Rushton, thanks for your help. I am going to order the Miracle cleaner today, with some brushes. I'm listening to Harry Belafonte's "Streets I Have Walked" right now, it is excellent. What a great hobby! Thanks, Sandra
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America - their first, self-titled album. I had this album when it was first released in the early 70's. I sold it while in college because I had worn it out. I recently purchased a copy at my local used record store. This is such a good album, and I can't believe the fidelity on my newly set up vinyl rig. I can't understand why there isn't more discussion about this album on A'gon. The music, the performance, and the fidelity are reference quality IMHO. |
Hmmm, I haven't listened to my copy of America in years. Thanks for the suggestion to pull it out again to listen! Tonight... Bill Evans Trio: "Portrait in Jazz" Riverside 1162 (Analogue Productions 45 rpm reissue) (simply superb!) Doors: "Morrison Hotel" Elektra (German reissue) (the sound quality of this recent reissue is very good, matches that of the similarly reissued LA Woman) Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Solti/CSO, Decca 6BB 121/2 (one of my favorite performances of this work in great sound: recorded by the master, Kenneth Wilkinson) . |
Bdgregory, That first America album is nice indeed. I have a white label promo copy of it, yet I find the stock first press copy to be outstanding. When that record came out in 1972 it influenced many great musicians such as Crosby, Stills, & Nash and the Eagles amongst others. The strange chord progressions, texture, and detail that were captured in America's music made it one of the most innovative and nicest sounding records of the time. A great pick! Happy Listening! |
Tonight: polyurethane (fifth coat)--I've been finishing my newly-purchased Teres 160 over the last week. I think five coats is about all I can take before assembling the table tomorrow so I can play some records! I haven't even used my Thorens 125/II in the last couple of days, though will have to give it a goodbye spin or two tomorrow. Joshua |
Warming the system up this morning preparing to check out some amp stands, here's what's been playing: Buxtehude, Organ Works Vol. 1 with Michael Chapius, Telefunken 6.42001 Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 1162, Analogue Productions 45 rpm reissue - outstanding! Coleman Hawkins and his Confreres, Verve MG VS-6110, Speakers Corner reissue - outstanding! British Band Classics, Vol 2, Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble, Mercury SR 90197, Speakers Corner reissue - this is the first time I've heard this and it fully merits all the hype I've read over the years! Now, if Ann is ready we can get down to some SERIOUS comparative listening... . |
Rushton, What's up with the new amp stands, I would presume, for the Atma-Sphere mono blocks? I’m all-ears. Did you and your fellow audiophile wife (lucky guy) get down to some SERIOUS comparative listening this holiday? Presently I have MA-1 Mk2.3 Silver editions on Rock Maple laminated cutter blocks (18x24x2.5") with granite (18x24x4") slabs below and Bright Star Isonodes between. Lots of folks say the granite rings when used directly below amps, with this current arrangement we only hear the maple and it is nice tonally. The combination of materials seem to best decouple the amps from the hard wood floors of my old house (circa 1926) as the amps are located in near proximity to my Coincident Total Eclipse speakers that are on brass points. I've tried many different setups and nothing else cuts the resonance to the amp chassis. Let me know what you glean from this new arrangement. Cheers! Foster I'm playing Chad's Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants 45's tonight followed by a beautiful copy of Yusef Latef -Eastern Sounds on TransAtlantic UK. Yusef and I share the hometown of Detroit and I had the distinct pleasure of seeing (and hearing) him at our historic Detroit Orchestra Hall years ago. Very nice! |
Hi Foster! We've been thinking about amp stands for some time, but have never moved forward until now. We're testing out some of Lloyd Walker's amp stands: 3" maple butcher block and Valid points. For a picture, see the 2005 Brutus Awards article at Positive Feedback Online (scroll down about 10 screens, with comments and more pics about 18 screens down). We haven't compared these to any other alternatives, but the improvement has been so instantly apparent and so material, that I don't expect to pursue other options. Ann and I used the last 6 minutes or so of the 45 rpm Classic reissue of the Mercury/Firebird as our principal listening test. About 10 seconds after I dropped the needle, we looked at each other and said "Oh, yes." The rest of our listening has simply confirmed that first 10 second gestalt take. We're hooked. Lloyd has worked his magic again. . |
