Very frequnely means that sometimes i go for a concert twice a month and sometimes 4 times a week. It depends on the programm.
Nice when it comes a couple of times in a week.
I loved it when I could hear a symphony of Mahler 4 times the same week (rehearsal 3-4 hours and then 3 concerts on the further days).
I expect from the hifi realistic music reproduction. When you hear once one of the Mahler symphonies live, than you will agree that even the best hifi gear is just ridicolous.
A very good musician playing Stradivari is also a good test.
Nice that you say "realistic music reproduction" and not exactly the same sound because the later is physically not possible.
"Realistic music reproduction" is an approximation which our senses (psychoacoustics is also included) will judge as "like live".
This is also very personal and therefore quite disputable.
I understand your reaction about Mahler symphonies. Could you tell me which sound characteristics which you felt live is according to you not possible to reproduce by a Hifi? In other words what impressed you in these life concerts that you believe cannot be reproduced by a Hifi?
I was told that Titian (a zerogain member based in Switzerland) has/had a system that came pretty close. I'm sure there are some serious systems that would get as close as is possible given they are always dependent upon the recorded media as the fundamental limit.
The rumors about Titian's system were from members which visit him a few years ago (5 or 7?). They reported about a sound "closest to live ever heard by them" (or something like that). That is subjective and shouldn't be generalized. I had the pleasure to hear it and it sounded great at that time. I would say also "close" to live.
The point is that if you have the possibility to hear his system today it sounds quite different. I would say much closer to live as then but now my point is: how close to live it was 5 years ago when I believed it was already close to live? Maybe it wasn't at all close to live at that time but then maybe it is not at all close to live today. Well I believe everybody should make his experiences but never generalize them. One thing though about the sound of his system today is that nearly everybody, when reporting, is comparing the sound with live sound.
If someone is really interested in knowing if Hifi can do a realistic music reproduction then he should take his time and listen to a lot of systems which have been considered "great". Thinking about names I would say accurately set up systems with loudspeakers like Gaithain (ME800K), H+K (O500), Silbersand (700) and equivalent in an optimal acoustically treated room.
It seems an unrealistic aim, no? A live orchestra plays at volumes that aren't really practical for most people, who have neighbours and family members. Ditto a live rock band, or jazz band.
Now I would like to know which volumes are you talking about? For this point we need measurements. How many db?
For me those systems compared to real orchestra are just ridiculous. Just peanuts
Why? I would like to have more detailed information.
Personally i prefer the sound of a small well adjusted Rega or Naim system than a huge expensive monster.
Also here it would be nice to know more about your (let say) taste. Of course if you don't want to then don't respond but it would be nice for an open discussion.
Probably the weakest point is the source (we still do not have really good HD recordings, my best classical recordings are from the sixties) and the speakers.
Maybe maybe not. If you would hear a system, which does according to you realistic music, listening to a normal CD (DGG, Philips, BIS, Teldec,...) then you'll change your mind.
Clearly if the recording is done badly then no system will be able to make the sound "like live".
Titian = spartaco?
I would love to have his music room for ever though!
Well to say the truth I would prefer a bigger room.
PS:
My recollection is that Titian's/Spartaco's system at that time (5 years ago) comprised Nesterovic mains, driven by tube mono blocks, with a 300W Krell (class A?) driving two subs. I can't recall his analogue and digital front ends.
FYI, I just looked up on Zerogain. Titian puts some "updates" of his system
here a few days ago.
