Blue Note Jazz Recordings

I quickly started buying the Blue Note RVG's as soon as I saw them online. I do have a complaint with the RVG remasters. They are high resolution recordings, but from a sonic standpoint they are lean-sounding. There is no comparison between the JVC XRCD Jazz remasters(example: the Prestige label) and Rudy Van Gelder's. I have 10-15 of the Blue Note RVG remasters and they are must-have jazz classics from jazz greats. But, the XRCD jazz remasters have meat on their bones, with a palpable midrange, exceptional clarity, weighty presentation and strong muscular bass. (sonics with impact). No doubt, the XRCD jazz remasters take my cdp and system to another level of presentation. I keep an eye out for XRCD jazz releases now because they are absolutely superior remaster recordings. I no longer pull the trigger as quickly on the RVG's; but if you want to experience many of the jazz legends doing ground-breaking classics you have no choice but to purchase the RVG Blue Note remasters. I just wish JVC was doing Blue Note.

Thanks for the Borders lead.

I started buying the RVGs when they came out and found that Tower Records frequently holds jazz sales that reduce the RVGs even further...plus I think they do free shipping on their website. I agree with foster about XRCD for almost every type of music, but the RVGs do give those who aren't vinyl hounds (which sadly I am) access to some nice things.

I agree the new cd's are a little - I don't know that I would say lean, but dry or something... However when they went from mono to stereo many of the early stereo pressings and mixes were not superior to the mono's, and people said the same thing. Maybe the mono's gave them some bloat in actuality, although I know for a fact that RVG denies this. Maybe the original master tapes just were a little more dry than some of the better vinyl pressings. Vinyl will have it's way with us all...

I always go for the audiophile option (XRCD, DCC, Analogue Productions, etc) over the RVG issue wherever possible. As has been said earlier, there is just no comparison between an XRCD Blue Note (usually mastered by Alan Yoshida) or a DCC remaster (Steve Hoffman, Kevin Gray), and an RVG. The RVGs are usually dynamically compressed to sound quite loud and lacking "punch" or depth, and are also unnaturally bright. However, on the plus side they are very cheap compared to audiophile issues, and are very nicely packaged with original album notes, so this makes them very accessible and popular with those who are less discerning about the actual sound.