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... thoughts on Taylor Swift's REPUTATION CD...

Hello to all... Am wondering how other audiophile folks who critically listen to music as coordinated recorded sounds access the newest offering from Taylor Swift.

PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT IF YOU HAVE NOT YET HEARD THE CD IN ITS ENTIRETY.
AND PLEASE LIMIT COMMENTS WITH REGARDS TO SOUND - NOT ALL THE OTHER STUFF (looks, dating, etc) 

I find the recording fairly well done: abit thumpy throughout (which seems to be the trend in pop/indie music for the masses), but highly divergent in tones, dynamics, and harmonies. Deep and wide soundstage... Most vocals (within my system) are believeable (for the most part) but sometimes muddy up at the complicated refrains with several overdubs of her voice...

I think this is a good stereo test recording. YOUR THOUGHTS APPRECIATED...
justvintagestuff

Showing 15 responses by justvintagestuff

justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
Thank you n80 for your explaination of acman3 post about the DR site.
For some reason: the acman3 post showed up after my post questioning it (look at the times: acman3 at 2:26 and my post at 3:27).

greg22lz: Confused by your post; not sorry if I seem pedatic to you. My title for the forum is pretty direct and I ask because I'd like to know, not annoy you...

My topic is under the MUSIC FORUM; I am not an audiophile, I am a music lover. Maybe I shouldn't be posting here, maybe this is too sophisticated a site, maybe too high-brow - or maybe you should be blowing your steam off in some other forum, or on some site designed for that purpose...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
Please explain to me in layman's terms what this tells me, and how this is useful in a discussion regarding sound...
This may sound combative - it is not intended to be - I just want to understand why you are using this 'scale' to quantify sound...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
... thank you all for your input... and thank you lowrider57 for the suggested topics for me to investigate and learn from.

BEST WISHES TO ALL, AND ENJOY YOUR MUSIC.
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
acman3: Thank you for your courtesy...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
gosta: interesting that we both hear similar elements from this CD.
When I posted this forum, I wasn't looking for validation to my enjoying the CD, and although it took a left-hand turn from the 1st input, it has opened my eyes to serious audiophile considerations...
Truthfully - in making future CD purchases, although I will access the DR file, it WILL NOT BE THE OVERRIDING FACTOR in deciding to hear new music...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
OH ON! Dua Lipa is rated 5 - 4 - 7 on the DR Scale: obviously unlistenable to some (lol) - BUT THAT WON'T STOP ME FROM A LISTEN...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
gosta: interesting comment about the 15" woofers - maybe my Gershman Avant Garde RX20s are so quick and accurate on the thumping bass distributed throughout the Swift CD (see my origional comments about 'thump'...)

and with the comment from geoffkait - we once again take that left turn...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
... amazingly: ALL the interations of Joni Mitchell's 'DON JUAN'S RECKLESS DAUGHTER' are high on the DR Scale, with the 1st "19" I've seen in my short history of viewing DR evaluations...
WHO KNEW?
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
... Would be interesting if mastercylinder does have the 1st issue vinyl - and could/can give us an accessment (and hoping that he will not compare her to George Gobel) of sonics... 
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
... according to what lowrider57 has stated: WITH RECORDED MUSIC - we are never going to truly hear what an/any artist really sounds like...

I know that the days of hearing Harry Chapin with 57 other people in a college cafeteria are gone - real sound is harder and harder to find - but it is a depressing thought that we really don't know what an artist sounds like. Reminds me: My son and I got a reality check when we heard HOOBISTANK live- so so disappointing - AND NOTHING LIKE THE MUSIC WE LISTEN TO ON CD!
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
gosta: NOT ON TOPIC - but give a listen to The Eagles 2-disc THE VERY BEST OF, on your 15" woofer Westlakes and APCs

disc 2: track #3 - Victim of Love
             track #13 - Those Shoes

Listen to the beginnings of both; I used to blast these 2 tunes with my mid-50s University S6 (3-way with 15" woofer) - and THEY ROCK !!!
I still use them when testing others' speakers and systems...

Regarding the vocal mushing on 'REPUTATION': it has to be an engineering thing. I am trying to recall clean vocals - I remember some nice stuff on The Dixie Chicks CDs...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
I'm just abit confused: am I hearing you say that most of what I hear of Swft's voice is really not her voice but a manipulated amalgam, a sandwich so-to-speak, concocted to be boosted instead of her singing louder?
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
...I am wondering: do they (engineers, etc) do all this stuff to the music on SUPPOSEDLY LIVE TV SHOWS LIKE BRITTAN'S GOT TALENT, THE VOICE, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE AND SO MANY MORE...
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
gosta: thanks for the suggestion; always looking for new good stuff to listen to...

Are we talked out about REPUTATION?
justvintagestuff OP
104 posts
 
I'd like to say THANK YOU to all who contributed here, some several times. I am glad that the topic 'sprouted several branches', because it broadened my base of listenable music to investigate, from like-minded individuals, who however trite it might seem to some for me to say, appreciate sound as well as the music it is conveyed through...

I wish you all Good Health, a memorable Thanksgiving, and The Best of the coming Holiday season - I Say Merry Christmas to All...
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