Best recorded/mastered CD?

afterburnt
afterburnt Posts: 7,892
in Music & Movies
What do yooz yooz for test/reference? I like Celine Dion. All the way and Steely Dan, Aja. Give me some suggestions, maybe I have them or will get them so I can sit on the throne and evaluate my system.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    Just got done listening to the Alice and Chains MTV unplugged very good recording, Aja very nice, Eagles When Hell Freezes Over, pretty much every Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, Porcupine Tree.Try some of those for starters you will not be disappointed.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

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    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    gudnoyez wrote: »
    Just got done listening to the Alice and Chains MTV unplugged very good recording, Aja very nice, Eagles When Hell Freezes Over, pretty much every Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, Porcupine Tree.Try some of those for starters you will not be disappointed.

    Damn I don't have any of those on hand but I do want to check out Porcupine Tree. Steve Wilson's "hand cannot erase" put the hook in me. That "Alice and Chains MTV unplugged" is that the CD or DVD that you are talking about?
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    Awesome Sound Quality
    http://www.mofi.com/product_p/udcd779.htm
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    edited June 2015
    I always like Steely Dans Guacho as it seems to be one of the best master records I've heard, love Dire Straits 1st LP. Super tramps "Crime of the Century"
    Van Morrison s "Moondance" (maybe the best side 1 of any LP) & Counting Crows "August & everything After" 45rpm Vinyl.... we are talking about Vinyl right? B)
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    voltz wrote: »
    I always like Steely Dans Guacho as it seems to be one of the best master records I've heard, love Dire Straits 1st LP. Super tramps "Crime of the Century"
    Van Morrison s "Moondance" (maybe the best side 1 of any LP) & Counting Crows "August & everything After" 45rpm Vinyl.... we are talking about Vinyl right? B)

    uh no...

    "Best recorded/mastered CD?"

    I unhooked my unworthy turntable and put my vinyl back in the vault for now lol.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited June 2015
    I have to agree with chumlie on the MFSL "The YES Album". It's phenominally mastered.

    I would also recommend Gary Numan's "The Pleasure Principle" remastered CD.

    And finally, Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Left Handed Dream". I recommend the "western version" (released by Plexus in Holland) as opposed to the Japanese version as there are songs on the western that do not appear on the Japanese version. The "western version" is pretty damn rare however. Both sound just as nice. This is an absolute reference recording in my book. Also, this one is phenominal on a pair of SDA's.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    Some great suggestions above. I don't have a CD that I carry into a place. (there is no place) but if there was;

    Well, Bob Dylan Infidels and Fleetwood Mac Rumors were mixed and mastered
    awesome from the getgo. I use things that I've heard a thousand times and still
    like... Pink Floyd Meddle redbook... Jazzy female singers ...
    oh a:
    Roxy Music Avalon Japan for US redbook.
    The Yes Album Japan for US redbook is quite good
    Talking Heads Little Creatures target CD

    for surround sound: Hawkwind 'Warriors on the Edge of Time' DVD and/or
    Gentle Giant 'The Power and the Glory' DVD

    I guess you could make a cd of stuff that sound bad and if it sounds good
    you are on to something. Queen Cds... Rush Cds...
    don't forget to finish it off with Funkadelic 'Maggot Brain.'

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  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    Thanks keep em coming. I have a few really bad remasters of stuff I have or had on vinyl and what a disappointment starting with " Genisis a trick of the tail"
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    @afterburnt, the "definitive remasters" of the Genesis catalog are terrible, IMO (and many many others'). They used noise reduction/cancellation on all of them and destroyed the remasters. IMO, the unremastered (first pressings) of all the Genesis albums (particularly the Gabriel era) are the best versions in existance on CD.

    All other remasters (other then the "definaitive") are remixed, and did not help with my listening experiences (although the fidelity is improved). It's kinda like the Geroge Martin remixes/remasters of The Beatles' first 6 CD's back in the late 80's. Others may disagree with my sentiment, however.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    headrott is spot on as always. I do like the 2006 CD/DVD's for the extras and the fact that I can use my surround system. :)
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,572
    For me it would be one of three SACD's 1. Godsmack's unplugged EP 2. Yes 90125 3. Elton John madman across the water
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    CS&N debut album.
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    mf1k800qyl88.jpg

    Just received this today from Music Direct, and it is the best remastering of a "vintage" recording that I have heard.

    Great sound. Fantastic soundstage.
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,653
    LinnSelections (Linn Acoustics demo SACD)

    Usher Audio Demo Disc

    Dire Straights Sultans of Swing SACD

    At least that is my short list for demoing...
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,306
    There are many spread through the genres but one of my fav's
    Santana Abraxas Mofi Gold was done very well
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    Radiohead - In Rainbows is a good one that i use sometimes.

    I find that Dave Matthews Band works well, too. "Crash" and "Everyday" are both recorded quite well.

    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

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    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    +1 on the Steely Dan cds, always very well engineered. Any love the Mofi Pink Floyd DSOTM?
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    Donald Fagen - Nightfly
    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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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    on what media? or version. This one is on the short list...
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Donald Fagen - Nightfly

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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    rednedtugent wrote: »
    on what media? or version. This one is on the short list...
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Donald Fagen - Nightfly
    Yes yes, Anything Fagen has on CD is slamming and I have em all!
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • StantonZ
    StantonZ Posts: 444
    I'm a big Steely Dan fan as well (on many levels), but here's a system demo favorite that I guarantee many of you have never heard of...Dave Grusin "Migration"...so I did a CD review of it here http://www.audioholics.com/music-reviews/dave-grusin-migration-1990
    Yamaha RX-A2050 AVR (5.0.2); LG OLED77C2 4K TV
    (4) Polk Monitor 10B's w/SoniCaps, Mills, and RDO-194 tweets (R/L F/R)
    (2) Polk RC80i (Top Middle)
    Polk CS300 center channel
    Analog: B&O TX2 Turntable, Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1
    Digital: Pioneer CLD-99 Elite LD, Panasonic DMP-UB900 UHD Blu-Ray
    Bedroom: Arylic Up2Stream AMPv3 driving Polk Monitor 4's w/peerless tweets
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    Awesome review Stanton! I've probably heard this cd being used to demo a system somewhere and not realize it was Dave Grusin. I'll try this one out. ;)
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 10,716
    Cool review and tip. B) Thanks!
    StantonZ wrote: »
    I'm a big Steely Dan fan as well (on many levels), but here's a system demo favorite that I guarantee many of you have never heard of...Dave Grusin "Migration"...so I did a CD review of it here http://www.audioholics.com/music-reviews/dave-grusin-migration-1990

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