Foster, I forgot to confirm that this is for the Atma-Sphere MA-2 amps, as you surmised. We also have an older home with thick oak flooring. Our speakers (Eidolons) are also spiked using Walker Audio Valid Points on resonance control discs, to very considerable improvement over the stock spikes. At this point, the 3" butcher block is sitting on some special variation of sorbothane that Lloyd has found to work in some applications better than he ever expected. We plan to next experiment with replacing the sorbothane with Valid Points on resonance control to see what change occurs. . |
Has anyone listened to the Queen: "Night at the Opera" reissue from EMI? Half-speed mastered, 180 gram. Does anyone know who mastered this or where it was pressed? The master tape is only mediocre, so I'm not prepared to pay the premium price for the oop DCC reissue of this, but I'd love to have a better sounding copy than my old domestic US pressing. . |
Rush I have not heard it or know who mastered it but someone on Steve Holffman's site stated they could not get through more than two songs. It is supposedly extremely bright sounding. More than likely it's been remastered in a digital workstaion, transferred to a DAT and cut from that. I would save up for the DCC and if that's not possible look for a UK original which is much cheaper. I also believe that it was issued a few years back when EMI was celebrating their 100th anniversary. They released various titles with some being from analog tapes and others from digital masters. According to some info I just found The EMI Millenium series LP CENT 1 TO 20 are digital and LP CENT 21 and on are analog. Queens's ANATO would be from a digital master since it's catalog number is LP CENT 12. Here is a partial discography for this title excluding the latest 30th edition. LP EMI EMTC 103 UK LP EMI DC-10 (France white vinyl) LP EMI 5C 06297176 (Netherlands white vinyl) LP EMI EMTC 102 (Israel, Hebrew text) LP ELE 7E-1053 (US, Australia) LP EMI P 10075 (Japan) LP MFSL MFSL 1-067 (US, half speed remaster) LP EMI LPCENT 12 (EMI 100th anniversary 1997, remastered) Tom |
Rushton, I'm delighted to hear the improvement was that palpable. From what you and quite a few others have said about the handy work of Lloyd Walker in past, I'm not surprised that it took 10 seconds or the fact that Ann and yourself are not looking to try a myriad of other ideas. My approach was a blend of what a local friend was doing (that worked) and some of the information from an old lengthy set of threads from redkiwi concerning shelf design experimentation from back in 2000 on A’gon that made a lot of sense. I truly believe that it’s a matter of coupling or decoupling depending on the circumstance and a variation of sorbothane seems to do the trick for me under the amp maple block platforms. One major improvement is we’re hearing a level of low frequency textural detail from Ralph’s amps now that was not fleshed out before, and by the way, I have never heard from any other valve or SS power amp in my house regardless of set up! I don’t see myself as a real big tweaker, but that said, my amp set up stands in contrast with my use of a Neuance Platform and wall mounted, spiked rack for the Linn Sondek Lp12 and Aurios classic isolation bearings under the chassis of the Aesthetix Calypso and Rhea. These forms of isolation I have tuned out to what IMHO is a very fine resolve, a group of very different isolation philosophies that all have their place. I will be looking forward to hear how things work out for you two with this amp stand project, as it seems in this hobby, there is always something more to learn and I just want to hear how good things sound over at your place too. Cheers! As for the Queen "Night at the Opera" I can't speak for the EMI version at all. I was on a real DCC kick back when the records were prevalent and of course... it sounds spot on. I'll leave it at that and spare you the details. It is truly hard to buy one of everything nice... |
