I'm not real sure how a FOH engineer can improve a recording rig's ability to capture room acoustics.
Considering the improvement in sound is noticeable from the opening notes of the second set, he would have had to dial the sound in while on break. Dialing up an improvement of this caliber while the band wasn't even playing would be quite an accomplishment. This thought also implies that he completely missed it while the band was on stage. I've been taping for eight years. I've never had a second set's sound improve like this.
Regarding the volume, the bass is noticeably better in the second set. More low end will translate into a louder tape. I haven't looked at the wave files yet, but that would be my guess. Maybe Dennis or someone who was there could comment on the volume issue.
No offense taken, Chris. I could do it front of our stereo, but I don't think that would tell the full story either. Room acoustics are a huge part of recording from the audience. The Mic Hybrid handles them quite well. I wouldn't be able to portray that with a rig in front of my stereo. If Dennis used two identical rigs at the show, there would be a mic placement issue with that setup. In the end, there is no perfect cable comparison for what we do here. We have to accept a certain amount of inherent variables if we're going to compare these cables in our element. I agree, more recordings will tell the story.
BTW, this was not my recording...dennisrtyler made this recording. They're going out to someone with Hyperconductors in their rig next month. I'll ask them to use the Mic Hybrids for the first set. Then you guys can all blame the soundman for getting drunk at set break. <~a little humor there at the end.
Chris