@baylinor I like your enthusiasm and discipline!
Do you grade your albums?
I've found tremendous bargains on CDs, SACDs and HDCDs at local thrift stores, usually less than $2 each. Some remastered, some original releases.
I don't stream nor do I spin vinyl. My only source is an SACD/CD player that I enjoy very much.
I grade each of my 800 or so albums A+, A,B,C or D based on sound quality.
Parameters listened for are the usual stuff- clarity, timbres, soundstage, imaging, air, bloom, cohesiveness, dynamics.
Remastered almost always sounds significantly better than the original, especially if the engineer was Bob Ludwig. There are a others that are good too.
SACDs usually sound better than the standard "red book" versions, but not always.
Same thing for HDCDs.
Some artists do consistently class A sound, especially when remastered. Dire Straits, Depeche Mode, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Enya, Steely Dan, Wang Chung, INXS, Bob Seger, ABC, Ozzy (yes, Ozzy!)...
For me, it's a lot easier to relax and enjoy the music when it's sound quality is classes A or A+. Class B is tolerable to listen to.
Classes C and D are mostly used to let a guest hear how bad they sound and then how much better classes B, A and A+ sound. Like hearing a different system, but it's not!
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My entire vinyl collection (over 2k) is cataloged and graded as follows: - Year of album - Chronological number of album in artist discography - Artist country of origin - Country of specific pressing - Chronological number of pressing - Quality of pressing: EQR= Exceptional quality recording QR = Quality recording All others not rated. - Also making notes of better side to play with some description of the type of music played on obscure albums. Example: Red Hot Chili Peppers (USA) - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (5th album) Original 1991. EU press, 2nd pressing 2011. EQR. - |
@mlsstl Me too. It hasn't been any trouble. I just give whatever I'm listening to a grade in my head. I don't make a list or anything like that. That would be too much work! |
I agree that the quality of recordings varies enormously and is a major factor in how my system sounds. However, I haven't gone to the trouble of grading my local collection of about 6,000 albums. (I also have and use a Qobuz subscription which is fantastic for exploring new-to-me music.) For me, the point of a recording is so that I can hear the music when I want. Sadly, some of my favorite music was recorded mediocrely, or even poorly. But, I still like those pieces and listen to them when that's what I'm in the mood for. |
@fuzztone True that! |