Foster, if you're ever in the Philadelphia area, I'd enjoy having you over here to share some music and share with you how things are sounding here. I, too, am not a big tweaker in the sense that I'm not inclined to experiment with a lot of different variations. Redkiwi amazed and impressed me with his dedication for trying so many different variations to determine what he thought worked best. And I love that he shared so much of what he learned in the process since I don't have that degree of patience or willingness to fiddle. Nonetheless, I sincerely believe that great sounding systems get that way because someone IS paying attention to all the small details in fine tuning the set up. And that does include the right combination of tweaks, vibration/resonance control, etc. So in that sense, I am a tweaker. If I can get a 1% improvement here, and 2% there, pretty soon I've accomplished a pretty significant improvement in the overall sound of the system. I've become convinced over the years that many people just don't get the full benefit of the sound their systems are capable of delivering, and it's because they don't pay attention to the details of system set up and fine tuning. Thanks for sharing your endorsement of the DCC reissue of ANATO! Regards, |
Björk -Deput on One Little Indian ...thanks Elke for the S/S copy all the way from Antwerp! sounds great Humble Pie - Town & Country on A&M Spencer Davis Group -Gimme Some Lovin' on Island UK Traffic -Mr. Fantasy on Pink rim Island UK Free -Fire and Water on A&M Rolling Stones -Beggars Banquet on London/King records JP (another fine engineering job by Glyn Johns!) |
Over the last couple of days... Neil Young: Greatest Hits (Classic Records reissue) (OK, I admit I just don't get it. I'll listen to this one more time and see if I connect with this any better.) Smetana: Ma Vlast (Ancerl/CzechPO, Supraphon SV 801) (From about 1954 and atill one of the great performances of this work) John Lee Hooker: Burnin' (Get Back 7502) (grainy sound, and overloaded by too much backup, but great performances by Hooker.) Stravinsky: Firebird Ballet (Dorati/Mercury/Classic Records 45 rpm reissue) (Our standard recording to pull out for critical comparative listening with new equipment, amp stands in this case...) Vierne: Sym 6 (for organ) (Sanger, Meridian E77067) Grieg: Sonata No 3 for Violin & Piano Brahms: Sonata No 3 for Violin & Piano Olav Thommessen: "Please Accept My Ears" (1981, for vn & pf) ...(Milanova -vc & Smebye -pf, Simax PS 1015) (One of those digital recordings on LP that prove digital can sound very good indeed, one of the best sounding recordings in my collection. The Thommassen piece is a beautiful work that deserves more attention.) Leadbelly: "Leadbelly Sings Folk Songs" (Smithsonian Folkways SF40010) Woody Guthrie: "Folkways: The Original Vision" (Smithsonian Folkways SF40001) (The musicianship on both these Smithsonian Folkways recordings is outstanding, and the sound seems about as good as the mastertapes are likely to allow.) Haydn, Cello Concertos (Christophe Coin, Hogwood/AcademyAM, L'Oiseau Lyre DSDL 711) . |
Well, as the winter solstice is passing and the days grow unrecognizably longer to me yet, If new vinyl on my porch this fine gray day in Detroit can be taken as a harbinger of good things to come in the new year, then the signs have arrived and it will be another good year for our preferred, so called inferior format, that by the way was supposed to be replaced by the new perfect format now decades ago. I love progress. Today, actually moments ago I stepped out in the cold and snow to find a fresh new copy of Richard Thompson’s “Some Enchanted Evenings” EP on OMR @ 45RPM. This record has but five tales of personal disaster, misfortune, despair, forlorn longing and other uplifting affairs to song by one of our finest troubadours of the time, hell of any time. Three songs were originally written by our enterprising lad and two are stylized covers that he performs regularly at live shows with more than a bit of tongue in cheek. If you haven’t seen Richard live friend, you’ve really missed something on this dust ball. The only bit of sad news about the recording is that OMR stopped there. Two of the songs appear to be from “Two Letter Words” an excellent live performance double CD from 1994. Press the whole thing to vinyl and do it justice I say! Anyway, I’m enjoying what I have and it spins well indeed. Happy Listening and Cheers! In the new year. |
