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Top 10 Albums for Sound Quality - In discussion - Page 4

post #91 of 137
2/21/12 at 6:19pm
Thread Starter 
It's doing it for you too! WTF is going on! LOL This is unreal.

-Matt
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post #92 of 137
2/21/12 at 6:20pm
Give Beck/Sea Change a listen while you're at it as well-it may be more suited to your tastes. Search AVS for it and see how many times it has been mentioned .
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post #93 of 137
2/21/12 at 6:27pm
Lyle Lovett - The Road to Ensanada is an excellent recording.
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post #94 of 137
2/21/12 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by drewTT View Post

Lyle Lovett - The Road to Ensanada is an excellent recording.

As well as Joshua Judges Ruth

CD
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post #95 of 137
2/21/12 at 7:17pm
I think BIA sounds better in SACD than CD (and I got the CD when it first came out!).
I have a lot of hi rez stuff, maybe the best for demo is Fleetwood Mac "Rumours", Gold Dust Women sounds real, real good.
I still like vinyl and the other day at the thrift, picked up a near mint copy of Chuck Mangiones "Children of Sanchez", very rich, very dynamic, good to play for people who think vinyl sound sucks. I read it was one of the best sounding records made in the '70s. My other fave is Steely Dan "Aja". I only have this on vinyl, recorded it to a 90 minute cassette so I don't have to flip it, can just sit in my chair and dream away to it.
I actually cheat and listen to my best vinyl on my cassette decks
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post #96 of 137
2/21/12 at 7:30pm
One of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs is Go Insane (Live, 1997) from their Very Best of Fleetwood Mac album. The guitar sounds unreal on that track.
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post #97 of 137
2/22/12 at 7:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

Doing it again...lol. Here...use this:

Thanks to you/mgproudfit/others in this thread, and other amazon owner reviews, for great music comments and refs.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

1: Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone - SACD - Link to View

Outstanding CD with simply amazing imaging, sound quality, and talented musicians. Shut your eyes with a good system, and the walls of your house fall away and you find yourself sitting in a concert hall with Yo-Yo Ma and an accompanying orchestra. Beautiful album, and a must-own.

Got it (due to this thread), and agreed that it is a "Beautiful album, and a must-own" provided you've some liking of classical type of music.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

2: Adele: 21 - CD - Link to View

"While relatively new to the music world in the scheme of things, this girl has a stunning voice. She is not your prototypical 21st century vocalist, seeing as she can actually sing without multiple computer aided supplements. For a pure voice that has a wide vocal range and a sultry voice, look no further." (Thanks, mgproudfit)

"I agree with Adele's album that you've mentioned; it's a great sounding disc. The sound quality is great but the album's substance is even better...The level of talent that she demonstrates is far beyond what the other women were showing." (Thanks, StinkPiece)

I also got this CD due to this thread and agree that it's excellent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

3: Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms - CD - Link to View

"The Instruments are really easy to define, they are just clearer and easier to pick out, more so than any other titles I own. The sound also envelopes you (soundstage?) and brings you right into the performance. No matter how many times I listen to these, I find myself going back to them often just to remind myself why I spent all that money on all that gear." (Thanks, MCATUCCI)

Another must have. 20th anniversary hybrid SACD is the one to get.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

4: Steely Dan: Gaucho - CD/SACD - Link to View

"Boy am I glad you asked; a re-sounding yes! Not because they're miles apart in SQ, but because I get so sick of so-called audiophiles listing Sea Change...like it's the one and only good-sounding title from Beck (truth be told, it's the one that got a lot of pub, and that may be the only reason some audiophiles even know about it).

I even have the DVD-A of Sea Change, and it sounds great; but I still prefer the redbook Mutations. The recording feels less "processed", and very natural. YMMV" (Thanks, CDLehner)

"I have a lot of great-sounding titles; some MFSL, SHM-CD, DVD-A, SACD, SHM-SACD, etc. (that's the whole point, right)...but among the best-sounding redbook CDs I've ever heard, is Beck's Mutations. It's been in my testing rotation for years." (Thanks, CDLehner)

Agreed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

6: Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here - SACD - Link to View

Pink Floyd in hi-fi. Not much else needs to be said.

In my experience, Pink Floyd's DSOTM 5.1 is a ping pong fest; whereas the stereo DSOTM is one of the best.

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Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

7: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - CD - Link to View

[Placeholder for description]

Agreed on Davis' "Kind of Blue" but more for the performance than for any high sonics.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

8: Muddy Waters - Folk Singer - CD - Link to View

"Muddy Waters "Folk Singer - There is a depth to Waters' voice and dynamic range captured from this acoustic studio session that is unrivaled in any other blues recordings. Always on my go to list when demo'ing for realism." (Thanks, Theonetruegreg)

Just got it, and agreed that it's worth having.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

10: Nat King Cole - Nat King Cole's Story - CD - Link to View

EDIT- WoW, you're right; when I cut your post...it's there. But when you post, NOT! Weird.

