Anyone else prefer listening to their system more than a concert?

Saw the Rollin Stones last year at Mercedes Benz stadium last year in ATL. A huge stadium and I was way up in the nosebleed section. The acoustics were terrible and it sounded like a continuous bass rumble. Much better sounds in front of my rig!! At 73 I’ve probably attended my last live rock concert. Won’t rule out jazz though.

When experiencing the Sphere in Las Vegas my immediate thought was to switch to electrostatic dipoles since I do like listening at home more than concerts.  The Sphere is a reference for concert listening in large venues at least.  

I use to love live performances, but anymore they are too loud, too many annoying people and a lot of hassle. Don’t get any of that at home with my beautiful system. Guess I’m just getting old! 😮

There is the Old Fart factor.  Last night there was a Holiday Concert at a University about 1/4 mile from our home.  The conductor is a great friend of ours and it was free.  I had forgotten about until an hour before, having settled into my easy chair ready to sample my just arrived box set of the Guarneri Quartet recordings.  My wife roused me out of my snug den.

  10 minutes later, having put my boots on and three layers of clothing against the Chicago winter, we were fighting for parking space, as this is a very popular event.

Then we find our seats, remove layers, settle in, only to be jostled by late arrivals trying to squeeze the last bit of space in the chapel pew.  Our coats in our laps I began to feel overheated after 15 minutes.  The row in front had a squalling infant obligato, and the parents apparently never considered walking into the hallway so not to spoil everyone else enjoyment.  Did I mention that the newest infant in our family shared his latest respiratory infection with me and I was sucking cough drops and drinking water profusely so as not to cough and hack?

  At home I would have been more comfortable, could cough to my respiratory systems content.  Yet…there is no way that I would have been able to reproduce the musical content.  Our friend the conductor is a great programmer.  One piece was a medley of traditional carols but all in minor keys, and it was titled “A Minor Alteration “.  The band-an alumni band-was clearly fired up with tons of enthusiasm.  OK, they weren’t the Duke Ellington group, but a very good ensemble and with a lot of unique instrumental textures.  And being with an appreciative audience-even with Mr. Squaler- was great.

  So I was very glad that I went, and no, my expensive stereo would not have duplicated the experience.  The older I get, however, the more prodding I need to get off my ass

@hysteve 

I was at that same Stones concert,  way up at the top as well. Had same experience. Which is why I almost always prefer home listening.