How Hi Fi Has Become a Standard Unto Itself

[Karen Sumner]

A long time ago I had to sort out how to create a reference. To that end I got a virtuoso to play an instrument live while I experiemented with microphones, mic preamps and mic placement and listening to the mic feed in a different room, comparing it to the actual. There is a different way to interpret Karen's comment- which does not require you to be a virtuoso yourself.

Nice! Well said, and a great suggestion. Although what you accomplished doesn't require being a virtuoso yourself, it did require a lot of thinking, research, effort, and time to make it happen.

 

[HughP3]

I recently went to a wonderful, intimate venue featuring Larry Carlton with local musicians from the Atlanta area. Besides Larry there was electric bass, drum, sax and trombone. All instruments except the drum were amplified.

The venue has good acoustics. The drum presentation was wonderful. Now the however, i was simply listening to amplified music to a very large degree and in my opinion a good system can sound as good or better than the amplified venue i heard, except for the drum kit.
my brother in laws both play guitar and one is pretty good drummer. If i can get Both in my room it would be a great experience. I especially want to get his real drum kit in so i can hear/feel the real thing in my space.

 

[Gregadd]

Hi Karen,
Have you ever considered a career in diplomacy? I am not sure you disagree or agree. You deftly handle so many flame thrower issues. I have argued so many of these issues I will not revisit them here.
You are welcome to any benefit my response provided.
Let me answer the one question you posed. At 68 I don't get around much anymore. The price of concerts for big name acts is exorbitant. There is the occasional free or bargain concert. I still hunt down my favorite artists. I regret missing Eva Cassidy before she passed.i am currently in the hunt for Cecile Mclorin Salvant-Windows and Woman Child. I am the guy who actually listens to cover bands or that free concert at the book store. I used to time my Sunday bike ride so I could hear the guy playing guitar outside the NC BBQ restaurant on the Va. W O&D bike trail.
Enjoy the music.

 

[Karen Sumner]

Enjoy the music.

That's what it's all about! I'm not into attending big name live band events either — the sound reinforcement borders on the painful. I would rather hear recordings of electronically produced music at home, and electronic music that is well produced in a studio can be terrific! I think that as you have said so well, music is all around us if we are willing to look for it.

I welcome your input anytime. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Gregadd]

I recently went to a wonderful, intimate venue featuring Larry Carlton with local musicians from the Atlanta area. Besides Larry there was electric bass, drum, sax and trombone. All instruments except the drum were amplified.

The venue has good acoustics. The drum presentation was wonderful. Now the however, i was simply listening to amplified music to a very large degree and in my opinion a good system can sound as good or better than the amplified venue i heard, except for the drum kit.
my brother in laws both play guitar and one is pretty good drummer. If i can get Both in my room it would be a great experience. I especially want to get his real drum kit in so i can hear/feel the real thing in my space.

I get it you mean music played over venue PA

 

[Edward Pong]

By the way, why aren't more musicians interested in better hi fi systems? Is it because they have real ultimate music experiences which a hi fi can not possibly replicate? Could it also be that when they listen to a generally acceptable playback system, they are so imbued with what the music actually is from their experiences, that their brains fill in the gaps? What do you think?

Karen, I think you hit the nail right on the head here! All the musicians I record have very simple systems, I think for exactly those 2 reasons, they can hear the "real thing" when they play and many have told me their favourite recordings were made many many years ago, some even in the 50's, when the recorded sound may even have been mono... Because those performances were so individual and drew one into the music... it's the music & it's performance that's the most important. If it sounds great/close to real, that's a bonus.

It's not about being note perfect, but being human. This is mostly lost in todays hugely edited, manufactured recordings. IMHO

Ed

 

[HughP3]

I get it you mean music played over venue PA

yes. obviously dont have that issue with symphonies. when i attend popular concerts the enjoyment is the show and experience but not the sound as most dont sound good.

 

[retired farmer]

Karen I love your wire! I have had many sets and basically have neer strayed away.