On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 08:59:23 -0800, bryan_cass wrote:

OK, I'm reading posting after posting, web page after web page, regarding
what's the best equipment for music, what's best for home theater, what's
best for surround. Everyone has a different opinion or a favorite brand
-- most recommend going to a hifi dealer and trying out different speakers
and amps.

All I want is to hear music as if the musicians were standing in front of
me playing their instruments. I want a recording of a symphony orchestra
to sound like I'm seated in the theater. I want a recording of a jazz
combo to sound like I'm seated in the front row of the nightclub. I want
a Norah Jones CD to sound like she's sitting across the room and singing
to me. I want a recording of me playing the trombone to sound like me
playing the trombone. I want live music to sound like live music. I know
that a lot depends on the recording technique, but let's set that aside
for now and assume as perfect a recording as possible.

snip


May I make a suggestion? Before you start to spend a lot of money on
equipment go out and listen to as much *live* music as possible. You can't
aim for a target that you can't see.

My personal recommendation is to listen to a reasonable valve amp into
some sensitive speakers. It may not measure well, and may not produce
truly "realistic" sound, but for sheer "exuberance" in music some of these
setups take a lot of beating. This isn't just bull... Low power amps into
sensitive speakers (especially horns) can give almost frighteningly
"immediate" results (I nearly wrote "frighteningly realistic" but that
would have been inaccurate given the title of this thread!) - even if
there isn't a lot of bass and the top end is ragged!

--
Mick
(no M$ software on here... :-) )
Web: http://www.nascom.info
Web: http://projectedsound.tk