Maghister -- I’ve never come across the notion that "Music Commands Time," not the reverse. Absolutely revelatory.
Who is your Favorite Historical Conductor?
For discussion purposes I am limiting this to
1) Wilhelm Furtwangler
2) Arturo Toscanini
3) Bruno Walter
feel free to introduce others. I will be arbitrary and cut off Conductors who worked after the death of Leonard Bernstein.
Furtwangler and Toscanini died just short of the onset of the stereo era. They were however recorded with the best technology of the times, and the work of restoration technology of today has done wonders. Walter recorded until 1962 but perhaps his best work was done in the mono era.
Walter was renowned for his “humanity” Furtwangler for his near mystical ability to rechannel German/Austrian music, and Toscanini for his finely chiseled intensity
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@lowrider57 Yeah, that Pristine Furtwangler certainly comes with a hefty price. About the Tape to Tape website, I have doubts that a hard copy, gold plated CD will sound equal to the DSD download as the gold CD isn’t an SACD. Some folks will say that DSD is just a shell unless it was recorded in DSD but my ears seem to tell me different, maybe it’s the filtering but who knows? I haven’t done so yet but I’m going to purchase a DSD 128 download from Tape to Tape and post my impression. |
I've read a lot about using DSD in the mastering process and have read the reviews. The result seems to be a very high quality product, even when cut to vinyl. Regarding HDTT, these remasters are starting with presumably good quality tape transfers and will remain in the DSD domain. I expect the downloads to be of high quality and the Redbook discs to exceed the quality of the record label releases. I could try a download to my computer, then use a thumb drive to play back through my Bluesound. My DAC is limited to 24/96, but this might be a good way to go for me. |
@lowrider57 Well regardless of the type of download you purchase, I would guess that it would still be better than waiting for a package to ship from Canada (that is if you live in the US). But I agree that based on the information, even a standard Redbook CD from this source is very promising. My own personal preferences would opt for a 24/96 file over a 24/44.1 Yeah, I've stored files on a flash drive, maybe not ideal but pretty simple nonetheless. As for my purchase, I'm still looking at the catalogue. |
@lowrider57 I purchased one of the later Bryston BDP Pi transports that supports DSD 128, HDCD and PCM 24/192. My DAC is the Ayre QB9 Twenty upgraded and supports DSD 256, PCM 384 and HDCD. So I can playback DSD 128 but no higher. The Ayre QB9 original version I bought back in 2011. I remember back then, when we chatted about the Herbert von Karajan Beethoven Symphonies Japanese remasters. That was a while ago and the upgrades have kept it up to date all these years, thank you Ayre! The Bryston serves me fine now but I’d like to own the Naim streamer some day. My amp is an ASR Emitter II Exclusive and my speakers are Quad 2905’s. I use Hi Diamond interconnects and speaker cables. My USB cable is a Wireworld Platinum Starlight. Also, when I upgraded my Ayre, I was thinking that I would no longer need my Uptone Audio ISO Regen and LP1 linear power supply but I still prefer it. How do you like your Audio Note 2.1X Signature and when did you purchase it? Everything PS Audio makes is of high quality. I’m not really familiar with the Bluesound Node2i. Please share your thoughts. |
Very nice all around. Your digital is top-class, very well assembled. Not familiar with your amp but your system must sound wonderful through the Quads. I’m all tubes; Atma-sphere 30W OTL amp, Audio Note M3 preamp with phono, the AN DAC, Devore Gibbon Super 8’s. I’ll PM the details.
Edit... I just realised our virtual systems aren't displayed by way of your moniker.
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@lowrider57 Wish I could hear that Atma-sphere amp, speakers too! Will look for PM, chilli'n. |
The Russian….in their day Soviet…conductors had a reduced presence in the West. It was hard to judge some of them until they defected. They had decreased concertizing, decreased recordings (for the longest time, the only Mravinsky recordings generally available was the Tchaikovsky Symphony set). They never got to play Mahler or Bruckner. So at best I give them an incomplete. I personally never cared for Mravinsky. He had all the warmth of a 10 year stint in the Gulag. Kondrashin and Rhazdo were more interesting to me and their legacy has grown as more material becomes available. Svetlanov could be hit or miss. I always viewed him as the Soviet Solti with lower Orchestral standards, but there are some recordings, such as the Tchaikovsky Manfred, where he hits all the buttons |
For Wagner: Joseph Keilberth For Mahler: Bruno Walther And for just about everything he touched: Thomas Beecham There's a story told by a well-known conductor who was rehearsing the BPO in Bruckner and just could not get them to sound the way he wanted. Suddenly, a few minutes into the problem passage, he noticed that the orchestra's performance seemed to shift into a higher, more intense gear. Surprised and confused by this sudden change, the conductor looked around to see Furtwangler standing quietly in the doorway of the auditorium. |