Forget the set list. Do we have a sound problem?

[Northside]

I was at two Madison Square Garden shows in 2015 and the sound was unambiguously loud and clear. I don't remember having any complaints about it; I loved the band's new speaker setup.

At the Vegas shows last weekend, the sound wasn't nearly as loud, and it never felt "immersive" like on the I&E tour. Also, Bono's low register seemed muffled/lost in the mix. I kept waiting for Joe O to get everything dialed in better.

I've watched a few YouTube clips from other venues and I'm worried this wasn't a fluke. I'll find out for sure at the Chicago shows next week, but I'm wondering if anyone else has impressions of the sound quality, yet.

 

[bono_212]

The Forum sounded the same to me last night as last time.

 

[superchuk5]

I was in GA last night and the sound was great. No complaints.

 

[mofo82]

Was at the STL show 2 weeks ago in upper deck & the Chicago shows in 2015 in GA & upper deck and both my wife and I noticed the sound has been much louder than pre-2015. JT30 wasn’t as bad cus being in larger and outdoor football stadiums. I might have more ringing than the average person but I thought STL was impossible without earplugs & for the first time in 8 years of concerts together my wife used them in STL which to me said something. We’re in our mid-30s if that means anything. I’ve gotten away without them for non-U2 shows recently.

I use Etymotics which cancel out a ton of the echo caused by the wall of noise indoors & it helps a ton. I can hear percussion a lot better with Etymotics. I recommend them to anyone who suffers the day after a show from hearing loss but just want a clearer sounding show. Volume only comes down a tad for obvious reasons.

 

[Pop Artist]

I thought the sound at the St. Louis show was really loud, louder than I remember any show being in 2015.

 

[TinKnight]

SJ1 was very loud and very muffled, at least from where I was on the floor. Night 2 was much better, but I was closer to the e-stage.

 

[hibricc]

Was at the STL show 2 weeks ago in upper deck & the Chicago shows in 2015 in GA & upper deck and both my wife and I noticed the sound has been much louder than pre-2015. JT30 wasn’t as bad cus being in larger and outdoor football stadiums. I might have more ringing than the average person but I thought STL was impossible without earplugs & for the first time in 8 years of concerts together my wife used them in STL which to me said something. We’re in our mid-30s if that means anything. I’ve gotten away without them for non-U2 shows recently.

I use Etymotics which cancel out a ton of the echo caused by the wall of noise indoors & it helps a ton. I can hear percussion a lot better with Etymotics. I recommend them to anyone who suffers the day after a show from hearing loss but just want a clearer sounding show. Volume only comes down a tad for obvious reasons.

Here’s another vote for the Etymotics. Started wearing them on Vertigo, and they have greatly improved my concert experience. I haven’t suffered from next-day ringing since. And yes, I+e in 2015 was considerably louder than all their previous tours.

 

[Partyslammer]

I thought the sound on the floor at the two LA Forum shows I caught in 2015 were ear-piercingly loud. By comparison, tonights sound at the 2nd LA Forum show was fine from a volume standpoint but the bass, especially drums were a little boomy.

 

[Northside]

I thought the sound was great at last night's Chicago show. Crisis averted.

 

[jjflyer]

No idea if it was just the Coliseum or what (we’ll see soon) but the sound was nowhere near as loud or clear as the 6-7 Innocence shows I attended. My girlfriend said the same.

 

[daygloeyes2]

The intro during UTEOTW sounded really garbled and muddy at Montreal 1. I was wearing ear plugs, but I always wear ear plugs and never have that issue. The song sounded clearer as it progressed, so it could have just been a temporary sound issue. Other than that, nothing sticks out for me so far in terms of poor sound quality.

 

[popacrobat]

No idea if it was just the Coliseum or what (we’ll see soon) but the sound was nowhere near as loud or clear as the 6-7 Innocence shows I attended. My girlfriend said the same.

odd, i had no issue with the sound at the coliseum.

 

[pop_mofo]

The intro during UTEOTW sounded really garbled and muddy at Montreal 1. I was wearing ear plugs, but I always wear ear plugs and never have that issue. The song sounded clearer as it progressed, so it could have just been a temporary sound issue. Other than that, nothing sticks out for me so far in terms of poor sound quality.

I noticed the exact same thing and thought it was a guitar issue....seemed like Edge wasn’t there for the first half of the song.

Other than that, sound seemed good to me.