It is absolutely pretty dang good, at minimum! It's really just a question if it being a little different than what I was expecting at first... but just like you said, it's all SO highly subjective... and jeez, for me it changes depending on the day. But that's really the fun of it all, at the end of the day. Despite my hairy eyebrow while listening the first time, I still think that when at home, it'll be my preferred way to listen (and I haven't voted on this (or any titles) yet as I'm still a noob, FWIW).
One thing I'm personally learning as I get into mutlichannel for the first time in my life, is that my pervious desire to just "set it and forget it" for my system, and then never again touching the EQ, speaker levels, etc., just doesn't really cut it across genres, let alone producers, production techniques, mastering, etc. That's kinda new for me but I'm finding it necessary for full, immersive enjoyment, and that's cool. Despite being a lifelong musician and hardcore music geek, I've never really had a decent system or dedicated listening room before, so I'm in heavy learning mode right now.
For example, yesterday I finally snagged a copy of Nat King Cole's "Love Is The Thing" on SACD, with the 3 channel mix. I was so completely distracted (and bummed out) by the thumping that was being produced by the mic popping that I was like "this can NOT be correct, what the heck? I'm not experiencing this with any other recording?" After some futzing and Steve Hoffman actually recommending I turn off the sub, because it's not necessary for recordings like that... holy moly, it became sublime and a demo-quality recording for me. Live n' learn...
One thing I'm personally learning as I get into mutlichannel for the first time in my life, is that my pervious desire to just "set it and forget it" for my system, and then never again touching the EQ, speaker levels, etc., just doesn't really cut it across genres, let alone producers, production techniques, mastering, etc. That's kinda new for me but I'm finding it necessary for full, immersive enjoyment, and that's cool. Despite being a lifelong musician and hardcore music geek, I've never really had a decent system or dedicated listening room before, so I'm in heavy learning mode right now.
For example, yesterday I finally snagged a copy of Nat King Cole's "Love Is The Thing" on SACD, with the 3 channel mix. I was so completely distracted (and bummed out) by the thumping that was being produced by the mic popping that I was like "this can NOT be correct, what the heck? I'm not experiencing this with any other recording?" After some futzing and Steve Hoffman actually recommending I turn off the sub, because it's not necessary for recordings like that... holy moly, it became sublime and a demo-quality recording for me. Live n' learn...
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