This thread is perfect timed for me as I am auditioning a phono cable and going thru this puzzle one more time.
Un amplified Live music to me is detailed up close (close miked or front center) and not so at mid row 20. I have listened to live both ways and still get confused as to what is right perspective. In addition to the live concerts I attend periodically I do have some interim my ear re calibration opportunities on a regular basis. The band across my home practicing, my next door neighbor practicing his violin on weekends, attending my daughter's school band recitals, listening up close to pianist at Nordstroms, and my daughter practicing acoustic guitar. Agreed, these are not ideal situations, but I think it can still give you good reference of live tone and sound characteristics.
Here is what I hear: The band from across my house- do not sound bright at distance although there are many live cues. Electric guitars sounds round and does not have leading edges, cymbals sounds the most brightest (more metal) and smeared. Snare drum not as detailed but still loud. Singing voices, brighter but not shrill. The violinist next door- with open windows and me walking my dog (I stop!), I do still hear air around instrument, the tone has texture and enough metal to give you cue that it has more metal sound to it and less wood, I think more like real live violin in a live performance in a concert hall. The pianist at Dept store- This piano happens to be a Steinway and thus have a rather more resolute sound, The lower mids does sound muffled but the upper mids does have rather detailed sound like what would be captured by a close mic.
It comes down to to good and natural balance between amount of metal and wood and of course the air around instruments and the acoustics to result the live sound live. It is very tricky and mostly impossible to reproduce this via stereo systems. As most system have too much metal (electronic tinged) or too much wood( too round). Although some systems with right component /cable match can come very close to giving you illusion that you are at a live event.
Un amplified Live music to me is detailed up close (close miked or front center) and not so at mid row 20. I have listened to live both ways and still get confused as to what is right perspective. In addition to the live concerts I attend periodically I do have some interim my ear re calibration opportunities on a regular basis. The band across my home practicing, my next door neighbor practicing his violin on weekends, attending my daughter's school band recitals, listening up close to pianist at Nordstroms, and my daughter practicing acoustic guitar. Agreed, these are not ideal situations, but I think it can still give you good reference of live tone and sound characteristics.
Here is what I hear: The band from across my house- do not sound bright at distance although there are many live cues. Electric guitars sounds round and does not have leading edges, cymbals sounds the most brightest (more metal) and smeared. Snare drum not as detailed but still loud. Singing voices, brighter but not shrill. The violinist next door- with open windows and me walking my dog (I stop!), I do still hear air around instrument, the tone has texture and enough metal to give you cue that it has more metal sound to it and less wood, I think more like real live violin in a live performance in a concert hall. The pianist at Dept store- This piano happens to be a Steinway and thus have a rather more resolute sound, The lower mids does sound muffled but the upper mids does have rather detailed sound like what would be captured by a close mic.
It comes down to to good and natural balance between amount of metal and wood and of course the air around instruments and the acoustics to result the live sound live. It is very tricky and mostly impossible to reproduce this via stereo systems. As most system have too much metal (electronic tinged) or too much wood( too round). Although some systems with right component /cable match can come very close to giving you illusion that you are at a live event.