What is Your Test for Comparing Two Audio Components?

[Amir]

Romy has a video about it, we should forget the sound and listen to music.

Real sound vs natural sound vs live sound vs emotional sound vs energetic sound vs analog sound vs clean sound vs … forget this Endless debate.

 

[PeterA]

All systems are colored and all audiophiles listen to coloration, there is no real sound, there is no sound like live music. both groups of analog/tube/horn and digital/solidstate/cone have coloration and we should go out of this debate.

The important thing is our reaction to music not to the sound and I believe in this regard overally (not always) analog/tube/horn systems are better than digital/solidstate/cone systems.

Ok, but sometimes I just love the sound of a double bass note. Music appreciation is the destination. We hear sounds along the way.

 

[PeterA]

Romy has a video about it, we should forget the sound and listen to music.

Real sound vs natural sound vs live sound vs emotional sound vs energetic sound vs analog sound vs clean sound vs … forget this Endless debate.

Amir, it is only a debate among those who want to discuss different points of view. It is not a debate for the listener who has chosen his target and is aiming for it. This hobby is primarily a personal pursuit.

 

[Al M.]

Nothing to accept. Your home system is not a reference, the concert hall sound is. The fact that you have got used to your colourations at home, and your acoustic memory is defined by what you listen regularly, makes you think the concert hall sound is etched in comparison.

If it is true that, as pk_LA says, most of the performances he listened to in that hall were amplified, then the concert hall sound is *not* a reference.

Potentially badly amplified sound has nothing to do with unamplified live music, which is a valid reference.

 

[bonzo75]

If it is true that, as pk_LA says, most of the performances he listened to in that hall were amplified, then the concert hall sound is *not* a reference.

Potentially badly amplified sound has nothing to do with unamplified live music, which is a valid reference.

If Disney hall is ampliifying it, sure. But then why use it as an example to show how a system sounds in comparision to concert hall sound. I find it strange it is amping classical though. Are there others who can verify that?

 

[Al M.]

If Disney hall is ampliifying it, sure. But then why use it as an example to show how a system sounds in comparision to concert hall sound.

Good question.

I find it strange it is amping classical though.

Very strange.

Are there others who can verify that?

I'd love an answer to that too.

 

[tima]

If it is true that, as pk_LA says, most of the performances he listened to in that hall were amplified, then the concert hall sound is *not* a reference.

Potentially badly amplified sound has nothing to do with unamplified live music, which is a valid reference.

Disney sure isn't what it used to be.

 

[mtemur]

The important thing is our reaction to music not to the sound and I believe in this regard overally (not always) analog/tube/horn systems are better than digital/solidstate/cone systems.

If only the music mattered and not the sound, then why would you have a preference for analog, tubes and horns?


On the contrary, sound is extremely important. Some setups get closer to live music than others, and in those cases, you—or anyone who loves music—feel more engaged and emotionally connected. That’s why the sound of an audio system is crucial: it directly determines the level of enjoyment.

And it doesn’t have to sound exactly like real music—just the closer it gets, the better it sounds.

 

[PYP]

Different halls have different sounds, none of them is etched. One can have higher frequencies than the other at your seat, the orchestra can play differently (one performance in one hall sounds richer than another one). If your seat is extremely close, you might experience the “too loud” bite in any hall.

They are all references. The fact that different halls have different sounds so how do you judge realism at home is just flawed logic

Perhaps etched is the wrong description. VERY lively is more descriptive. Like when someone sitting nearby turns a page while following the score and it makes you jump. A cough sounds like a tornado. That kind of (acoustical) thing.

So, if enjoyment of music at home is my goal (it is), then while that venue (as re-designed) is a reference for live sound (how couldn't it be?), I would not want to re-create that at home even though I like a "realistic" (or other terms as much discussed above) in-home experience.

Are those who use the live experience as reference looking to imitate the sound signature of a particular hall, or rather emulating the unmistakable live signature (although impossible to re-create at home as often stated)?

