Classical is finally enjoyable!

TheChairGuy · « **on:** 6 Feb 2004, 11:20 pm »

Maybe it's a sign of my advancing years and gradual maturity (tho I still laugh at errant farts, so I'm not sure

), but I now listen to classical intently - a wide range, too.

I used to force myself to listen to it a bit, figuring some pretty smart fella's over the course of history have, but I never could get into it.

It really came together only recently...the same dang time I added a sub (N.E.A.R. Boom-2 passive driven by AudioSource Amp 3) to my monitors. It simply needed to be full range to be enjoyed...anything less and my ears couldn't handle it. Classsical music really does require the most system money and time can buy. Going to 192K thru the MSB DAC previously helped, too...increased resolution (depth, air, etc) seemed to benefit classical the most among musical types.

I don't think I'm going to abandon pop, jazz and reggae just yet, but it's great to have other options in music. Now I can put those 3 dozen or so Classical CD's to work.

All the same, I still can't believe I'm listening to Handel's 'Water Music ' and enjoying it now. 'Cause Ive tried many times before.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Feb 2004, 11:34 pm »

I agree that it takes good gear to enjoy classical. Maybe not for everyone, but it does for me. That's another plus side to DVD-A & SACD- they just make classical sound more alive.

My classical CD collection is around 250 discs, maybe a little more. That includes DVD-A & SACD, too. The nicer my system gets the more I listen to them.

My next goal? To hover over the 8th Nerve site and wait for the next batch of seconds!

Tyson · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Feb 2004, 12:02 am »

Ah yes, a genre of music close to my heart. Another thing to consider is that classical music has it's own "vocabulary", which is fairly different than the musical vocabulary of other styles like pop, rock, blues, or jazz. It takes a while to acclimate to the different method of musical communication, but once you do a whole world opens up, partly because classical music is so much more complex in form and substance.

Then you have to realize that many times classical music can be sort of "ho hum" sounding if you do not have a good performance. Performance and interpretation can wildly alter the overall meaning and emotional thrust of a particular piece. Great performances can move you to tears, poor performances can bore you to tears.

IMO, for classical music, there are 4 parameters that your system has to absolutely nail in order to get full enjoyment.

1)microdynamics - shadings of playing and nuance is extremely important.

2)Macrodynamics - classical music is not recorded as compressed as other types of music - if your system can't do very good macrodynamics, the music is emasculated

3) Tonal balance - tone is used very much as an emotion setter - when things are lush and easy, your system should do that, when they are sour and nasty, your system should do that too.

4) Full range sound - if your system can't do bass, you are missing the foundation of the music, for the lowest piano notes, to the low range of the kettle drum, to the double basses, to the bass basson, etc. Since the bass is often used to complement/further a musical line or thought, classical music is literally incomplete without it.

As for room treatments, specifically 8th nerve stuff, my wife has given me permission to get some to use in the main 2 channel listening room - woohoo!

ABEX · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Feb 2004, 01:26 am »

"(N.E.A.R. Boom-2 passive driven by AudioSource Amp 3)"

I use NEAR M50III's which very few people have along with NEAR M15's modified by Bill K. who I am lucky to know personally. 2days ago I was over at his shop visiting and picking up my M15's which had just been retuned after having the new drivers installed and it was funny when looking at the freq\Imp. charts Bill stated that one thing his speakers will never be is shy producing great Bass.

I do not have a sub at the moment,but it might be something I shall talk to Bill about is having him setup a sub for my system. Did not think about my sub situation till I read your comments.

BTW Classical is great and dynamicly rich music to listen to. As someone else pointed out it takes up the whole freq. spectrum which is a very valuable tool for testing.

N.E.A.R's are poormans Wilsons to me.LOL

Happy listening!

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Feb 2004, 05:11 am »

Hey ABEX,

Yeah, both you and Bill are in Maine...very cool. I emailed him a couple times back and forth (Bogen email) to see if he had any owners manuals on the BOOM-2, but I guess he could not find them in the (packed up factory) boxes. Not that they are needed, it's a pretty simple twin 8" passive sub crossed over at 80Hz and fires frontward....very deeply and completely well integrated. Just adds much flavor and ther is very little knowledge where extra bass is coming from.

The woofs are black, so I'm not even sure they are the aluminum ones NEAR are famous for....but sound nice and deep.

I have been scouring the ads for a used NEAR 50 or 15 for a while...I really want to hear them out. Do you know if Bill? Bogen sells raw drivers; they sound like a terrific DIY woofer matched to the Optimus/Lineaum ribbons crossed over 4th order. Do you know offhand? Lucky guy, I just know the 50 and 15's are sweet..beter yet after Bill's modern mods.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Feb 2004, 05:14 am »

Tyson,

I'm glad to be in your realm now...I'll do my best to improve my system to make the best of classical! I'll make you one proud papa.

Seems to me, if there ever was one, classical deserves big-ish speakers...not a possibility with my listening room....and wife.

I'm in da' club

beat · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Feb 2004, 03:08 pm »

I have always loved classical. I played the cello growing up (still do kinda) so it has always been close to my heart. Never have I heard it come alive recorded until recently. They shipped a philips classical sampler with my sacd player and it is such a great recording. I only have it set up for 2 channel and it is awesome. I too, realized that big bass is essential to classical. I think classical is often times not recorded and mixed well. It is the only classical recording I've ever had that seems to give my speakers a workout.

elektratig · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Feb 2004, 05:54 pm »

I have enjoyed classical for years without deep bass (a low-power SET system that rolls off a bit), but you guys are certainly correct that it's a blast to listen with the foundations. I recently added a sub, turned way down, to my system. It's pretty subtle, but at the same time it really changes the experience, particularly when listening to large late 19th or early 20th century orchestral works by composers such as Bruckner, Mahler and Strauss.

Tempest Construction Pix: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=130