Thanks for the specific amazon ref; I ordered it.
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post #98 of 137
2/23/12 at 12:27am
Best sounding CDs in my collection of around 300 are Clapton Chronicles, Buddy Guy - Sweat Tea and DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo - Ki Oku.

About half of my CDs are Japanese pop music and a lot of it is superbly mastered taking full advantage of the format and while no one album really stands out, on average, they have a higher SQ than non Japanese produced music imo.

Actually I suspect that my favorite sounding albums might partly stand out more because they are as well mastered as a lot of music but contain simple, clear natural instruments that are easy to define.
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post #99 of 137
2/23/12 at 3:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac View Post

Larry,

I have the Security SACD and the SACD layer sounds excellent. Although I do not have a RBCD version to compare it to the SACD layer.

Bill

I have the SACD, too, and it does sound good. Level matched, you'd probably be hard pressed to hear differences between the 2 CDs, but you can see what's missing when you compare them with something like Audacity. I haven't listened to the SACD in a while since I use a computer for a transport. I'm too lazy to put discs in my player.

It's sorta like the original NIN Pretty Hate Machine and the new one. However, the new one was remixed which makes a true comparison harder. From what I remember about Security, the newer CD was just made louder.

larry
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post #100 of 137
2/23/12 at 3:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman View Post

16) The Planets by Holst; Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony; one unique feature is the use of a boys' choir instead of the usual female choir in the last movement; quite an ethereal effect.

Thanks for these recommendations, and I second the motion with respect to the material on Reference Recordings. On that label, I would also recommend the Ravel disc by Nojima, and a recording for clarinet and a rockin' concert band called Ebony Concerto. But on that Planets recording, where did you get the idea that this is a boychoir? It sounds like women to me, and the performers are the Montreal Symphony and the Montreal Symphony Chorus (which are adults).
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post #101 of 137
2/23/12 at 3:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpedris View Post

Are these all regular CDs? Are there any SACDs in the list?

One of the Minnesota Orchestra recordings is available on SACD:
http://www.referencerecordings.com/71SACD_DETAIL.asp

I haven't heard the SACD, but the HDCD-encoded CD has great sound. Unfortunately, much of the music is third-rate. The Minnesota has some really good performances of great music on Reference (e.g., Copland's Symphony 3 and Appalachian Spring, Pictures at an Exhibition, Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances), but only on CD.
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post #102 of 137
2/23/12 at 9:12am
I picked up Adele 21 on vinyl yesterday and I am thoroughly enjoying it! Thanks for the recommendation.
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post #103 of 137
2/23/12 at 9:37am
Here's my top 10 that I like to show off my system with, to people who are hearing a quality 2.1 studio monitor setup for the first time.. a very wide variety:

Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" (Progressive Rock) [Japanese Black Triangle Stereo version]
Beethoven's 9th (Classical Symphony) [Berlin Philharmonic / Karajan]
Mozart's Requiem (Classical Choral) [BBC Symphony Orchestra]

(the main 3)


Radiohead's "OK Computer" (Alternative Rock, Art Rock)
Beatle's "Revolver" (Psychedelic Pop, Pop Rock)
Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" (Modal / Cool Jazz)
Talking Head's "Remain in Light" (New Wave, Art Punk)
Sigur Ros' "
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post #104 of 137
2/24/12 at 12:27am
Seeing this list and some of the comments here.. maybe I'm losing my mind, but I don't think so...

Adele/21 is great music, but the album, IMO, was ruined in production. Like most recordings today, it's plagued by over-mixing to boost loudness, essentially killing most of the dynamics. It sounds like crap compared to what it should have been.

Adele's voice is fantastic. But 21 isn't even CLOSE to a great sounding recording.
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post #105 of 137
2/24/12 at 4:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jephdood View Post

Seeing this list and some of the comments here.. maybe I'm losing my mind, but I don't think so...

Adele/21 is great music, but the album, IMO, was ruined in production. Like most recordings today, it's plagued by over-mixing to boost loudness, essentially killing most of the dynamics. It sounds like crap compared to what it should have been.

Adele's voice is fantastic. But 21 isn't even CLOSE to a great sounding recording.

You're the second person Ive spoken with in the past 12 hours to say this. Im not sure why it's always regarded at such a good quality album if so many people feel this way. That, or maybe Adele's voice just overpowers the poor qualities of the recording. /shrug

-Matt
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post #106 of 137
2/24/12 at 4:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgproudfit View Post

7: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - CD - Link to View

[Placeholder for description]

I found 2 versions of this album, the one from your link and a 50th anniversary version. Any diff in SQ ?
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post #107 of 137
2/24/12 at 5:09am
Thread Starter 
Not sure - I myself don't have that album. Anyone else know?
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post #108 of 137
2/24/12 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgproudfit View Post

Not sure - I myself don't have that album. Anyone else know?

