tough sounds to reproduce ???

Are there any specific discs with good recordings of the above mentioned noises ? In other words, music based discs that also have "noises" that fall into the tough to reproduce category but are good enough recordings to judge system resolution by ? I'm not specifically talking about "sounds of nature" discs that put you to sleep or are used for relaxation purposes, but if you think that they qualify, please list them.

The disc that i mentioned with the recording of thunder was by "Days of the New" ( OPRD-30004). Since there is no name on it, i would assume that it is simply their first release and is self titled. At this point, i think that they've got 3 discs out now. For those that aren't familiar with this band, think of "angy" yet melodic acoustic based music. It is accompanied by melodic yet rough edged vocal work. I'm not saying that this disc is "reference quality", only that the thunder in the background inspired me to ask such a question. Sean
>

Excellent points about the piano that make sense Abstract. I find that many systems can reproduce the "weight" of a piano but lack the air and harmonic overtones that give this instrument its' signature sound and timbre. Then again, you are saying that many piano's themselves don't do this as well as they should ( due to improper tuning or excitation of harmonics ), so maybe the recording itself is good and the piano stinks : )

As to reproducing ANY "large" or "loud" sound in nature, i think that the "box" of a speaker gets in the way BIG TIME. Such sounds are typically NOT easily able to be "localized" yet box speakers will almost always contribute that effect to what you are hearing. Now i know that there are boxes that "literally disappear" when properly set up and fed with high quality signal, but it still isn't the same as a system that uses a very diffuse radiator. I think that the diffuse radiation pattern and room reflections can better simulate the "bigger than life" sounds that ARE hard to duplicate simply because they are closer to what we hear in nature. That would be "surround sound" combined with the direct radiated source.

Albert's post is also very interesting. If someone were to be able to "mic" such an event as they stood still and the band marched around them, you would literally hear the soundstage / image / tonal balance and doppler effect on each instrument changing instantaneously at the same time. Besides every section of the marching band having a few seconds of what would sound like a "solo" as they passed by, i think that this would be a HELLUVA challenge and a HELLUVA demo disc if someone could pull it off.

Now if we can only get a volunteer to record a direct lighting strike or nearfield bomb drop using the finest in recording equipment : ) Sean
>