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Passion, or ..... Precision?

Hi Guys, 

In the last 2 years I have finally built what I consider to be a fairly decent System. Namely, DCS Bartok, BHK 300 mono's and KEF Ref 5 Speakers. With the introduction of Qobuz, which is all I listen to now, I find myself searching out artists or tracks that sound amazing on my rig. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and find something I really like that also sounds amazing. Streaming is brilliant for this. However, when I revert back to the music that evokes the passion in me I find that it tends to be of poorer recording quality. I'm 58 now and grew up with the 70's/80's Heavy Rock scene with bands like Sabbath, Ozzy, Rainbow, Lizzy and my beloved Status Quo etc. Their early material just doesn't 'cut it' on a high end system (IMO) and I find it more fatiguing to listen to. Modern technology and attention to detail in the recording studio has really dated some of my favourite bands to the point I find it harder to listen to them.

Does anybody else share this experience?

cheers, Mark

128x128markprice
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,783 posts
 

I’m the same age, but my tastes are a bit different -- more classic rock, jazz, and classical. Still, there are many things which are not that well recorded or were compressed for playback on commercial audio such as car stereos, beach radios, etc.

The bright spot in this for me has been finding more and more recordings which were remastered with some care. (Not all remasterings are done this way; many are mere marketing gimmicks.)

I’m not sure whether Heavy Rock (as you call it) has had the benefit of such remastering efforts as other bands such as Yes, Jethro Tull, etc. Maybe that’s worth some internet research.

One question for you -- why do you have a DAC that is so many times more expensive than your speakers? I'm wondering if you might be a candidate for some changes, there. Just a thought.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,111 posts
 

You simply have to develop the ability to drop the habit of listening for the wonder of your system, just go for the content and the related memories.

Before CD's, we developed the ability to 'not hear' static, ticks, pops when playing LPs.

CD's come along, perfect for life, hey, no ticks and pops.

Next: return to LP's. I/we had to re-acquire the ability to 'not hear' ....

So, you need the ability not to hear your system.

markprice's avatar
markprice OP
32 posts
 

All my gear is on a par with regards cost. In 'over-priced' England the Kef Reference 5 is now £17,500, the DCS 15.5k and BHK 16.5k. I bought it all used at just over half price so I'm happy with that.

As for training you ears to NOT listen to stuff that you don't want to hear, that's easier said than done. I think my point on that is that early recorded  rock music had very little to hear in the 1st place which is why I can find it a bit flat I suppose.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,783 posts
 

@markprice My apologies -- I think I confused your KEF with a different model. 

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