Audiophile CDs By Genre

[kitjv]

With my new 2-channel system up & running, it's time to start rebuilding my CD collection with audiophile quality. Has anyone compiled a list of audiophile recording companies by genre? For example, I have been very pleased with the jazz offerings by Mapleshade. Thank you.

 

[Biggiesized]

That's an extremely intriguing question. Nowadays you don't associate genres like rock with audiophile. You might have to look back about 15 years before the loudness wars began.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

For new age/world music my favorite label SQ-wise is Gemini Sun. For jazz it is Heads Up. Certain artists can always be counted on for outstanding recordings also. These include Andreas Vollendweider, Kitaro, Robert Rich, Spyro Gyra, Micket Hart, and Bill Frissell.
My ultimate reference recording is Seven Veils by Robert Rich.

 

[trnqk7]

I'll be interested to see what people say on here-I've been looking for some higher quality recordings myself, but I tend to like rock best...it's almost an oxymoron

 

[Biggiesized]

I'll be interested to see what people say on here-I've been looking for some higher quality recordings myself, but I tend to like rock best...it's almost an oxymoron

I'm the same way, but I'm definitely open to other genres.

 

[Brett A]

There's some suggestions at TNT. Much of it is vinyl, but they do review some CDs.
ttp://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/musicbooks.html

Also, Music Direct sells a lot of titles with the intention to thrill our audiophile sensibilities:
http://www.musicdirect.com/category/1

Although you didn't ask my opinon directly, please indulge my two of my opinions.
I listen to mostly jazz myself, but two of the better sounding non-jazz discs I own are Sparklehorse:It's a Wonderful Life and The Mekons: Journey to the End of Night

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I'll be interested to see what people say on here-I've been looking for some higher quality recordings myself, but I tend to like rock best...it's almost an oxymoron

The recent Alan Parsons remasters are fantastic. Some other great rock recordings include True Stories by Talking Heads, Avalon by Roxy Music, Time by ELO, Thrak by King Crimson, and The Colors in the Wheel by Venus Hum.

 

[gus6464]

If you are looking for rock albums look for Japanese import re-releases of albums. The Japanese are known for putting out great remasters of rock albums on cd, hdcd, xrcd, sacd, and vinyl. Some can be rare which translate to expensive but this site sells a lot of them www.elusivedisc.com

 

[skizzerflake]

With my new 2-channel system up & running, it's time to start rebuilding my CD collection with audiophile quality. Has anyone compiled a list of audiophile recording companies by genre? For example, I have been very pleased with the jazz offerings by Mapleshade. Thank you.

Check out the Acoustic Sounds catalog at http://store.acousticsounds.com/store.cfm. They have fairly good recommendations and keep a "Top 50" listing of what's being bought by their audiophile customers. The genres are all over the place. Even if you don't buy from them, there is lots of info for people who care about sound quality.

 

[stratman]

I have some of their stuff, good quality, you've got to keep your eyes open for they sell out quickly sometimes on certain discs.

http://www.mofi.com/productcart/pc/home.asp

 

[Biggiesized]

Rage Against the Machine's first album is rated an audiophile album by TNT Audio.

I love Rage, but I haven't picked up any of their albums. Looks like I'll start with that one.

 

[Ciloh]

Chesky is well known for its uncompressed live quality.
A recommendable rock'n roll recording there is Billy Burnette, Memphis in Manhattan.

 

[rynberg]

CDs? What are those? If you have a quality 2-channel setup, why don't you have an SACD player? If you listen to classical and jazz, it's well worth the investment.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

CDs? What are those? If you have a quality 2-channel setup, why don't you have an SACD player? If you listen to classical and jazz, it's well worth the investment.

I sincerely doubt that I would hear any difference (in 2-channel mode.) To my ears, well-mastered CDs leave little or no room for improvement. They may not be "perfect", but they are close enough that they might as well be.

 

[skizzerflake]

CDs? What are those? If you have a quality 2-channel setup, why don't you have an SACD player? If you listen to classical and jazz, it's well worth the investment.

SACD doesn't do much in a 2 channel setup. You won't hear any difference in CDs and if you play an SACD in it, the original 5 channel recording will be mixed down to 2 by the player's logic, which probably will not be faithful to the original intent of the engineer. You would be better served by finding a CD version of the SACD.

 

[Pyrrho]

SACD doesn't do much in a 2 channel setup. You won't hear any difference in CDs and if you play an SACD in it, the original 5 channel recording will be mixed down to 2 by the player's logic, which probably will not be faithful to the original intent of the engineer. You would be better served by finding a CD version of the SACD.

Although I personally would not bother with SACD for a two channel system, most SACDs include both a multi-channel mix and a two channel mix. So one would then just select the two channel mix for a two channel system.

Also, hybrid SACDs contain an additional CD layer, playable on anything that can play a CD. Such discs are great, as I can play the multi-channel SACD version on my surround system, but I can still play the disc in my car or on any two channel system with a CD player.

On these discs, often the mastering for SACD and CD may differ, and consequently one might prefer the SACD mastering over what is available on CD. Or one might not.

 

[EYEdROP0]

If your looking for some modern day rock/metal to listen to, there is definitively some detailed stuff out there that will test your equipment and ears. A few examples are In Flames, Soilwork, Opeth, Into Eternity, Tool, Children of Bodom, just to name a few. Just make sure you get them in FLAC or a high bitrate. Though it may be "loud", the productions are heavily layerd with harmonies, keyboards, ambient noises, etc...

If you really want some detailed electronic stuff, Id recommend Shpongle, Infected Mushroom, The Infinity Project, Deep Forest, The Postal Service, etc...

 

[MinusTheBear]

I listened to the album Busted Stuff by Dave Matthews band the other day and was pleasantly surprised how well this was recorded, I found this to be really well done. There was a Stevie Ray Vaughn album to but the name of the album escapes me right now and that sounded really good. I was somewhat dissapointed by the recording by A Perfect Circle (their first album). I was expecting it to be a lot better. Those are just a few that I have listened to the last few days.

 

[Biggiesized]

If your looking for some modern day rock/metal to listen to, there is definitively some detailed stuff out there that will test your equipment and ears. A few examples are In Flames, Soilwork, Opeth, Into Eternity, Tool, Children of Bodom, just to name a few. Just make sure you get them in FLAC or a high bitrate. Though it may be "loud", the productions are heavily layerd with harmonies, keyboards, ambient noises, etc...

If you really want some detailed electronic stuff, Id recommend Shpongle, Infected Mushroom, The Infinity Project, Deep Forest, The Postal Service, etc...

I <3 Soilwork A LOT.

You're exactly right. Those kinds of songs are very challenging to reproduce accurately because they are so heavily layered. If you listen to them in crappy headphones, you'll hear a lot of noise. If you have very revealing equipment, you'd be amazed at the intracacies in the songs. They are mixed pretty hot, however, with little headroom. Make sure you don't overload your gear.

 

[Progger58]

Hi all,

I'm interested in audiophile quality cd's featuring good PERCUSSION.

Suggestions, please?

Thanks in advance,
Demetrio.