Whats your BEST Sounding CD

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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    edited April 2009
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    Beat me to it Ben. I call seconds.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited April 2009
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    lightman1 wrote: »
    Beat me to it Ben. I call seconds.

    I'll hold you up on it on the 8th of May big boy;) I am just curious why do these sales men bring up threads from days gone by:confused:
    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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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited April 2009
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    vonnie123 wrote: »
    I'll vote for Donald Fagan Kamikiriad. Have it in DVD-A, gold promo CD, and redbook. Wish all of the older Steely Dan albums would come out on SACD.

    I agree completely; listening to it right now!

    However, I have a SACD of The Yellowjackets, Time Squared, that is OUTSTANDING. My vote for best sounding recording. Although the 1812 Overture is right up there, too.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,170
    edited April 2009
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    Roger Hodgson - Open the Door
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • oifvet0608
    oifvet0608 Posts: 148
    edited April 2009
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    SACD:
    Alice in Chains-Unplugged
    Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms/Live at the BBC

    DVD-A
    Suprisingly for as old as a recording that it is "Sinatra at the Sands"
    Receiver: Marantz SR7002
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    TV: 40" 1080i JVC Multisystem LCD(upgrading to 50" Samsung LED)
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited April 2009
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    Cool thread.:D


    Glad it was bumped. Even if it was a year later and for the wrong reasons...



    Now keep them coming.


    Keb Mo "Keep It Simple" is one of my better sounding CD's now. Maybe not the BEST. But damn close and reference IMO..





    Nick
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2009
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    Bryan Ferry: Boys and Girls
    Peter Gabriel: So
    Supertramp: Crime of the Century

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited April 2009
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    I've been digging the Peter Gabriel lately too.... Nice CD...








    Nick
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,038
    edited April 2009
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    Might lose some cool points...no I won't...never had any:

    Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

    Digging through my wife's CD's and this one is a gem.
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 4,928
    edited April 2009
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    nikolas812 wrote: »
    Cool thread.:D ...
    Great thread IMO! We need more answers though ... and besides ... I was really busy with nasty stuff this time last year, so I missed it the first time around!

    Thanks Nick!
    Alea jacta est!
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  • xj4094dg
    xj4094dg Posts: 1,158
    edited April 2009
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    George Duke - Snapshot. I makes my system come alive.

    "Bus Tours" has it all, piano, drums, guitar, percussion, bass, horns, and of course, George's assorted synth keyboards, this track and "Snap Shot" are great to audition speakers with.

    Must listen.

    Also, Keiko Matsui, No Borders. Both discs are excellent recordings.
    "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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  • fossy
    fossy Posts: 1,378
    edited April 2009
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    Jonny Lang --- Lie to Me & Wander this World

    Rhino Bucket -- Self titled first cd
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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited April 2009
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    There are so many that sound awesome it's almost impossible to pick just one. The cd I seem to be playing alot lately is, You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs by Leann Rimes. This cd is insane for vocals,soundstage,ambience, and the list goes on and on. Here is a link.

    http://www.amazon.com/You-Light-Up-Life-Inspirational/dp/B000000DHW
    DON'T CLICK THIS!!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited April 2009
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    Steely Dan "2 against nature". "Everything must go" is also a very good recording, but I found the music a little hokey in comparison.
    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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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited April 2009
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    Conradicles wrote: »
    Might lose some cool points...no I won't...never had any:

    Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

    Digging through my wife's CD's and this one is a gem.

    I have mixed emotions on this one. The first track sounds like the engineer was asleep at the wheel--it sounds like Kelly is singing thru a horse blanket into a cheap microphone; but oddly, the rest of the tracks sound really good.

    I also found the same "oddity" with Daughtry's first album. The first song has very crappy sounding cymbals; but the remaining tracks sound a whole lot better. The album is recorded at way too high a level though---squelching dynamic range on an otherwise good recording, but this is the norm anymore...
    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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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited April 2009
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    steveinaz wrote: »
    I have mixed emotions on this one. The first track sounds like the engineer was asleep at the wheel--it sounds like Kelly is singing thru a horse blanket into a cheap microphone; but oddly, the rest of the tracks sound really good.

