I have an upcoming Mahler Symphony No. 1 concert this Saturday, whereby I have been scouting out reference recordings before then. I am imminently listening to
https://app.idagio.com/recordings/28183165 (Mahler "Symphony No. 1 in D major "Titan"", Ádám Fischer, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker / ℗ 2017) through a binaural head-tracking setup documented in
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/rec...-virtualization.890719/page-121#post-18027627 (post #1,812), said DSP being driven into my Meze Elite (exceptional distortion performance as covered in
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...phone-measurements.18451/page-61#post-1956895 (post #1,210), plus great magnetic field containment ideal for magnetometer-based head-tracking).
I had received the
https://www.earfish.eu/ kit and measured my HRTF in my backyard back in October, whereby that speaker virtualization link covers the updating of my free-field EQ as well as switching from SPARTA AmbiBIN to CroPaC for more coherent imaging and tonal consistency across the pan. With this setup, I have been on and off between "you are there" moments (no conventional headphone sound with panned sources imaging from the drivers or close to my face) and periods of discontent with the feeling of there still being a "veil of recordedness" or harshness compared to the live concert hall sound that I revisit almost by the week or more as of late. I had per
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/rec...ely-curious-objectivist.972411/#post-18078699 (post #9) contented myself that it was certainly not my FiiO K9 Pro ESS that is holding the sound back and was thus working out the next steps to improving my DSP. Nonetheless, today, this recording just clicked with my setup as is in presenting a beautiful and vivid clarity (though the string sections are mixed/imaged from single points/areas rather than in natural lines of virtual musicians) of familiar tonality, my being able to drive the recording to concert loudness without having to contend with harshness. With SPARTA AmbiRoomSim (reflections disabled to simulate anechoic listening; where I sit in the hall, I found the sound to be much predominately direct, my having to be a matters further back to notice imaging off of ceiling or side wall reflections; lack of room reflections to me also idealizes clarity and "resolution") and CroPaC, I can adjust the stereo width from 60 degrees to a 90 degrees more consistent with how close I prefer to sit within the concert hall, and can likewise adjust the pitch to image the orchestra from close to where I would see it from my seat. Head-tracking also helps with the immersion with your being able to rotate your head toward individual sounds. In the opening of the second movement, the strings present with aspects of that "bright openness" I had been longing to hear through recorded sound. In the opening of the third movement, the cello beautifully images nobly from ahead to the right in a vivid manner close to how I had been desiring to amend by measuring my HRTF from further distances. Woodwinds sound with just the right treble content to not sound "veiled" or "held back". The low strings at 14:50 of the last movement are vivid, focused, textured, and full-bodied as I would expect from live sound. Drum bass can impact from a perceived distance as though a woofer were only affecting my head. Basically, it is rare that I can at home have something similar to the "I can only smile". That amusingly, there were a few concerts in the past where it was rather during the live performance that I felt impressed by the semblance of the live sound to the recording rather than the other way around, though I might one returning home and listening be reminded of my system's limitations. Otherwise, indeed, my hearing may be quite variable with the same recording sounding marvelous on one day and bland or harsh for whatever the reason on another. I enjoy the ability to evaluate
recordings rather than
gear.
My other Mahler 1 reference is
https://app.idagio.com/recordings/24111306 (Mahler "Symphony No. 1 in D major "Titan"", Thierry Fischer, Utah Symphony Orchestra / September 2014, Salt Lake City, Maurice Abravanel Hall).