Whats your BEST Sounding CD

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nikolas812
nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
edited April 2011 in Music & Movies
I know these threads have been beat to death. But....... I am getting ready to receive my first ever dedicated CD player and I am hoping to acquire some new material before it gets here. It doesn't handle SACD so those are out of the question. I have been reading literally for hours in this forum for references to CD's. But what I am interested in is what you think is your best sounding(recorded) CD. For example my Micheal Jackson CD's SACD or standard are almost magical. I can take the volume to insane levels without a hint of distortion. If all CD's were like this I would be one happy guy. If you have any recommendations please let me know.
Post edited by nikolas812 on
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited February 2008
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    Michael Jackson? Ugh - you just lost three cool points, fella.

    Just look for audiophile quality CDs from companies like Mapleshade, Concord, Chesky, Sheffield Lab, Mobile Fidelity (MFSL), DCC, and a few others.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited February 2008
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    I love to listen to Donald Fagen "Night Fly" and "Morph the Cat." There just aren't very many CD's that can compete with the quality of those recordings, and I have a bunch of Mapleshade's mastered CD's.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited February 2008
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    steveinaz wrote: »
    I love to listen to Donald Fagen "Night Fly" and "Morph the Cat." There just aren't very many CD's that can compete with the quality of those recordings, and I have a bunch of Mapleshade's mastered CD's.

    I already have Morph the Cat on the way. Maybe I will give Night Fly a look also.

    As for Micheal Jackson. What can I say..... He has some super clean recordings that are very enjoyable to listen to.

    These are in the Shopping cart at Amazon. I am going to do some more looking before I buy them.

    Haircut 100 - - Pelican West/
    Cars Greatest Hits
    The Best of The Talking Heads
    Steely Dan Two Against Nature
    Steely Dan Aja
    Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2008
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    X2 for Morph The Cat

    Chuck
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Neskahi
    Neskahi Posts: 297
    edited February 2008
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    A friendly word of advice. Never ever criticize another's music preference.
    SDA 2.3/RDO's... xovers by Ben
    SDA 2.3TL/Stock..
    SDA 1C/Solens/RDO's [gave to my Uncle]
    SDA 2B RDO's
    Snell Type CV
    SDA 1.2TL's
    GFA7700 Adcom
    GFP750 Adcom
    TFM55X Carver
    M90 Pioneer/C90 Pre
    M91 x 2 Pioneers/C91 Pre
    Yaqin MC10l
    DCD-1520/1560/2560 Denon
    Marantz DVD-8400
    Carver m1.5T
    DV-79avi Pioneer
    TFM35X x 2
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited February 2008
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    Beaches movie soundtrack...:)
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  • Refefer
    Refefer Posts: 1,280
    edited February 2008
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    Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek on SACD. Absolutely exquisite.
    Lovin that music year after year.

    Main 2 Channel System

    Polk SDA-1B,
    Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
    Rotel RB-980BX,
    OPPO DV-970HD,
    Lite Audio DAC AH,
    IXOS XHA305 Interconnects

    Computer Rig

    Polk SDA CRS+,
    Creek Audio 5350 SE,
    Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
    HRT Music Streamer II
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited February 2008
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    These are NOT neccesarily my fav's, but they have amazing sound:

    Blue Man Group - Audio, The Complex (studio version)
    Any Steely Dan or Donald Fagen (Love Morph in 5.1)
    Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat 20th Anniversary edition
    The Eagles - Hotel California
    Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
    Madonna - American Life

    An eclectic mix to be sure but they are all superbly recorded and sound fantastic on a good system.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • Refefer
    Refefer Posts: 1,280
    edited February 2008
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    Fongolio wrote: »
    These are NOT neccesarily my fav's, but they have amazing sound:

    Blue Man Group - Audio, The Complex (studio version)
    Any Steely Dan or Donald Fagen (Love Morph in 5.1)
    Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat 20th Anniversary edition
    The Eagles - Hotel California
    Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
    Madonna - American Life

    An eclectic mix to be sure but they are all superbly recorded and sound fantastic on a good system.

    +1 to the Blue Man Group on HDCD!
    Lovin that music year after year.

    Main 2 Channel System

    Polk SDA-1B,
    Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
    Rotel RB-980BX,
    OPPO DV-970HD,
    Lite Audio DAC AH,
    IXOS XHA305 Interconnects

    Computer Rig

    Polk SDA CRS+,
    Creek Audio 5350 SE,
    Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
    HRT Music Streamer II
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    Godsmack The OtherSide SACD
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited February 2008
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    Anything by Eden's Bridge (Celtic & amazing)
    Robert Cray - Shame + A Sin
    A lot of Alison Krauss (Sorry, don't have the albums handy to check the names!)
    Celtic Woman
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
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    Tool-10,000 Days
    Alice in Chains-MTV Unplugged.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • jayman_1975
    jayman_1975 Posts: 672
    edited February 2008
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    Norah Jones and Dianna Krahl.
    Onkyo TX NR 5008 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Oppo BDP 93 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Arcam CD37
    Monitor Audio Gold GS 60
    Revolver Audio Music 5 towers.(surround)
    Vandersteen V2W
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  • vonnie123
    vonnie123 Posts: 326
    edited March 2008
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    steveinaz wrote: »
    I love to listen to Donald Fagen "Night Fly" and "Morph the Cat." There just aren't very many CD's that can compete with the quality of those recordings, and I have a bunch of Mapleshade's mastered CD's.