    I also found the same "oddity" with Daughtry's first album. The first song has very crappy sounding cymbals; but the remaining tracks sound a whole lot better. The album is recorded at way too high a level though---squelching dynamic range on an otherwise good recording, but this is the norm anymore...

    I did find the Daughtry album better than most POP recordings of late though. Dynamics are still crushed though.
    HT
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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited April 2009
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    Here is a preview of Amazing Grace from the cd I mentioned a few posts up. Of course the cd version is much better but this will give you some idea of the quality. This sample is only 128kbps but still sounds amazing. Takes a few secs to buffer. Enjoy.

    http://goldstarbrother.com/AG/Leann%20Rimes%20-%20Amazing%20Grace.mp3
    DON'T CLICK THIS!!
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  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited April 2009
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    Metalica S&M 1999
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  • Norm Apter
    Norm Apter Posts: 1,036
    edited April 2009
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    I agree with what you included in the original post, regarding Michael Jackson's Off the Wall -- if I lose cool points, so be it.

    Here are three other redbook CDs which have caught my attention for their great production lately and sound quality:

    Wilco Summerteeth
    Elliot Smith Figure 8
    Eric Clapton Unplugged
    2 Ch.
    Parasound Halo A23 Amp
    Parasound Halo P3 Preamp
    Parasound Halo T3 Tuner
    Bada HD22SE tube CD Player
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    HT
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    Signal Cable Ultra Speaker Cables
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited April 2009
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    DOWN, over the under, for now
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited April 2009
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    I forgot all about Micheal Jackson. Screw the cool points. His music gets regular play time at my house. I have yet to find a MJ CD that didn't sound stellar.


    Even if you don't like him or some of his music. I think the sound quality alone makes it a must have. I've had a bunch of people come over that were fans of his music and it made for a great demo for them. Thriller is one my particular favorites....

    I also had the SACD of Thriller once upon a time. Wish I still had it.... Humm.. I think I'll go find one and buy it.:)




    Nick
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,094
    edited April 2009
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    my favorite CD is the one playing thru my SDA's.... any one, as they all sound better on the Polk's.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited April 2009
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    Patricia Barber-Cafe Blue
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited April 2009
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    Any of the YG Acoustics Test CDs.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited April 2009
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    George Winston - December. Phenominal piano solos.

    A close second is the soundtrack to the movie "The Doors."
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited April 2009
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    nikolas812 wrote: »
    Haircut 100 - - Pelican West

    How was this album? I can't get Love Plus One out of my head along with the cheezy video. :D
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  • greg2350
    greg2350 Posts: 544
    edited April 2009
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    Michael Jackson even if you dont like his music I think the CD is superbly recorded very enjoyable to listen to. Like previuos post I can turn it up to insane volumes with no distortion. I have the very best of 2 disc standard format, not SACD or redbook and it sounds fantastic great recording.
    TV: Philips 42" LCD 1080p
    Front Speakers: Polk Audio RT800i
    Center Speaker: Polk Audio CS1
    Surround Speakers: Polk Audio R50's powered of Denon AVR
    Subwoofer: Polk Audio DSW pro500
    AVR: Denon 3801
    DVD Player: Denon DVM 745 upscale 1080p
    Sat: Directtv HD 10
    Front Speakers Amp: Rotel RB 890
    Center Speaker amp: Rotel 970 BX
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  • moe
    moe Posts: 48
    edited April 2009
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    MOE - Wormwood,just about the best quality recording ever,not to mention some great Rock.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,038
    edited April 2009
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    nikolas812 wrote: »
    I've been digging the Peter Gabriel lately too.... Nice CD...

    Nichole Nordeman does a remake of his song "In Your Eyes" that sounds fantastic on her "Woven and Spun" CD.

    Peter is a great artist.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited April 2009
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    fatchowmein wrote: »
    How was this album? I can't get Love Plus One out of my head along with the cheezy video. :D


    GOOD. At least IMO. I usually like to listen to a CD from beginning to end. No problems doing that with this one. You would have to like Haircut 100's type of music though. Its defiantly different and right up there with the Talking heads style of music. Not as hard core though....

    Pick it up and give it a listen..





    Nick
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