REAL MUSIC VS. SHOW MUSIC PERFORMANCE AT AUDIO SHOWS. PRESENTATION V. PERFORMANCE? WHY?


One of the things that I have noticed is the kind of music being played to show system performance.  Full disclosure I’m with Infigo Audio. But as an audiophile I think it is important to hear your music in these systems.  Which means non hi rez stuff.  Stuff you would listen to in your system at home. I try to play everything at shows to show our performance.  Some systems to me are all presentation not as much performance. I play funk rock pop classical jazz folk R&B as well as test track to show what a system can do across a genres.  I think it is important to show that a system can perform on all materials. Some systems look good in presentation and sound great on hi rez and test tracks but are not musical involving and may not actually perform well across genres. Thoughts ?

calvinj

One time I listened to a limited edition pressing of Reign in Blood by Slayer at the record store listening station. It sounded spectacular on the store’s mid-fi cartridge/TT/receiver/headphone system. Full, rich, accurate, clear, deep, powerful.
I brought it home to my high-end system and it sounded surprisingly bad; lacking in cohesion/warmth/power, tinny.

I agree that not everyone listens to music that the stereotypical audiophile considers “good sound” (I assume this type of recording is what you’re referring to as ‘high rez’). There are a pile of cliches in this regard.  
I listen to everything. Thusly, I want everything to sound good on my system. I agree that if I was at such an audio show, not only would being subject to Diana Krall, Kind of Blue, Eva Cassidy, Brothers in ArmsAja et. al for the trillionth time make me ill, but I would also want to hear a far wider range of music.

 


 

Play stuff like this @100db at your next show and wake everybody up. When they're awake, they may buy more things (you may sell more). 

Play it safe however, if you have flaccid speakers and amps. If the stuff you're selling is a bit wimpy, play it it safe, stick with lullabies and play Diana Krall @60db.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would let the exhibitor choose what is best for his gear.

I would not sit there very long if Metallica ,Slayer ,the above Youtube tracks or that kind of ´´noise ´´ was playing . Bring that kind of crap to the dealers for private playback , when your choices have been made.

Too many were playing meh music., at AXPONA. I have no idea what they were thinking

 

I asked because we played hi rez but we mixed in some funk, rock, jazz and classical. I think test tracks are fine but when you get it home you ain’t listening to Keith Don’t Go.  We listened to Bootsy, War, Human League etc.  I say this because it also seems like part of the question was also presentation vs. performance.  I know some brands push looks over actual performance. When buying it’s smthg to consider.