Pristine "Audiophile" Recordings on CD

[Sonnie]

We have the Best Reference Audio Discs thread, and that's good for recordings we really like for our personal reference, but I see a lot of recordings in there that I actually own and they are not what I would consider pristine type recordings. They are okay... good CD's that I like and listen to... but some stand out above others as far as the quality of recording. Here are a few that I believe are absolutely stellar recordings:

Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms (SACD)
Jennifer Warnes - The Hunter (SACD)
Pink Floyd - WYWH (SACD)... this has gotten ridiculously expensive... glad I got mine when I did.
Roger Waters - Amused To Death (SACD)
Melody Gardot - My One and Only Thrill (one of the few non SACD albums that is actually recorded extremely well)
Sheffield Labs - James Newton Howard and Friends (Sheffield Gold)

What are some of the recordings you own or have heard somewhere that you believe to be top notch quality recordings?

 

[Tony V.]

Lee Ritenour, "Six string theory"
It aparently can be found on DVD A
https://www.amazon.com/Ritenours-String-Theory-Surround-Sound/dp/B01D0DEIRY

Not sure what the audio quality difference would be over the CD but the CD is excellent!.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I think I'll toss Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" SACD into the right. It is a truly revealing recording in my opinion.

 

[Sonnie]

Lee Ritenour, "Six string theory"

I have the regular CD of this, but did not know there was an Audio DVD of it... wow! Have you compared the two by chance? I love the regular CD and it's also a pretty good recording.

I think I'll toss Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" SACD into the right. It is a truly revealing recording in my opinion.

Same as above... I have he regular CD... have you compared the regular vs SACD?

I probably need to grab both of these, but that Lee Ritenour is expensive... whoa! May have to search around for it.

 

[Tony V.]

I have the regular CD of this, but did not know there was an Audio DVD of it... wow! Have you compared the two by chance? I love the regular CD and it's also a pretty good recording.


Same as above... I have he regular CD... have you compared the regular vs SACD?

I probably need to grab both of these, but that Lee Ritenour is expensive... whoa! May have to search around for it.

No, Ive only got the CD, your right $90 for the DVDA is a wee bit pricey. dont think I could spring for that right now.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I have the regular CD of this, but did not know there was an Audio DVD of it... wow! Have you compared the two by chance? I love the regular CD and it's also a pretty good recording.


Same as above... I have he regular CD... have you compared the regular vs SACD?

I probably need to grab both of these, but that Lee Ritenour is expensive... whoa! May have to search around for it.

Honestly, Sonnie, I'd be lying if I said I've heard an obvious difference (I own both). Definitely not a difference that you'd experience between streaming off your phone via Bluetooth and listening on CD.

My recommendation would be stick with the CD...but since I have both, I error on the side of citing SACD (if that makes sense)

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

John Lee Hooker - The Healer
CD - Special Edition 24k Gold MoFi Ultradisc II OMR

 

[Sonnie]

I error on the side of citing SACD (if that makes sense)

I know EXACTLY what you mean!

John Lee Hooker - The Healer

I do like John Lee Hooker... had no idea MFSL had one of his albums... but it ain't cheap.

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

I do like John Lee Hooker... had no idea MFSL had one of his albums... but it ain't cheap.

It is worth every penny, though! The sound quality is cliche to-die-for, with ample spatiousness I believe would be noticed even on cube speakers! And this is not just a sonic showcase. It sports a who's who of guest artists that would draw blues lovers from far and wide: Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, Charlie Musslewhite, George Thorogood, and Canned Heat. As final icing on the cake, most of the tracks on the album are worthy of multiple plays. It's definitely not one of those audiophile-approved demo discs, that only gets dusted off once in a while.

 

[Jack]

I know not everyone is into classical music or movie soundtrack music but in the case of the soundtrack for Gladiator, you have to give it a try on CD.
I was blown away by the sound, the staging and the stunning dynamics with cut three, the battle. Just when you think you have heard how loud things can get, BAM it goes one more.

 

[NBPK402]

I love my SACDS, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Dire Straits are my favorites.

 

[ShpongleDMT]

Clifford Jordan Quartet - Lie at Ethell's

http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-ethells-mw0000626394

https://www.amazon.com/Live-Ethells-Clifford-Quartet-Jordan/dp/B000000JMF

I was blown away at how pure this recording sounded. I frequently use this when giving demos.

 

[ShpongleDMT]

I think I'll toss Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" SACD into the right. It is a truly revealing recording in my opinion.

When I first got my Def Tech SM 65s this was the Album I played first. My eyes may or may not have watered up a little.

 

[Chris A]

Of the albums identified in this thread that I own, all have responded most strongly to "demastering" using audio editing (freeware). Many recordings that you'd probably not consider to be "audiophile" become so after demastering, I've found.

I'm trying to gauge interest in starting a thread on that subject. Some of that information currently exists on another site...not unlike REW. The technique relies on audio setups that have been carefully tuned to flat--like using REW--in order to get best results.

Anyone here interested in the subject of undoing clipping and poor mastering EQ that makes so many CDs sound so bad? This subject is at the root of "why does vinyl typically sound better". I've found that it's not so much about the storage format but rather the users of storage formats compromising fidelity.

I've been using this technique on my ripped CD collection over the past 2 1/2 years, and have transformed the listening quality of my entire two-channel music library in the process. Anyone with the desire to achieve that, and a well-balanced setup, can do it.

"No" is a good answer. It won't offend me. It's a fair amount of work for me. I've just been thinking about subjects that might draw more people into this forum--especially those that are willing to tinker just a little to get the best sound.

Chris

 

[Sonnie]

Absolutely Chris... please start up a thread on it... probably in this same forum would be fine.

I am definitely interested in learning more about it.

 

[Chris A]

I'll start a thread within the next couple of days. We can see how it goes from there. If you can use REW, you can definitely demaster music tracks.

Chris

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

Yes, please!

 

[Chris A]

See Demastering your Music