[fas42]

I want my system to sound good with all kinds of recordings. It's all about letting go of the disbelief...

If you have to go through some ritual to let go, then the system is not there, it's not working properly. The setup should make you believe in of itself, if you have to dose yourself up with some "drug" to enjoy it, then you have some way to go ...

Frank