tough sounds to reproduce ???

I have to diagree with Abstract7. An Ocean I have heard reproduced 'faithfully' at times in my system. But Clapping and thunder I agree is really hard to reproduce to its full relization. People in crowd or a a party could be done. Certain pessages (can't explain) of strings or piano at times sounds incorrect(not just my system). We will ignore the real life dynamics v/s its reproduction topic for this discussion. Good thread!

Subaruguru, I guess I need to listen live piano more often to confirm what you are saying about the upper registers. May be I have to re-listen some very well recorded piano works (ref recordings/mapleshade). Thanks for your elaborate reply.

Sean, Actually the 'Days of the New"'s first is a reference quality disc. The 2nd and latest(even though it is HDCD) us not of same quality. Their music is very good. (2nd is the best)Although I don't remember which one has a thunder sound you're referring to. One CD I would like to note here is ' The avalanches's Since I left You. Musically ( essentially a dance genre)this CDs is great in that imagin you are on a cruise, live music is being performed in front of large group of people, the ship is docked, you are near one of the joints and you listen to the music. Very uplifting, noisy, strange, unlike anything you have heard but beautifully put together, such that end effect is you can't stop inbetween and wanna play again and again. Phew!

To add to Tubegroovers's comment , the upper registers of the piano is tough to reproduce since mostly it lacks BODY and WEIGHT of the real thing. Real sound does not just float! Lower ones are the ones could be produced convincingly in a full range-warm system.

Abstract7, after some time I was able to dig up the Ocean sound disc that does justice.(close) The disc is 'the astral voyage' by Kitaro. Track 1 has the sound for first full minute and subsequently. Rightfully the track is called 'by the seaside'. Check it out. I tried again last night and found to be very close (very detailed) in my system (DUNLAVY V's with Classe electronics, turned on the REL also) Although at realistic sound level, the background noise level is rather high on this recording.