Not trying to be arrogant here, but who listens to this?

[Multicore]

Your photos very often feature performance spaces that look very reverberant.

I don't believe Bernstein hated music, do you?

 

[computer-audiophile]

Your photos very often feature performance spaces that look very reverberate.

Not overly much. Sometimes in churchs, when we go to organ concerts, I enjoy the multiple echoes of the ancient buildings.

I don't believe Bernstein hated music, do you?

On the following example I also hear reverberation from the room.

 

[Multicore]

On the following example I also hear reverberation from the room.

The singer is a long way from the microphone so it will pick up a lot of the room. When we are present in the event the effect is often much less noticeable because of a lot of fancy psychoacoustic stuff.

 

[computer-audiophile]

The matinee concert with marimba, vibraphone and harp we heard on Sunday in a castle in our area was unfortunately a flop, even though the ticket was not cheap. At the beginning, local politicians spoke and celebrated themselves for all they had done culturally. Afterwards, the musicians explained their instruments as if they had a clueless audience in front of them. The composer Takemitsu, whom I like very much, was called Chinese, etc.

The solo performance of the young harpist was also embarrassing. She started to play her piece from memory, but then had to interrupt in the second movement and open her music book because she had forgotten how to continue.

But it was still a very nice musical Sunday. After Lunch in a little spanish restaurant we visited a friend who lives in another castle nearby. There was coffee and cake served under old trees and a slapstick performance of garden music.

 

[computer-audiophile]

Maybe I should limit my participation in ASR more to this thread and similar music threads maybe also about food. The discussions about SOTA and SINAD, objectivists and subjectivists get on my nerves. Besides, you argue on the net with people you don't even know.

The thread here also has the advantage that you can usually listen to the recommended or discussed music titles at home, which is a really lively practical exchange. Either via YouTube or streaming. There were already interesting things and background information.

Besides, the music is what I'm most interested in last anyway. I've never had any problems with always having the right audio systems for it. The exchange about it can also be fun, but not at ASR.

 

[BenjaminB]

Maybe I should limit my participation in ASR more to this thread and similar music threads maybe also about food. The discussions about SOTA and SINAD, objectivists and subjectivists get on my nerves. Besides, you argue on the net with people you don't even know.

The thread here also has the advantage that you can usually listen to the recommended or discussed music titles at home, which is a really lively practical exchange. Either via YouTube or streaming. There were already interesting things and background information.

Besides, the music is what I'm most interested in last anyway. I've never had any problems with always having the right audio systems for it. The exchange about it can also be fun, but not at ASR.

I have moved in a similar way - the threads I am most interested in are this one, the jazz thread and the one on classical music. Like to get suggestions on new music and to have a first listening, just as you say.

Certainly, it is interesting to read about performing equipment. At ASR it is mostly reduced to some few key measurements (as FR), which after some time becomes well-known (which btw is the idea, a standardized set of measurements; good in itself). In some threads the spirit has been very negative, rather unnecessary.

I have the audio equipment I have, unlikely to make any dramatic changes. Oh, it is far from perfect - some parts are definitely a bit on the old side, but I have tested some high-performant parts without hearing any significant improvement. Thus, I am content with what I have. Wife does have some comments regarding the size of the loudspeakers, of course (I have always preferred large speakers).

so, not trying to be arrogant it is

 

[Multicore]

Maybe I should limit my participation in ASR more to this thread and similar music threads maybe also about food. The discussions about SOTA and SINAD, objectivists and subjectivists get on my nerves.

That means you haven't yet learned to not let what people say bother you. Another valuable skill is skimming and skipping content that's rehashing the same old stuff.

Besides, you argue on the net with people you don't even know.

Maybe that's better than arguing with people you do.

There are lots of conversations here that I have found unexpectedly informative and enjoyable.

Fwiw, I think wanting 40 dB less distortion that the best ears could ever hear is kinda equivalent to wanting to run amps with vacuum tubes. It's just more stuff people like to have. It will all end up in a landfill sooner or later like my soulless but practical mid-fi gear.

 

[computer-audiophile]

There are lots of conversations here that I have found unexpectedly informative and enjoyable.

Yes, that is what I speculate about. That's why I sometimes try to help a discussion beyond dead points. Gaining useful info in a audio forum seems to me mostly similar to a gold prospector. You have to shovel tons of dirt to find a few nuggets.

 

[Multicore]

Yes, that is what I speculate about. That's why I sometimes try to help a discussion beyond dead points.

Good for you. For me the holy wars are not very interesting in their literal, direct interpretation. But I admit that sometimes my interest in psychology and anthropology is aroused and I might use these ongoing battles as a way to try to understand why people fight so fiercely? why is winning so important? what is the prize? etc. I find that interesting. But I have other things to do as well so it's something I should limit.

Gaining useful info in a audio forum seems to me mostly similar to a gold prospector. You have to shovel tons of dirt to find a few nuggets.

