Hello,

Well, I've just returned from my third and final concert. The first one I was in level 4, the second I was in block 111 (8 rows back) and the third I was in 106, 5 rows back (near enough on the floor).

I've noticed a big difference in the sound, especially near the floor, and at first I wondered if it was just different night / different mix.

However, on Saturday, during the support, I took a wander up the stairs, and noticed that the sound deck is at the back of 106/107, and from there, not surprisingly, the mix was perfect. As you go lower down from there, the bass is much more prominent, to the point that it becomes a little overpowering close to the floor. At this point, the treble loses the fight for space, and and the mix sounds pretty poor.

I know there's science and stuff involved here, probably something to do with the bass vibrations carrying along the floor or something, and I know it would be impossible to have the same sound quality throughout the venue. If I were going back though, I think I'd be looking for seats somewhere around the middle to back of the lower tier. The view is better from there anyway.

That's all ...

L
[Edited 9/3/07 9:02am]

I was right by the sound desk on Friday night. I thought the sound there wasn't anywhere near as clear as it was when I sat up in 418 a couple of weeks before.

i was in bk416 or 415 on saturday and thats the first nite i found the sound was poor, too bassy, not enough clarity on mid and upper, but i noticed the speakers were pointed at the sides and i was diagonally in between them, which explained it. i was upper tier last weekend for a show, but directly above the sound desk at the back and it was fine. on the floor was fine too unless you were in the front rows with the speakers above you (first 5 rows approx at the front floor)

I'm glad someone has posted this because I had the same thoughts following the last show I went to.

On the opening night I was in BLK 110, row M or something like that, second show I was in the upper tier and for the third I was in the lower tier (row W) but around the back of the stage. Each time the sound was ok but for the last show I had a floor seat in D2 and it was not great. The bass is much more prominent and I was stuggling to hear Prince over it. Maybe that is the price you pay for being at the front but you would have thought that technology would have solved this problem. The view, however, more than compensated for the loss of sound quality.

If I do get another ticket for another show I will try and get one in the middle of the lower tier.

Levi said:

[Edited 9/3/07 15:03pm]

ace1967 said:

ive got Block 110, row P, surely they should be ok??

The sound is very hit and miss in my experience. Ive done floor, lower tier and upper tier all around the stage apart from the back obv

I found the sound excellent in top tier block 419. Very average in 111 (row D), A1 had ok ish sound as was near the back of that block, in A2 i found the sound and the whole experience really good. Im doing C2 on sunday (row B) which will be interesting.

Obviously the only way to hear the perfect mix is to be near the mixing desk. Everything else is going to be a compromise and is one of the problems with playing in the round. When you have the stage at one end its much easier to balance the sound throughout the venue.

You have to balance the sound with the view and the atmosphere. For me that means A2/A3 are the best blocks in the house although will report on C2 on sunday. Im not expecting the sound to be great there (as floor generally is not so good) but im much more into being near prince and having a great party than actually hearing the perfect mix

Damn! I've been bitching about this all month!
When I went on the 3rd, in block 101 the sound was awful: Bass heavy as you've already said. When I was in 107 on the 4th, the sound was great. It was great when I was in E1,row A (naturally) but it was back to being bass heavy on the 31st in 116 (but when I was previously in 116 on the 10th it had been alright).

Complete lottery...

BlackCandle said:

Yeah i think basically its a lottery. If you know all the tracks you can appreciate what is being played and just dig the show and the main man. Its when an obsure Inxs track is played that you cant hear properly that things get a bit more tricky.

Im happy with floor seats as my stable diet going forward. as long as they are A2/A3/B1/B2/C2/D1/D2/D3 all is good.Floor seats are just the best
[Edited 9/3/07 14:58pm]

I've been in quite a few different locations too...for me the best sound has been in the upper tier - i was only there one night though

after that i was in D2 one night too...i thought the sound was good there though(contrary to the person above) really clear...that's going to be affected by the bands mintors though i guess