05-Dec-2016, 21:59
I don't have a Pro, nor have I heard one, but the whole concept or presence of layering and placement in reproduction always strikes me as a bit artificial. Not that it doesn't exist, or that we can't see the separation or placement of players when listening to music, but it can be quite artificial. My own experience is limited and, for the most part, limited to four piece rock music. But about 18 months ago a group I was with recorded 10 tracks in a professional studio. Fully equipped with all the mikes and mixers and acoustic separators. I love the way the Devialet gets me closer to the original sound; sound that I truly know. But.... the recording puts Maggie front and centre. Fine and dandy, but she was actually singing in the room upstairs, above the main studio room. and the drummer was at least 20' behind me, and my bass amp was in a separate room with substantial sound proofing. So even though the songs are 'live', any 'live stage' placement of the band that the system recreates is- must be- artificial.
On the other hand, go to a truly live recording from the '50's or '60's of Davis or Fitzgerald, or a big band session with Rich or Ellington and you may well have a few mikes picking up a whole group. In that sort of situation, there is a real physical relationship between players that is wonderful if captured and reproduced.
Mixing and mastering can make or break recorded music (and fix a lot of mistakes). I've always valued the ability of hi-fi systems to separate sounds so that I can hear and follow the players, or sections in the music. But is may be that there is too much dissection, as you say. Others have reported that the Pro is even better than the original Expert series in this regard, so it is possible that things are simply too.... pulled apart? Or perhaps your system and your room are actually quite amazing, to give you that sort of depth.
The comparison to live is certainly something that gets discussed a great deal. I usually find live sound to be pretty bad, esp. for pop and rock music*; it's more the experience of being there, and either getting surrounded in sound, or else hearing un-amplified instruments. I guess I don't expect recorded music to be the same as a live performance.
*nothing like looking out into the audience and seeing your wife and friends with their fingers in their ears....
On the other hand, go to a truly live recording from the '50's or '60's of Davis or Fitzgerald, or a big band session with Rich or Ellington and you may well have a few mikes picking up a whole group. In that sort of situation, there is a real physical relationship between players that is wonderful if captured and reproduced.
Mixing and mastering can make or break recorded music (and fix a lot of mistakes). I've always valued the ability of hi-fi systems to separate sounds so that I can hear and follow the players, or sections in the music. But is may be that there is too much dissection, as you say. Others have reported that the Pro is even better than the original Expert series in this regard, so it is possible that things are simply too.... pulled apart? Or perhaps your system and your room are actually quite amazing, to give you that sort of depth.
The comparison to live is certainly something that gets discussed a great deal. I usually find live sound to be pretty bad, esp. for pop and rock music*; it's more the experience of being there, and either getting surrounded in sound, or else hearing un-amplified instruments. I guess I don't expect recorded music to be the same as a live performance.
*nothing like looking out into the audience and seeing your wife and friends with their fingers in their ears....
Damon
Powernode, NAD M32, Cambridge CD transport, Analysis Plus, Nordost, iFi Nova, CSS Criton 1TDX, KEF C62
Vancouver, Canada
