Realism

[corinthos]

I was wondering, in your experiences, how closely your audio setup (not limited to headphones but also including speakers) is able to faithfully reproduce the sounds of instruments and performances as you would hear them live, in person.

Also, do you think most CDs and how they are recorded become the weakess link?

My ears and wallet prevent me from having the answers to those questions, but I am curious. I'm especially curious about what musicians (of piano, guitar, wind instruments, etc.) think about this since they play these instruments and hear them so much, probably giving them a good ear for what's true to the real thing.

I'm learning guitar at the moment and was noticing how good the guitar sounded as I was strumming and it got me wondering whether I've ever heard speakers or headphones accurately reproduce the sounds of instruments, environment, etc.

 

[edstrelow]

Generally the more money I have put into my equipment, the more faithfully it reproduces live sounding performances.

Neveretheless, I find that most inexpensive equipment reproduces the sound of at least some limited set of voices/instruments accurately, but it's kind of hard to predict what each item will do well.

Many persons who prize live acoustical performances go for electrostatic equipment. While the speakers can cost $5,000-$10,000., phones can be had for much less. A very good portable amp plus phones system from Stax, the SRM001Mk2, can be had from Japanese suppliers such as Audiocubes for about $240.00. I mention these because they are the cheapest electrostatic set-up and have been widely praised for their reproduction of acoustical guitar.

 

[qazwsx]

Well, my entire setup is about $300, and I think it respectively reproduces accurate sounds. Not 100% accurate, because that would be pretty impossible, but pretty darn accurate when it comes to how actual the music is. To really get that 100%, you have to spend some thousands.

And to me that is the whole point of Head-Fi. To hear music, not just sound.