I listen mainly to classical music. The SQ of classical recordings is all over the place, not nearly as consistent other types of music. Recording large orchestras is a complicated and difficult endeavor. Smaller ensembles are easier to record. So, if you listen to a great performance of an orchestral (or any) recording but have trouble with the sound will you avoid listening to it?
Classical is unique in that it's the same music played over and over by different ensembles. You should not have to put up with bad recordings because there is always a better one available. Fortunately, the recording technology seems to have peaked at the same time as the great conductors and orchestras.
On the other hand:
Jazz: well, Charlie Parker is exhibit A.
Pop: Motown is exhibit B.
Both examples border on the criminal. Sometimes it seems as if the less the talent, the more resources are committed to the recordings process.
Bob Dylan at Royal Albert Hall. Probably considered a poor recording. I love that album so count me in on a person that will listen to poor recordings!
I know what you mean. I was just comparing several different recordings of Shostakovich’s 5th symphony. Poor quality recording gets dismissed immediately, there are quite a few of those. But I was in a real quandary between two, one more recent (Boston Symphony 2023 I believe) very well recorded one where i felt the conductor sped things up in places and lost the impact of the piece. So, I went back to my “go to”… 1980 Cleveland orchestra version… while clearly less resolution, the performance was worth it for me.
But in general, I’m not interested in poor recordings
Classical music for me is predominately piano or piano with orchestra, not much violin with orchestra or piano-violin and lil-to-nothin for opera.
Solo piano is another level that have to be near-perfectly recorded. That is the case that I would not listen if piano is compromised!
On the other hand, I have bootleg of Pink Floyd "Live In Pompeii" that I would listen a lot more often than perfectly recorded and mastered DSOM or The Wall.
I know people are tired of me saying the same thing ad nauseum. There are beautiful "performances" in all of our recordings. I will listen to bootlegs or any quality cd (still my main source), for the musicianship, the composition and the artistic expression. I find it sad that many here will not listen to some great music if they feel the recording is poor. My main rig allows me to hear all of this, more than my car or phone/headphones. As an example, I have many BBC Sessions cds by Hendrix, Zep, Beatles and many more. From the Hendrix release "Blues", "Born Under A Bad Sign", is a perfect example of exactly what I am talking about. This recording (if you are a fan of Hendrix, or maybe not) can teach you to listen to the musicians, first. Lots of fabulous studio sounds as well. I recommend everyone listen to it, even Classical listeners. Maybe this should be posted under "music"? Sorry rv, but it is an example of your thread. Using a recording of a solo violin as an example, if the violin sounds a bit "tinny", stop paying the most attention to the "sound" and "location" of the instrument, and turn your attention to the virtuosity of the violinist. This is my take of course. No matter what I want to listen to, my main rig gets the play. My best, MrD.
.......yes. I had CD's on Billie Holiday and Sam Cooke as well as older blues and jazz and ended up trading them in as it was too '' hard '' to listen to and enjoy.
I have favorites that are not well recorded. For example, this gem from Chuck Mangione, which also has some flaws in its performance. It was never released on CD or streaming - LP only, as far as I know. But it’s a great piece of music. You either get it, or you don’t.
(Naturally, the LP sounds much better than the YT lossy audio.)
Yes, and that holds for any genre. I’m a big Steely Dan fan, but I won’t listen to their earlier CDs or stream on my system — too compromised in too many areas (will try the vinyl though whenever I get my TT up n running again). If I wanna listen to that stuff I’ll listen on my earbuds or a Bluetooth speaker where all the warts and limitations are mostly glossed over. Kinda sad, but that’s me.
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