For CDs, there are many Decca recordings in the 80s (not just in the "Golden Years") that are sonically excellent; if not in the demonstration quality bracket. For example, some of the MSO recordings with Charles Dutoit are very good (Ravel, Bizet etc) and Dohnanyi (Dvorak etc). The problem with Telarc recordings is that they often have a recessed sound- lacking in detail- (blame it on the over-hyped monster cables- kidding aside- they lack the last ounce of definition and vivacity). For example Dohnanyi's Beethoven cycle. Even Telarc jazz possess some of that quality (some of the recordings with Oscar Peterson and Jacques Loussier). There is a certain enhanced bloom that seems to obsure the detail a little. However on a really excellent playback system, the recordings do sound better than the initial first impression- actually all the detail is all there- it just has to be picked up properly. The better your equipment, the better Telarc discs sound. Telarc's "Super Bass" along with some of Kunzel's recording of film scores and Frederick Fennell's are some of the best Telarc demonstration-quality discs. At the same time I am not that enamoured with the DSD system (Telarc uses this quite often)- in my opinion many of Chesky recordings, and especially XRCDs far surpass the artificialness of DSD recordings.
Telarc recordings
Hi folks, does anyone know why Telarc classical recordings often sound opaque? By opaque I mean that the recordings don't sound transparent (a sort of see through quality like most DECCA recordings). Because of this sound character the music often sounds dull and lifeless. That's a pity because there are plenty good performances on this Label. What is the most likely explanation for this sound character? Is it because of the mics Telarc uses or recording equipment? Or is this actually how music sounds in reality? I visited Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Davies Hall (San Francisco), the concerthall in Cologne, but they all sound quite transparent and not dull.