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Ballet (complete), Ansermet/OSR, SXL 2092-2 (Speakers Corner reissue - marvelous performance and a very nice sounding reissue) Geminiani: Cello Sonatas, Pleeth -vc, Hogwood -hpd, L'Oiseau Lyre DSLO 513. Clannad: Crann Ull, Intercord 160.153 (not sure where this falls within the Clannad discography, but I sure have listening to it for the first time) Handel: Water Music, Szell/LSO, Decca (Speakers Corner reissue) (I've heard of this performance for years, but had never heard it. I can hear virtues in it, but I guess I'm just to imbued with the "historically informed" performance practice to move this very high up on my list of preferred performances of this work. My favorite performance continues to be the Trevor Pinnock/English Concert on DGG (and yes, its a digital recording)) Albeniz: Suite Espanola, De Burgos/NewPhilO, Decca SXL 6355 (been listening to both the Speakers Corner and the King Super Analogue reissues to select which one that stays in the collection. The Super Analogue, USA pressing, has a number of virtues, but it sounds like it was mastered from a tape one generation down from the tape used by Speakers Corner, adjusting volume for the relative difference in gain cut into both.) Poulenc: Gloria, Pretre/FNRO, Carteri -sop, EMI ASD 2835 (a marvelous work performed with great panache and Gallic flavor by Pretre. I always find myself enjoying this performance more than the more refined Fremaux, also on EMI, even though the Fremaux is in arguably better sound. Also compared the EMI pressing to an early brown label Angel and the Angel held up surprisingly well in the comparison.) . |
Rushton, Do you know if the King Super Analogue reissue from the U.S. you were referring to is in an affiliation to King Records Toshiba Japan? The reason why I ask, I have a number of pop rock reissues by the latter with the designation DJM on them. These pressings sound amazing for vocals and acoustic string instruments. The sound is analog, although I was concerned DJM may have meant "digital Japanese Master" before listening. I have not seen a single classical music selection on this label. My only experience of Albeniz: Suite Espanola was on a London UK pressing that as I recall sounded splendid. Interestingly enough I was so taken by the music that I was not paying too much attention to the fidelity. Is that what might be referred to as suspended disbelief? It also struck me funny that the wind solos through the middle of the piece sounded more eastern or Egyptian in nature than Spanish, but what do I know? I am by no means well versed in classical music. It was very enjoyable in any case. Happy Listening! |
Hi, Foster. Yes, the King Super Analogue label is a Japanese label of King Records. They have made some superb LP reissues of London/Decca catalog over the years and I have many of them. Copies of many these LPs are still available new through Acoustic Sounds and others. At one time the Super Analogues were both mastered and pressed in Japan, and those Japanese pressings now command pretty high prices on the used market. They then switched to US pressing (not sure by whom) and many of mine are these US pressings, which are quite good. Although some claim the US pressings have never have been up to the standard of the original Japanese pressings, my suspicion is that we're just dealing with later stampers but I have no way of knowing that. The major "big deal" about the Super Analogues was always the very simple and direct all-tube mastering chain, done in Japan. Cisco Records is the importer/distributor. That London pressing you mention of the Albeniz: Suite Espanola is most likely the same performance/recording I was listening to. It's a nice record. Kind regards, |
christmas gifts! 1) richard thompson "front parlour ballads" - stellar, stellar, stellar! 2) cat power "the covers record" - almost as mesmerising as she is in concert 3) dirty three "cinder" - quite good to my ears, i like 'em--chan marshall vocals on one track is icing on the cake 4) jack johnson "on and on" - can't recommend this one on vinyl, sounds pinched and forced (?compression). this is one that you're better off with the CD imho, sorry to say. love the music though. |
Once again, Analog is the King. So beautiful and amazing: - Kyung-Wha-Chung/ Bach/ Parita No.2 in D Minor/The Super Analogue Disc/London Sterephonic/Japanese pressing/1974 Recording. All the 5 movement were just stunning. The string, strength, vibration of the string, every touch are there! That's for tonight! |