    I'll vote for Donald Fagan Kamikiriad. Have it in DVD-A, gold promo CD, and redbook. Wish all of the older Steely Dan albms would come out on SACD.
    [
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  • MGPK
    MGPK Posts: 88
    edited March 2008
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    Supertramp - Crime of the Century
    Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
    System:

    H/K AVR430 Receiver
    Samsung DVDHD841 Dvd player
    Yamaha CDC506 5 Disc changer
    Jamo E855 Tower speakers
    Wharfdale Pacific P-10 Bookshelf speakers
    Acoustic Research Master Series Interconnects
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  • mrmusicman
    mrmusicman Posts: 303
    edited March 2008
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    Hootie and the Blowfish-Cracked Rear View
    Pink Floyd- Echos
    Outlaw 990 Processor
    Outlaw 755 Amp
    Denon 2900 dvd-sacd
    Dishnetwork HD-Dvr
    55" Sony LCD RPTV
    Lsi 9-fronts
    Lsic-center
    Rt55i- surrounds
    Velodyne cht-10 sub

    2007 Dodge Quad cab
    Kenwood Excelon KDC-X891
    JL Audio 300/V2
    Polk Audio SR 6500 - Fronts
    Polk Audio DB651 - Rear
    2 -10" Treo Subs
    Interfire IB 2600C sub amp
    Sirius Sat radio
    Ipod connection
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,894
    edited March 2008
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    Lately its,
    Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors

    This is a really great sounding CD.
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Inakustik Reference USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited March 2008
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    DSOTM-SACD
    Queen-A day at the Races
    Kansas-P.O.N.R. & Leftoverture
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited March 2008
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    Gladys Knight, Before Me. A great recording of jazz standards.

    cubdog
    Shuguang Classic S8MK
    Emotiva XDA-2
    Bel Canto M300 mono blocks
    Bel Canto DAC 1.5
    Squeezebox Touch
    Sony SS-M7
    A/D/S L710
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited March 2008
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    Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Because of You
    The Police - Every Breathe You Take (SACD)
    Mapleshade Music Festival (Compilation disc)
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited March 2008
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    A good thread - I'll have to check out a few of these. Sadly, until now I didn't even realize Donald Fagen went out on his own and produced a couple records so those are definitely on the list.

    Radiohead - OK Computer - is good for some vocals and electronic instrumental work.
    Pink Floyd - Momentary Lapse of Reason - just a great cd that also happens to be recorded well.
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  • OmegaSupreme
    OmegaSupreme Posts: 13
    edited March 2008
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    Nelly Furtado--Whao Nelly is one of the few cds where I was very impressed with the wide range of frequencies and just the sounds in general. Lots of bass and highs. The imaging was cool too.
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,894
    edited March 2008
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    Another great one,
    Jethro Tull - Crest of a Knave
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Inakustik Reference USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • mhw58
    mhw58 Posts: 359
    edited March 2008
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    nikolas812 wrote: »
    I know these threads have been beat to death. But....... I am getting ready to receive my first ever dedicated CD player and I am hoping to acquire some new material before it gets here. It doesn't handle SACD so those are out of the question. I have been reading literally for hours in this forum for references to CD's. But what I am interested in is what you think is your best sounding(recorded) CD. For example my Micheal Jackson CD's SACD or standard are almost magical. I can take the volume to insane levels without a hint of distortion. If all CD's were like this I would be one happy guy. If you have any recommendations please let me know.



    Beatles LOVE- The dvd audio in 5.1 is incredible but the cd is awesome too.
    King Crimson-In the Court of the Krimson King-OME edition
    Pink Floyd-Dark side of the Moon SACD
    Steely Dan Gaucho SACD
    Steely Dan AJA-remaster
    Beck-Sea change SACD-amazing in 5.1
    Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms SACD
    Alan Parsons-HDAD of I Robot and Turn of a friendly card(not a cd but amazing, a definite demo disc)
    Pink Floyd-Wish you were here remaster
    There are tons of great sounding dvd audios out there if you can play them.
    Mike
    Fronts: SDA1C's
    Rears: SDA2's
    Center:CS400i
    Sub: PSW505
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited March 2008
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    When Cds were relatively new, I would take a chance and buy them only because they were recorded digitally because I thought they sounded better. Three of those have remained some of my favorite and best sounding over the years.

    1. Dire Straits - BIA
    2. Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
    3. Andreas Vollenweider - White Winds
    4. Although I haven't played it recently and don't regularly: Culture Club - Waking up with the house on fire
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2008
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    Eagles, Long Road Out Of Eden
    Billy Joel, The Stranger (Remastered)
    The Carpenters, Singles 69-81 SACD
    Charro, Charro & Guitar
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited March 2008
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    My best sounding cd's are: (non SACD)
    Fleetwood Mac- Rumors (original issue, no remaster)
    Eric Johnson- Ah Via Musicom
    Tesla- Mechanical Resonance & Great Radio Controversy
    Allman Brothers- Live at Fillmore East
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
    edited March 2008
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    cfrizz wrote: »
    Eagles, Long Road Out Of Eden
    Billy Joel, The Stranger (Remastered)
    The Carpenters, Singles 69-81 SACD
    Charro, Charro & Guitar


    Girlfriend......you need to get some new tunes in da house.:D
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • No3pencil
    No3pencil Posts: 19
    edited April 2009
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    Radiohead - Kid A / Radiohead - OK computer
    Sys Show

    Cisum
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited April 2009
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    Dibs
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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