Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Ultra DAC > 818v3/808v6

One of the last conversations I had with Paul Webb he said exactly the same thing. He said he didn't have any vocabulary to describe what he heard. He needed a new set. He was so excited about it it all.

Nick, that's exactly it - after the MQA part of the SE dem, I was ecstatic. Everything I've ever wanted from a hifi over the years is for it not to sound like one. There was simply no point afterwards in talking about treble sweetness, dynamics, texture in the bass, blah, blah. The only meaningful thing to talk about was the performance of the musicians as if it were real. Just stunning.

This does mean that a good MQA master is mandatory, I'm just fingers crossed now that the industry, and the rest of the world, recognise what a huge achievement it is, and how far it moves on the field of sound reproduction - wouldn't it be amazing if the superior format became de facto, for once?

Which is why your average "audiophile" hates it...

+1 on that.

+2 to a high degree, however there is no substitute for the real thing well produced, Live Music!

Get out there and support established and emerging artists at your local venue.

I am sure there is one near you

Hector

Hector, you are a man after my own heart.
My own involvement in live music has been the biggest, by far, Hi Fi upgrade I have had.
The problem is, it will need a very big upgrade to even approach the experience.
We await the universe to open the stargate supply of cash to facilitate the nessecerry. Hmmmmm

My problem with 'live' performances is the prohibitive cost.

For example, the ticket that my daughter bought for me to see/hear ARW next March cost £72: personally, I would never contemplate spending that much money on a live performance (nowhere near it).

My wife loves IL Divo, but every time they visit the area she can't justify spending north of £160 for both of us to see/hear them (and she's not prepared to go alone).

Then, there are those performers who never visit these shores - such as The Rippingtons, for example. Also, some international artists only perform in London: so there's additional travel and accommodations costs to consider.

I would rather spend the money on CD/DVD's to see/hear such performances in my own home.

That's a very good point. I am lucky, we (Live at Little Rabbit Barn) put on two or three great artists on an evening and charge £15.00 per head which includes food. Very affordable as its 'not for profit' which means usually a small loss. (All monies go to the Artists and sound engineers)
We have award winning artists from across the world who love to play at a small intimate venue. (We cannot possibly accomodate all the requests we have from artists)

They appreciate the attentive audience and great sound system (Mackie Digital) amongst other things.
Because of this, we have artists who come back to us when logic says they needn't. This helps raise our profile as others wish to come to the venue their hero's have played in. A virtuose circle.

I am very lucky here, but we can all check out the scene were upcoming bands are playing original independant music. They play all over the world. You will be very surprised.

Sorry, this is off topic except that this is my way to get a fix of the indescribable 'Live' sound that the Ultra DAC and SE DSP speakers seem to deliver.

Enjoy, Chris

Hi Chris

Remember Krista Detor at MFMF Ardley playing the Steinway Parlour Grand. What a night, when "Charlie" fell in love and to this day always sings "Can I Come Over".

15 Pounds a ticket here too.

Live Rules.

OT, no just the reference by which other recordings are judged.

Hector

I 100% agree that nothing can replace live. However, two things for me-

1. It does depend on the kind of music you're passionate about - e.g., Covent Garden standard will simply never appear anywhere near me, or much opera/classical at all for that matter.

2. To see that standard of classical work is expensive, especially if you don't live in one of the cities where it is resident. When I was a student living in London 20 years ago, I could get limited view seats in the side of the gods for around £10. If you want to see better and hear a more balanced sound it'll cost you. Seats in the sides of the stall circle this time were £156 each. The hotel was £170 and the train for two was £88.50. Worth every penny to be sure, but I can't afford it more than a couple of times a year.

3. Many of the great performers, performances, and pairings, etc., have been and gone, and many happen around the world in venues too remote to make them practicable or cost effective to see.

I assume much of the above is similar for big artists in pop/rock too, but can't really comment as it's not as much my thing?

Recordings available for a reasonable price make the above possible, as long as the recording and replay chain are up to the job of a reasonable recreation. The reason for being so excited about SEs and MQA is that they make the latter so much closer than I've ever heard to the real thing.

[edit- OK that was three things, I'm enjoying a glass or two of wine 😉]

Yes, I have to agree, big productions are expensive and limited in the performances due to costs and capable venues.
Many artists no longer perform as mortality amongst other things takes its toll and so the search for the best quality reproduction is essential. Which makes great Hi Fi essential to the music lover. MQA denial Luddites take note.
But also, as Hector reiterates, quality small venues are there to enjoy at very reasonable prices.
Contempory great artists tour the world and perform in the smallest of places. You can even book them for a house concert.
The standard is astonishing too. When you see an artist like Krista Detor and she pinches your glass of wine to take on stage after some brilliant trans Atlantic banter (and sausages) you get a much more immediate connection to the recordings you enjoy.

Also where else will you see her sing 'It's all about the bass' and get the band to work up 'Imagine' just because she has a Stienway in the room to play with for once.
Recordings are amazing and culturally crucial to preserve our heritage but live is just something else if you can get it.

Chris

Once I was fortunate to have the best of both worlds. I was a student, and incidentally training to sing opera (although I switched career paths before going very far down that path), in the early/mid 90s. My singing teacher, who was in the chorus at the time, gave me a comp ticket to the (I believe last) Traviata which Georg Solti conducted there. It also happened to have a certain young Angela Georghiu singing Violetta, and a wonderful Germont in the form of veteran bass Leo Nucci. It was stunning. I don't know whether it's true, or urban legend, but I heard Decca weren't originally planning to record it. However, they did, and a live recording is available (and it looks like now a DVD too, of which I wasn't aware and must get!).

So I got the magic live and can now refresh my memory whenever I feel the need. Wish that happened more often!