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Why can't all/most recordings be this good?

Changing components this weekend (swapping out my MF Trivista 300 for a Hovland hp 100/Bel 1001 Mk V fronting Meadowlark Blue Heron II’s), I picked some of my cd’s that had, what I consider, exemplary sound. I listened through the day & evening, marveling at the crisp, delineated, but musical sound but also began to question: Why aren’t all/most recordings done in this manner?
I am not a sound engineer nor musician. I have no knowledge of mixing, microphone placement, layering, etc. But some recordings are so outstanding in their clarity, instrumentation, and pure enjoyment that many others pale in comparison. Granted, I am dealing in only one aspect (redbook cd) of media, and only with a single genre of music. And I certainly didn’t compile an exhaustive list of recordings; just ones I listened to of late. I would certainly like to add to the list and hear other’s opinion.

Lenard Cohen Live in London, 10 More Songs
Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones
Aaron Neville Warm Your Heart
Chris Izak Baja Sessions
Allison Krause and Union Station Live
Govi No Strings Attached
farmdoc
chatta
314 posts
 
I think a lot of it does have to do with the fact that great recordings do not necessarily result in higher sales. And less than great recordings do not necessarily hinder high sales.
gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
Because, hardly anyone in the recording business gives a hoot about a few audiophiles, the sound they want is the sound that will sound good and is catered for the masses that use cheapo cd players, alas they will sound awful in your mega buck system, and not surprisingly will not sound bad played through a ghetto blaster. We few, who require quality recordings to show off our gear are merely like a grain of sand in the Sahara compared to those that listen to music with lesser gear and could not give a chuff about speakers that cost more than a house.
Most classical music and possibly jazz also offer the best quality recordings for us few, well they do in my collection anyway.
NB-That's not to say all recordings of other genres sound bad.
betamax
9 posts
 
+1 for Strange Angels by Laurie Anderson. Still love it after many years, and it also makes a great test CD - Monkey's Paw in particular.
betamax
9 posts
 
"the sound they want is the sound that will sound good and is catered for the masses that use cheapo cd players"

Very true. An audiophile friend of mine once visited a well-known recording studio and complimented the recording engineer on the great speakers they had. The engineer pointed to an unnoticed pair of crappy little speakers and said that's what he mixed it for, because that's what most people heard it on.
grimace
624 posts
 
For jazz, I've been having really good luck with the Highnote label. their recordings are excellent. Some are recorded in the Van Gelder studio, which - I'm happy to report - seems to have a new piano.
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