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Frustrated with Bonamassa Live CDs

Several years ago the wife heard and liked Joe Bonamassa, and then we saw him in concert -- a talented guitar player with a solid band. We are very partial to live recordings and have his (i) Live at the Beacon in NYC and (ii) Live at Royal Albert Hall (the CD not DVD). Both are very good performances, but unfortunately both CDs sound bad in our system. Almost no separation of instruments, overall veiled and muddy, etc. Basically (and disappointingly) they sound like the many crap rock/pop recordings that just do not qualify for high-end listening. To be clear, great quality live CDs (e.g., Allmans, Pink Floyd, various Big Swing Bands) sound awesome in our room. Are these two Bonamassa CDs' just examples of a high-end system highlighting poor recording? Anyone else experience this with these two CDs? Alternatives or recommendations appreciated.
whitecap
effischer
553 posts
 
Thank you, Garebear & Shubert. You can take the people from Syracuse but you can't take Syracuse from the people!
schubert
7,386 posts
 
AMEN, Effischer !
gocubs999
156 posts
 
This thread had me scrambling to pull out the only Joe Bonamassa live album/cd I have to listen again. I never remembered it sounding inferior. The version is "An Acoustic Evening at The Veinna Opra House" (2 cd set) In my system it sounds very good. His voice seems reassessed as if standing several feet back from edge of stage. Guitar strings are precise, dynamic. Bass is prominent, but; not muddy or sounding compressed. Excellent separation of instruments and good staging.

Maybe I just got lucky on this one. Shame the others mentioned are inferior, as his music is fantastic.
mrmb's avatar
mrmb
299 posts
 
I so wanted the "Joe Bonamassa Live From New York's Beacon Theater" Blu-Ray to be sonically good, but was quite disappointed. One of the poorest recorded DVD's I own.
saki70
907 posts
 
Just checking back with my take on his LP " Live From Nowhere " .
This was recommended as the best LP recording . It is very clear and clean but ... it appears , to me , to be cut from a digital source . This recording left me wanting more , turning it up made no improvement . I noticed a lack of extension on both ends as well as no drama ! What I would say is the lack of life that I seek from LP's as opposed to CD's ! Everything is there but it just lies flat . It lost that boogy factor . Oh well , live and learn !
Hopefully the Blue Ray's are better .

Happy Tunes
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