Enough detail or too much?

No arguments from me in general.

Seriously, how can one expect an orchestra playing on a system in most listeners rooms to sound like the real thing in a large concert hall? Its not possible. There is too much difference in scale. Even with a fantastic recording, most any home system will scale down the performance in some way to get it to "fit" and be presentable in a much smaller listening room. That's just the way it is. Pick your reproduction and enjoy it, but the fact is it is only a reproduction and all reproductions give up something.

I agree it can be hard to get violins in orchestral recordings to sound smooth and natural when they should. This is an area that I believe good tube amplification can often help, at least that was the case in my system.



And yes, pianos are very dynamic and hard to get right but I've heard it done pretty well on various systems including mine.

" If your system is overly picky of recordings, with comparatively few sounding acceptable on it, it is usually a sign that not all is well."

Getting as many recording to sound good/acceptable as possible is the best way to tune any system at any price point IMHO . If the best and the more compromised recordings, both old and new, all draw you into the music regardless, then you are in the zone where you want to be.

live/studio: apples/oranges

Both should sound different but still good when things go well.

Both can also sound crappy when not.

The only things that we listeners can control and adjust to our tastes is 1) our systems and 2) our seats at live events.

Rudolf, I like your process and follow something very much similar when setting up my speaks. My only wish is that my rooms were a tad larger because the OHM speaker's sound stage and imaging tends to fill the room from wall to wall and then some even, and mostly in front of your listening position as it should be.

"I have entertained the thought of two systems but I think it would be too much. I have a hard time keeping up with one."

I picked up some inexpensive and unobtrusive vintage gear to create the core of a very simple but nice sounding and looking 2-channel second system that is used for audio and video in our sizable family room/kitchen area.

A system like it, with both phono and digital sources, could be assembled for well under $2000 off ebay these days if you are smart about "right-sizing" and fitting it into your living space.