Hi all and thanks for the responses. I thought it would be a fun topic and I understand it might have been mentioned here before. There is no question that concerts that use amplification are somewhat easy to duplicate, or even exceed in quality, with a system. The live performances I am talking about are those without the use of any amplification. Everyone should experience some like this. When I lived in NY, jazz clubs in the city were small and set up like this. Street vendors in Central Park were always present, playing there hearts out. My wife playing piano(early in our marriage) was a great source of enjoyment. I was a singer in my early years and it gave me much experience listening to voices and accompanying instruments, all with out amplification. These are the types of "live" that I am speaking of, and this is what drives me to create duplication, which I cannot. Amplified arenas and stadiums are so bad, as mentioned by many of you, who would want this in there living room. But if I were Samantha of Bewitched and can twinkle my nose to have one of my favorite artists and the band in my living room, why not. I will take an "Unplugged" performance any day.It is scary to me and some of my audio buddies how realistic my system can sound, and I am not just talking decibels, but, at the end of the day, "it is far from being live". I think we can all agree that the "audiophile" recordings we own and listen to, that use less microphones, dubbing techniques, etc. sound more real, or live. Most recordings fail to bring us closer. Thanks again for joining this thread and happy listening. MrD
System versus live
To sound live, I have tried, in building my system, to get so many things correct. Dynamic range, Prat, Tone, Coherence, Body, Weight, Visceral momentum, Spatial perspective, etc. I remember being on a ferry ride, listening to a small ensemble, amazed at the beauty and artistry of the musicianship, along with the proper "air" of how the notes started and stopped, and being so engulfed in the performance. I have been on and near performers on stage, with the same amazement. My system touches on all of these things, but it is not "live". Before the system, room and listening position, one must consider the recording itself. Microphones, mic preamps, console faders, acoustics used for the recording, and a whole lot more. Then we have the monitors used for the final product(headphones or speakers) and the engineer(s) who put it together. Then, it is transferred and transferred again. Labels such as Mapleshade and Sheffield Labs(I just happen to have many)go to great lengths to minimize the "electronics", as well as some other aspects, of their recordings, to sound live and pure. Being a member of Audiogon, as well as some other forums, and, being a devoted audiophile, music listener, consultant and above all else, a human being, I ask this question. How "live" do you think your system really is ?