David, I have a nice pair of KEF 104/2's and a lovely pair of SoundLab electrostatics. The SoundLabs are luscious. They are my second set. The other set, Pristines, is on loan to some musician friends.

SOUND LAB

by the same logic, if one track is better than two, zero track must be even better than one. Really?!

Zero track is live music, the animal we're all chasing with microphones....it doesn't get any better than that, the real thing...zero track, it can't be tracked.

Me too, boojum. I find a wide spread of sound and a sense of spaciousness in playback very satisfying. I want to feel and hear the hall recreated as closely as possible.

Well that depends, there are just so many variables. Listening at the live event could have room issues, noise issues, many other things affecting the sound you are hearing. Depending on the quality of the recording of the event, the playback system, and the room you are listening in, the sound of the playback could be better. Though you miss the element of being there.

Studio performances are impossible to hear live if there is any overdubbing going on. You can only hear a piece of it at a time, not the final assembled result.

Such a record is like a movie, where you are watching a production assembled from many pieces. Is this better or worse than a live performance? It is different.

Soundlabs look good!