Most of our living room system is very much influenced by ASR. I would not have found Ascend Sierra Tower speakers without several people here suggesting them. Buckeye Amps is almost an ASR house brand and that drives the speakers. I would not have gotten the MiniDSP Flex without Amir's tests showing that it is clean. I waited for Amir's test of the revised ART Precision Phono Pre before buying. All of this I was able to select without having to deal with HiFi sales people (infuriating) or needing to understand the poetry of audiophile experts and publications (incomprehensible). To me, ASR has been a sanctuary from that and an education. Thanks @amirm of course, and @solderdude for guidance with headphones, and @Blumlein 88 for guiding me off the Lost Highway and others... I think this community has done some things it can be proud of.

 

[computer-audiophile]

Good for you. For me the holy wars are not very interesting in their literal, direct interpretation.

That's not really what I meant. The ridiculous fights don't interest me either. Sometimes I get caught up in them, but is it not my intention. I meant I sometimes try to provide a bit of entertainment when a interesting thread is in danger threatening to bog down. Sorry I can not express myself in English as well as I would like and unfortunately the automatic translation would not help much, because it does not 'understand' good German.

Most of our living room system is very much influenced by ASR...

This is great, then you are obviously right here. But is not so much the case for me, I have not yet benefited directly from the tests at ASR and this is also actually not foreseeable. I have only realized that some components that I found good and had already bought, also performed quite well at ASR. It was perhaps a late confirmation, of my selection.

 

[Multicore]

That's not really what I meant. The ridiculous fights don't interest me either. Sometimes I get caught up in them, but is it not my intention. I meant I sometimes try to provide a bit of entertainment when a interesting thread is in danger threatening to bog down.

I see. Well in that case still, good for you!

 

[computer-audiophile]

A masterpiece of minimal music and very well performed, imo.

 

[BenjaminB]

A masterpiece of minimal music and very well performed, imo.

Interesting, wasn't aware of Sumera. Interesting life, although short.

 

[computer-audiophile]

Next Monday we are driving to Chemnitz (former 'Karl Marx Stadt') to a house concert in the home of the artist Michael Morgner and his wife Anke. The place is new for us but we will meet people we know there. Probably a short time of joy and a welcome break from the sad news about the many crises in the world which we are helpless to face.

 

[computer-audiophile]

Picture from the concert:

Left: Steffen Schleiermacher, composer and pianist. In the middle, Knut Müller, another composer. Sitting on the right: The famous artist Michael Morgner and his wife, who were great hosts. Michael Morgner was already a visionary in Chemnitz during the GDR era.

Everyone enjoyed a very entertaining and amazing evening and a get together with interesting people. In the background Dorothea Hemken (viola). The flute player Ralf Mielke is not in the picture. All the professional musicians also belong to the great Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig.

 

[computer-audiophile]

You might wonder why I write so many reports in forums. One reason is because I use it to consolidate my memory. Psychological research has shown that this helps.

Now back to the topic of my private 'research' in the field of contemporary composition. Once again, I am thankful that streaming media is available today. As I wrote above, I got to know the composer Schleiermacher the other day. When I looked his name up on Deezer, I was immediately able to access a large collection of his recordings. Among them are many that I like very much.

Only two of many examples that hit me:

 

[MarnixM]

I personally love Messiaen, after Bach he is my favorite composer.

Just downloaded his Turangalîla Symphony under Antoni Witt on Naxos. Fabulous!

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony & L'Ascension

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony & L'Ascension. Naxos: 8554478-79. Buy 2 CDs or download online. Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit

www.prestomusic.com

 

[computer-audiophile]

Just downloaded his Turangalîla Symphony under Antoni Witt on Naxos. Fabulous!

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony & L'Ascension

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony & L'Ascension. Naxos: 8554478-79. Buy 2 CDs or download online. Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit

www.prestomusic.com

Nice example!
I just found it on Deezer HiFi

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony / L'Ascension

Antoni Wit - album - 2000 - 14 Songs

www.deezer.com

 

[LTig]

Just back from a live performance of Mike Svobodas Triple Concerto. Great experience - the begin is kind of atonal, but latest with the 2nd movements things get very funny. Never heard instruments sound like this before.

 

[ahofer]

I recently attended a lecture by Bruce Adolphe discussing Beethoven op. 130 and the Grosse Fuge. Adolphe suggested that artistic greatness “shows mastery of the convention it transgresses or transcends”. The Grosse Fuge achieves this by obeying the rules of the Fugue, and tonal composers, while still sounding quite transgressive for the classical period. For instance, the opening notes are entirely consistent with a traditional cycle of fifths, yet they sound like 20th century music.

Then again, allegedly, Stravinsky said “everything is 20th century music if you look hard enough” (can’t verify that, but I’ve heard it a few times).

The Danish Quartet, playing the GF here, are superb, btw.