The Who - "Tommy" ; the version performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, et al. I sold my original copy while in College in the 70's, just purchased a new (ie used) copy complete with box, gatefold, and program. It's always been a favorite, and it's well recorded and a good vinyl pressing. Gary Jules "Greetings from the Other Side", and "Trading Snake Oil for Wolftickets" (on cd - is it ok to discuss cd's in this thread?). I recently bought these after hearing his version of "Mad World" on an episode of "CSI". It's a haunting and beautiful song, and struck me like Jeff Buckley's "Halleluja" the first time I heard it. Both of these CD's are excellent all the way through - Songs, Performance, and sonics. . . . If you're not familiar with this guy you should check him out. |
My Morning Jacket, Z. My Daughter's Xmas present to me. Very good sonics and great music. Ever since I heard the last release, It Still Moves, I haven't been able to go more than a few days without playing these guys. Also my latest Goodwill finds: Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak Simply Red - Men and Women Nillson and Newman - Nillson sings Newman All for 3 bucks. |
Tonight... Neil Young: "Greatest Hits", Reprise 48935 (Classic Records reissue) Lee Morgan: "Candy", Blue Note Bn-1590 (Classic Records reissue) Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, Solti/VPO, Curzon -pf, Decca SXL 2114 (Speakers Corner reissue) Mississippi John Hurt: "The Best of Mississippi John Hurt" Vanguard VSD 19/20 (recorded live performance at Oberlin College, 1965) . |
So far this evening... Count Basie: Atomic Basie, Roulette 52003 (Classic Records reissue) Johann Stamitz: Double Concerto for Bassoon and Clarinet, Lehel/BudPO, Vajda -bn, Kovacs -cl, Hungaraton SLPX 12530 JS Bach: Flute Sonatas BWV1030-1033, Waterlily 14 (a beautiful ORTF recording by Kavi Alexander) Jennifer Warnes: Famous Blue Raincoat - Songs of Leonard Cohen, Cypress 661-111 . |
Sandra, that seems like an excellent way to watch a game! I wish I could have done the same through the US Nationals women's competition. Tonight... Pink Floyd: Ummagumma, EMI Harvest SHDW 1/2 Roy Orbison: All-Time Greatest Hits, S&P Records (2)-507 Schwantner: Aftertones of Infinity Lutoslawski: Livre pour orchestre ... Effron/EastmanPhil, Mercury SRI 75141 Stravinsky: Violin Concerto Berg: Violin Concerto ... Ozawa/BSO, Perlman -vn, DGG 2531 110 . |
Last night it was Johnny Cash "American IV". I had just made numerous tweaks to the 'table and was ready to hear how things would work out...holy sh*t was it great!! That was the best my system has sounded to date so the tweaks certainly worked, this is one amazing LP too. I am now on a mission to find the first three of the series. |
Dlwask, Congratulations on the 'table upgrades. I've always been impressed with the Scoutmaster, and I'm looking forward to hearing the results of these upgrades you're talking about when I can get over to hear Slipknot1's system again. And, thanks for the enthusiastic recommendation of "American IV": now I'll have to find a copy! Raytheprinter, I've been working my way through the Ella/Gershwin Songbook, too. Great stuff in her inimitable style. Have you heard her sing the Cole Porter Songbook? To my tastes, she's even better with Porter's material. . |
Some birthday present listening today: Dvorak "Cello Concerto In B Minor, Op. 104" Starker/Dorati/LSO (Mercury SR90303) Speaker's Corner reissue. Dave Brubeck Quartet "Time Out" (Columbia CS8192) Classic Records 45 rpm reissue. The 45 reissue is far and away superior to the excellent 200g 33 1/3 reissue Duke Ellington/Ray Brown "This One's For Blanton" (Pablo 2310-721) Acoustic Sounds/AcousTech 45 rpm reissue. Plus, some interesting experiments in transferring LP direct to CD in the analog domain by going from the phono stage of the Supratek Chenin preamp to the analog inputs of an HHb 830 Burnit standalone CD recorder. |
Nice additions to the collection, Joe! I second your comments about the 45rpm version of "Time Out" - a worthy improvement in the sonics. So, what's your take on "This One's for Blanton" - "highly recommended" or just "very good" or .... ? I've had this one on my wish list, but there are about 8 more from the Acoustic Sounds 45 series that I've got ahead of it at the moment (e.g., Monk/Misterioso, Bill Evans/Interplay, Miles Davis/Walkin', Coltrane/Standard...); would welcome your thoughts as to where "Blanton" should fall. . |
Rushton, My early thoughts on the "Blanton" 45 is good to very good, but not in the same way some of the others are, as they are blockbusters for sonics. This is good, but not "great", especially being played on the heels of the "Time Out" 45. The 45 is so far improved over the 33 in sparkle, image, and impact from the kick drum. A real winner! |