Don't know about sound quality differences. I have one released on CD in the 90s and another on LP reissued later. Regardless, you owe it to yourself to own Kind of Blue. It's a desert island album, especially the sublime track "Blue in Green." It's freakin' Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, and Bill Evans. They're a veritable Who's Who of giants of the late 50s/early 60s jazz scene. There's a good reason for that -- they were incredible musicians blessed with tremendous creativity and talent, and they fit together so well the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
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post #109 of 137
2/24/12 at 8:05am
At some point relatively recently it was determined that "Kind of Blue" (or part of it) was mastered too slow or too fast, and that the second side had the left and right reversed.

Don't know what versions corrected this as far as the CD is concerned, but I have the Classic Records' vinyl release in translucent blue vinyl that I'm pretty sure is correct, and it is remarkable. I think the vinyl reissue was done ten-fifteen years ago.
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post #110 of 137
2/24/12 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jephdood View Post

Seeing this list and some of the comments here.. maybe I'm losing my mind, but I don't think so...

Adele/21 is great music, but the album, IMO, was ruined in production. Like most recordings today, it's plagued by over-mixing to boost loudness, essentially killing most of the dynamics. It sounds like crap compared to what it should have been.

Adele's voice is fantastic. But 21 isn't even CLOSE to a great sounding recording.

I agree.. I cannot stand when it sounds like the tracks were tag-teamed by a dozen different audio engineers.. I often wonder if they are designed to sound best on ipods with $1 headphones though, since that is what the average music listener is equipped with today.

I also agree that "Kind of Blue" is an essential. Along with "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Revolver", these are the albums that change the way you look at musicianship forever, and sound just as impressive every time you hear them. Do yourself a favor and get that bad boy on vinyl
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post #111 of 137
2/24/12 at 5:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OtherSongs View Post


Thanks to you/mgproudfit/others in this thread, and other amazon owner reviews, for great music comments and refs.

Thanks for the specific amazon ref; I ordered it.


I'm not sure which version you ordered, but the SACD is the format to own:

http://www.amazon.com/Nat-King-Cole-...0132326&sr=1-1
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post #112 of 137
2/24/12 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpedris View Post

I'm not sure which version you ordered, but the SACD is the format to own:

http://www.amazon.com/Nat-King-Cole-...0132326&sr=1-1

^^^ Too rich for my blood.

The proper link was given, but not that obvious; here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Nat-King-Cole-...=5336055023-20

I got a used "very good" 2 disc CD set at ~$5 total.
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post #113 of 137
2/26/12 at 9:28am
Sara K -Water Fall was mentioned a while back in the surround music forum so I picked up a copy. The poster (sorry, I don't remember who it was) was 100% correct it has good material and just sparkling resolution/AQ to be a RBCD.

A few more RBCDs that comes to mind that has IMO good material and AQ is Art Pepper - Meets the Rhythm Section, Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek and Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Ella and Louis.
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post #114 of 137
2/26/12 at 4:51pm
Thread Starter 
Good call in Nickelcreek. I like them a lot.

-matt
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post #115 of 137
2/28/12 at 4:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dclark View Post

I think BIA sounds better in SACD than CD (and I got the CD when it first came out!).


No problem that you think that. But the SACD have massive compression so the dynamic is hurting, a lot. For much more dynamic sound the original CD is the best choice.
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post #116 of 137
2/28/12 at 4:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NIN74 View Post


No problem that you think that. But the SACD have massive compression so the dynamic is hurting, a lot. For much more dynamic sound the original CD is the best choice.


What about the XRCD? Have you tried that?
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post #117 of 137
2/29/12 at 11:48am
As I understand it that version also have dynamic compression. The original CD is the way to go.
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post #118 of 137
3/3/12 at 10:29pm
I own over 2000 disc's and many hundred vinyl LPs. I am shocked that nobody has mentioned this:

The Mercury Songbook - http://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Songbo...dp/B000065M0S/

Most tracks were recorded in the glory days of analog recording, say 1954-1968. And there is definitely a noise floor on most ... but the quality of the vocal recordings, and the acoustic rhythm sections is breathtaking.

Every time I listen, I wonder to myself what has happened to recording technology over the last 50 years. Why has every other technology improved so much, and recording (or perhaps producing?) has gone backwards???
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post #119 of 137
3/4/12 at 1:00am
Check out Moe's "The Conch", outstanding quality on cd and really interesting music from a jam band.
Mark Knopfler has carried on the Dire Straits tradition of good recordings on his solo stuff, with my favorite being "Kill To Get Crimson"
On vinyl my sleeper is Bad Company's "Bad Company" very natural sounding vocals and well mixed.
Same with ZZ Top's "First Album", love the unfettered & simple recording technique from that young blues band. (Young back then lol)
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post #120 of 137
3/4/12 at 10:40am
I'm surprised no one mentioned anything from the Chemical Brothers or the "Hanna" soundtrack!

Hanna's Theme from the chemical bros is an outstanding take on sq and dynamics. The Chemical Brothers are an excellent group to showcase the sounds of your mighty 2.0 and should be worthy of a nomination. Parts of Hanna is featured in subwoofer tests in the HT arena.

Bill always has incredible recommendations and has introduced me to listen to music I was never into before. Thanks Bill!
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