Hi End for Metallica?

Posted by: Chayro on 06 August 2006

I'm not here to dictate what someone should listen to, but I really cannot understand why people here spend a fortune on a Naim system to listen to metal, reggae, punk...

Invariably, you see a later post about not being able to reproduce Metallica or reggae bass at ear-splitting levels with their Nait 5i and Epos 12s or whatever.

Seems to me, that these people would be far happier with some big studio monitor like Westlakes, powered by Brysons or Parasounds. For the life of me, I cannot see why you need a transparent system for Metallica. There is no air, ambiance or space to capture and the recordings are severely compressed as well.

Again, i'm not coming down on the music. I grew up with Hendrix, Sly and plenty of people my parents couldn't understand. But when I still listened to that stuff, I had a pair of Cerwin-Vegas and a big Marantz power amp.

Anyway, just needed to get it off my chest. thanks.
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by u5227470736789439
quote:
Originally posted by JonR:
quote:
Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
I have found out the name of the Metallica number I so enjoyed:

Nothing else really matters.


"Nothing Else Matters", Fred Smile

And yes, it is a very good track!


Dear Jon,

When I first heard it - two times now - it moved me deeply, and then I forgot its title. Then I asked again. I always add the 'really' into it, which is silly.

I don't guarantee to go into it Pop and Rock very deeply, but I do have a very soft spot for certain bits. Too personal and emarrassing to mention here of course. Laugh of the week would be "Fred's Rock Recomendations!" I reckon anyway.

ABT from Fred
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by JonR
You won't want to hear about any of my "guilty pleasures" then, Fred!
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by u5227470736789439
Oh I don't know about that! Fire away! Fred
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by Chayro
quote:
Originally posted by Rico:
[QUOTE]
simple - you need to acquaint yourself with some metal, reggae, punk....


- ISTM you're writing off these styles as you don't understand them - or at least are conveniently ignoring the complex time signatures, swing, feel, groove, power etc prevalent in all of these genres.


Get thee down to your local record store and branch out a little. if you need guidance on where to start in other genres, try exploring the music room, or browse www.allmusic.com


Well, maybe my post sounded that way, but I spent 15 years as a professional musician after graduating from college. I have studied reggae since "The Harder They Come" came to America in the early 70's. I had my own music production company in the 80's and played on, programmed, produced and mixed hundreds of recordings in every imaginable style.

I guess my original post was misunderstood by some. It was not a criticism of the music. It was simply an observation that, IMO, many lovers of certain types of music might be happier with a sophisticated P.A. than the Naim system they own.
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by u5227470736789439
But that would be useless if they decided to broaden out into the Classics or Jazz for example, wouldn't it?


Naim does wonders in the Classics, and I understand it works rather well in even heavy metal, given the look of at least one who came here to see whether I was fibbing when I said I owned a decent gramophone, made by a comapny they had not even heard of!

Not getting at you by the way!

Fredrik
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by Rico
well thanks, Chayro for the qualification.

I would counter your closing observation that few would have the skills, patience, or budget to provide a sohpisticated PA. I'm sure with your abundance of professional musical experience you are aware of the unsuitability of PAs in domestic environments.

OTOH, poke a 500 (or three) into DBLs, and you get the best of both worlds - a spohisitcated PA, all the naimness, and some comparitive ease of deployment and use.
Posted on: 07 August 2006 by kuma
quote:
I'm sure with your abundance of professional musical experience you are aware of the unsuitability of PAs in domestic environments.


With Briks,I am half way there. Big Grin

All right Fredrik.

Bach here I come!

Thanks for the reco. I will give it a shot and report back! I am skeptical of romantic music, but if the piano player is decent, maybe!
Posted on: 08 August 2006 by JonR
quote:
Originally posted by Rico:
OTOH, poke a 500 (or three) into DBLs, and you get the best of both worlds - a spohisitcated PA, all the naimness, and some comparitive ease of deployment and use.


Ease of deployment, Rico?? With 3 500's and a pair of DBLs??

Anyone got a mansion to spare?? Big Grin
Posted on: 08 August 2006 by Rasher
I haven't played the "Black Album" for quite some time, so I'm going to put it on right now - thanks for the memory nudge.
I'll do the compilation for you sceptics out there. I won't forget.
Posted on: 08 August 2006 by Rasher
Yes, I haven't played it since I got my 52. I'll play it tonight. I've got Enter Sandman on at the moment and it reminds me that this is my daughters all time favorite song, and has been since she about 4. I'll dig out their version of Whiskey In The Jar while I'm at it too.
Posted on: 10 August 2006 by Herbie12
quote:
Originally posted by Frank F:
Metallica did a gig with the Chicago (I think?) Symphony Orchestra it's on CD. I must search for it at home when I get there, that should sound good on Naim, I have not listened to it for ages and the system has developed a lot since then,

FF



It's called S&M and was with the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by none other than Michael Kamen...

I used one of the tracks (Master of Puppets) when I was auditioning a load of systems a few weeks back... it's incredibly complex with the band playing over a huge orchestra. Some of the CD players I tried with it, just could not cope...

Unsurprisingly it sounded excellent on the CD5i!
Posted on: 11 August 2006 by u5227470736789439
Well I got the Metallica S and M double CD today, and in true to myself, and usual, fashion I am listening to it very quietly.

Metallica at 7 o'clock on the dial!

Sounds damn good on some high end kit, though tomorrow it it be playing back on a simpler set for all that. When I can crank it up a bit tomorrow, I will report further, but I could hardly imagine that what I am listening to now sounds bad!

What is odd is that I find I know all the music, which goes to show something I have always maintained. I never forget any music I have listened to. I do not always know what it is, but I often surprise myself and others recalling music long since seemingly forgoten as an idea, but not as a tune or harmonic progreesion! I wonder where I heard all this before! If a radio is on, I always catch myself listening...

Yes, I think there is more to say on this in the morning.

Fredrik
Posted on: 21 August 2006 by J0N
you should listen to skindred on your naim, rega punk and rock all in one, it sounds rather good on a good setup I must say!