Home General Asylum

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

exactly

That is why this is such an interesting question the OP has posted. We each have our paths into the ars musica! For example, at the symphony, I really like row F, slightly right of center. This is because I like to be able to watch the conductor interact with and the eyes of the concertmaster. I also like *that* proximity best of all. Some like row H. Some like row C. Some like balcony. Some like the balcony that creeps right up to either edge of the stage-sides.

At the symphony I also often just let my eyes go blank as I just plain listen.

At home, I often listen with the lights out, relatively nearfield to my mg 12's, but with the maggies about 9 feet apart, toed in. I prefer a "realistic" soundstage for home listening, ie, I don't like to try to reproduce "omg I am in the concert hall!" but rather find it much more easy to "suspend disbelief" and listen attentively with a relatively "miniaturized" soundstage. However, height is more important to me (hence the maggies; Sinatra sounds off to me if his stereo image is only 3 feet tall!!).

I listen at a proximity that approximates sitting in row F, but volume level wise, I listen more at levels like that around midhall. I prefer that, as it scales better to the size of soundstage I prefer.

Trying to explain *why* these are my preferences would be very difficult. All I know is, this is how I get sucked into a recording, again and again. This evening, in preparation for tomorrow night's performance at Severance Hall, I listened to Gould/Stokowski playing Beethoven's 5th piano concerto. Lights out, relatively nearfield, slightly wider stereo spread, focused but relatively miniaturized soundstage, volume peaks around 85-90 db. And again, there I was, sucked in.

Simple pleasures, man, I love this hobby.
/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Sonic Craft  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups
  • exactly - farfetched 19:23:58 10/20/10 (0)

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.