 

[mtemur]

So, if enjoyment of music at home is my goal (it is), then while that venue (as re-designed) is a reference for live sound (how couldn't it be?), I would not want to re-create that at home even though I like a "realistic" (or other terms as much discussed above) in-home experience.

Are those who use the live experience as reference looking to imitate the sound signature of a particular hall, or rather emulating the unmistakable live signature (although impossible to re-create at home as often stated)?

Audiophiles are trying to recreate a resemblance of a real musical event on a smaller scale—one that fits within their listening room and doesn’t disturb the peace of their home.

It’s very much like raising a bonsai tree: small enough to keep indoors, yet when you look closely, it still resembles the real thing up to each and every detail.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...and the bonsai, a highly curated version of reality. Probably our hifi rooms fit that concept as well. A stylized version of reality.

 

[bonzo75]

Perhaps etched is the wrong description. VERY lively is more descriptive.

Concert hall sound is VERY lively compared to what - lively home system sound?

Like when someone sitting nearby turns a page while following the score and it makes you jump.

Never happened

A cough sounds like a tornado.

Are those who use the live experience as reference looking to imitate the sound signature of a particular hall, or rather emulating the unmistakable live signature (although impossible to re-create at home as often stated)?

The halls you go to form an acoustical.memory template. No one tries to replicate the sound of a particular hall. If you read a designer or reviewer saying wow, I realized I was hearing the sound of Carnegie or Vienna, he is doing that for drama. It just tells you what is acceptable and what is not. Like if you knew Italian food like an Italian, you would avoid Olive Garden, and you would know what works for your palate as genuine, even though it might not be exactly cooked like your mum/grandmum did.

 

[Elliot G.]

I suspect that regardless of my answer you will not accept it.

With that said, I do find various frequencies more etched at Disney Concert Hall when compared to my home setup. I think it is important to note (again) that much of the performances are being amplified into the hall.

I've never been there however from reading the descriptions from those who designed it , it seems that making it extremely clear was there goal so your observation is most likely spot on.

 

[pk_LA]

Nothing to accept. Your home system is not a reference, the concert hall sound is. The fact that you have got used to your colourations at home, and your acoustic memory is defined by what you listen regularly, makes you think the concert hall sound is etched in comparison.

Had no idea one of the leading concert halls was amplifying classical music except the one odd San Diego one reported by miniguy.

I am so glad to be able to teach you some things!

Just FYI, ALL concert halls use amplification dependent on the performance. How do you think that they would otherwise project an electric guitar?

 

[bonzo75]

I am so glad to be able to teach you some things!

Just FYI, ALL concert halls use amplification dependent on the performance. How do you think that they would otherwise project an electric guitar?

We are referring to classical here. The Max Richter concert you referred to, he was playing electric guitar?

Contemporary classical can be amplified but is not a reference

 

[pk_LA]

Disney sure isn't what it used to be.

FYI...The Royal Albert Hall was outfitted in 2019 with a large, modern speaker system from d&b audiotechnik to address its long-standing acoustic issues

 

[pk_LA]

We are referring to classical here. The Max Richter concert you referred to, he was playing electric guitar?

Max uses both a synthesized keyboard and an a piano

 

[bonzo75]

FYI...The Royal Albert Hall was outfitted in 2019 with a large, modern speaker system from d&b audiotechnik to address its long-standing acoustic issues

RAH always had amplification, they did a lot of rock concerts there. I have watched Clapton and Knopfler there. The classical there is not amplified. It is a poor hall for classical and used mainly for proms, rest of the year it is not a major venue for classical

 

[pk_LA]

as for Carnegie per ChatGPT 5: The Hall's natural reverb and sound projection qualities can become "weaknesses" when amplified music, especially loud bass and drums, is introduced.

So? Are you old codgers still thinking that any hall using amplification are 'not what they used to be'

 

[pk_LA]

RAH always had amplification, they did a lot of rock concerts there. I have watched Clapton and Knopfler there. The classical there is not amplified. It is a poor hall for classical and used mainly for proms, rest of the year it is not a major venue for classical

Allow me to suggest another moment for learning for you. Just accept that you overstated a position.