What was with the music at Munich 2016?

spiritofmusic · May 16, 2016

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/05/impressions-on-munich-high-end-2016.html#more

Sorry to post such a long article, but the last few paragraphs sum up my thoughts.
I only didn't bring any music assuming most rooms would have a selection to choose from. Boy, was I wrong.
Ralph of Cessaro had NOT A SINGLE rock lp to play.
The SG rollout/512dsd show used anodyne covers of songs as big part of the demo.
The majority of rooms played smooth vocal jazz/elevator pap of the lowest order.
The only exceptions was a room where some good 'ol fashioned jazz rock was belting out, and the Zu/Mach room where the ever dependable Sean Casey was hosting a vast array of dance/ambient/Americana/alt rock etc. Thnk God for Zu at shows.
I'm sure there were others, but I couldn't find them.

Now, are we saying the gear cannot sound good w/challenging music?
Are we saying the typical audiophile actually listens to this dirge played all the time?
Are we actually saying the designers etc are scared to play challenging music?

If we went to a car event full of sports and performance vehicles, would we really be happy seeing them driving in first gear as if they're negotiating heavy traffic?
For this reason more than many, I'm not sure I'll make the return trip next yr.

Syntax · May 16, 2016

spiritofmusic said:
Are we saying the typical audiophile actually listens to this dirge played all the time?

Of course.
A High End Show is for watching price tags, it is too serious for simple entertainment.

spiritofmusic · May 16, 2016

Well, it doesn't have to be this way.
Are we really saying some Scheherazade, Bach organ or harpsichord, Floyd Dark Side, Coltrane, Miles, Kate Bush, Beatles, Stones, John McLaughlin etc etc couldn't have been played. There were really only a handful of rooms, that required finding by accident, that allowed their systems to open up and BREATHE.

Al M. · May 16, 2016

spiritofmusic said:
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/05/impressions-on-munich-high-end-2016.html#more

Sorry to post such a long article, but the last few paragraphs sum up my thoughts.
I only didn't bring any music assuming most rooms would have a selection to choose from. Boy, was I wrong.
Ralph of Cessaro had NOT A SINGLE rock lp to play.
The SG rollout/512dsd show used anodyne covers of songs as big part of the demo.
The majority of rooms played smooth vocal jazz/elevator pap of the lowest order.
The only exceptions was a room where some good 'ol fashioned jazz rock was belting out, and the Zu/Mach room where the ever dependable Sean Casey was hosting a vast array of dance/ambient/Americana/alt rock etc. Thnk God for Zu at shows.
I'm sure there were others, but I couldn't find them.

Now, are we saying the gear cannot sound good w/challenging music?
Are we saying the typical audiophile actually listens to this dirge played all the time?
Are we actually saying the designers etc are scared to play challenging music?

If we went to a car event full of sports and performance vehicles, would we really be happy seeing them driving in first gear as if they're negotiating heavy traffic?
For this reason more than many, I'm not sure I'll make the return trip next yr.

Yes, one of the main reasons I don't go to audio shows. Waste of time, mostly, even though like for everything there will be exceptions.

As others at WBF also have noted, there seems to be an unfortunate culture in high-end audio, also apparently among some manufacturers, which equates clean reproduction with an overly polite, inoffensive sound (we can't have hard sounding brass, can we?). The insipid choice of music at audio shows is part of that culture.

KeithR · May 16, 2016

I wanted to play the new Daft Punk album a few years ago and the guy in the room literally cut off my track and put on Leonard Cohen and on top of that, proceeded to act like I was a newbie. It was insulting and I left the room. That DP album has been used in audiophile reviews everywhere since then.

I think music at Newport has been better and hope the trend continues in a few weeks. At least I rarely hear Hugh Masekela and Diana Krall. I'm thinking of bringing a Jason Isbell LP this year for demo. I don't like audiophile music and in particular, the more lounge singer types.

spiritofmusic · May 16, 2016

Keith, I know y'r a Zu groupie like me, and I have to say Sean was playing some amazing music. Not stuff I have in my collection, but music that makes you feel glad to be alive. Fits w/his other persona as MC/DJ.

Lee Henley · May 16, 2016

In the Lampizator room the guy gave me the iPad controller and within seconds some great sounding Led Zeppelin was blasting out of the speakers, also in the Tune Audio room Jack played some Led Zeppelin for me as well

YashN · May 16, 2016

spiritofmusic said:
Now, are we saying the gear cannot sound good w/challenging music?
Are we saying the typical audiophile actually listens to this dirge played all the time?
Are we actually saying the designers etc are scared to play challenging music?

That's why you have to bring your own, always.

andromedaaudio · May 17, 2016

What does music have to do with ultimate diamond or diamond coated extreme Mk 3 reference graphene treated stereogear

its way beyond its level you can see it at the price tags

It has to cost at least 200 K otherwise its crap lol

At the moment i m listening to ZZ Top, only thing i wish for is a dedicated noise isolated listening room where i can cranck it up real hard lol

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What was with the music at Munich 2016?

spiritofmusic

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Syntax

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spiritofmusic

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Al M.

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KeithR

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spiritofmusic

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Lee Henley

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YashN

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