Nice sounding CDs

cabbiepimpin
cabbiepimpin Posts: 10
edited March 2009 in Music & Movies
Hey folks...was wondering if any of you have any recommendations on well-mastered CDs. I want to put my new CD player through its paces, and am interested in CDs which will challenge it. I'll listen to anything but country...
Sony KDF-46V3000
Denon AVR1909
Fronts: RTi8
Center: CSi3
Surrounds: OWM3
Sub: HSU STF-2
Blu-Ray: Pioneer BDP-51FD
Speaker cables: VH DIY Cat5 Blistered Finger Specials
Post edited by cabbiepimpin on
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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited March 2009
    I've been doing some 'serious' CD listening myself and a couple of nice selections that I think are well mastered are:
    Peter Gabriel - "So" --> Sledge Hammer especially good
    Bryan Ferry - "Boys and Girls" --> Stone Woman especially good
    Supertramp - "Crime of the Century" (any track!)
    Rush - "Grace Under Pressure" -->The Body Electric quite good

    Just a few...I'm rediscovering alot of my CDs now that I've got a decent rig setup.

    Enjoy the sonic goodness! :D

    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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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2009
    "Morph the Cat" Donald Fagen
    "Night Fly" Donald Fagen
    "2 Against Nature" Steely Dan
    "Everything must go" Steely Dan

    ...seeing a trend here?

    Also, most current country music seems to be very well recorded.
    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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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited March 2009
    A very good one is, Diana Krall-Live In Paris.
    DON'T CLICK THIS!!
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited March 2009
    This is a very good list of off the shelf CDs (no MoFi or SACD, etc) that this guy thinks are good reference material. I have several from this list and would agree with his assesment (at least on the ones I own). It covers a fairly broad spectrum of genres so you might already own a title on the list.

    http://www.johnvestman.com/commercial_cds.htm

    A few I own (not on the above list) that I often use as demos are Joan Ozborne "Relish", George Benson "Absoulute Benson", B.B. King "Live at the Regal" and Johnny Adams "One Foot in the Blues". All are excellent recordings that will show off a good rig.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • cabbiepimpin
    cabbiepimpin Posts: 10
    edited March 2009
    Wow...thanks all for the quick and varied responses. I'm definitely going to check out some of these titles. Nice to see Bryan Ferry and BB King mentioned here.

    I, too, have noticed most country titles sound great (my wife likes the genre)...only problem for me is that I find myself involuntarily turning it off after a minute or so.

    Keiko: I have a new Pioneer BDP-51FD...unfortunately, no SACD capability.
    Sony KDF-46V3000
    Denon AVR1909
    Fronts: RTi8
    Center: CSi3
    Surrounds: OWM3
    Sub: HSU STF-2
    Blu-Ray: Pioneer BDP-51FD
    Speaker cables: VH DIY Cat5 Blistered Finger Specials
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited March 2009
    Bela Fleck & the Flecktones: Flight of the Cosmic Hippo

    I'd also add "Kamakiriad" to the Donald Fagen suggestions from above...
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited March 2009
    steveinaz wrote:
    Also, most current country music seems to be very well recorded.

    Some of the best recording engineers live and work in Nashville,TN.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited March 2009
    CP, I'll suggest the following linked items as a starter collection, all colorful music, very well-performed and recorded: Holst, The Planets ; Stravinsky collection ; Respighi, Symphonic Poems ; Khachaturian collection . These are on sale and run about $30 total, with free shipping.
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited March 2009
    shack wrote: »
    This is a very good list of off the shelf CDs (no MoFi or SACD, etc) that this guy thinks are good reference material. I have several from this list and would agree with his assesment (at least on the ones I own). It covers a fairly broad spectrum of genres so you might already own a title on the list.

    http://www.johnvestman.com/commercial_cds.htm

    A few I own (not on the above list) that I often use as demos are Joan Ozborne "Relish", George Benson "Absoulute Benson", B.B. King "Live at the Regal" and Johnny Adams "One Foot in the Blues". All are excellent recordings that will show off a good rig.

    I only have one album on that list, which is Metallica S&M. I bought this years ago but haven't really listened to it much, i'll have to give it a spin just to see how it sounds.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2009
    This is my new gold in reference material.
    http://www.amazon.com/One-Moment-More-Mindy-Smith/dp/B00012FXQI
    If you haven't heard it and have something negative to say shut up:) Vocals to die for, and full spectrum frequency. Bass is strong, and clean. Mids that will show what your system can do. Imaging? To die for.
    Ben
    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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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited March 2009
    ben62670 wrote:
    This is my new gold in reference material.
    http://www.amazon.com/One-Moment-More-Mindy-Smith/dp/B00012FXQI
    If you haven't heard it and have something negative to say shut up:) Vocals to die for, and full spectrum frequency. Bass is strong, and clean. Mids that will show what your system can do. Imaging? To die for.
    Ben

    Nice album and a good recording.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2009
    shack wrote: »
    Nice album and a good recording.

    Oh my baby when your older... If that don't melt diamonds I don't know what can!
    Also the Dolly Parton cover of Jolene is phenomenal!!!
    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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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited March 2009
    ben62670 wrote: »
    This is my new gold in reference material.
    http://www.amazon.com/One-Moment-More-Mindy-Smith/dp/B00012FXQI
    If you haven't heard it and have something negative to say shut up:) Vocals to die for, and full spectrum frequency. Bass is strong, and clean. Mids that will show what your system can do. Imaging? To die for.
    Ben

    Mad props to you, Ben! I have this album as well & totally agree that the sound quality is stunning. The cut, "Raggedy Ann" is fabulous!
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited March 2009
    shack wrote: »
    This is a very good list of off the shelf CDs (no MoFi or SACD, etc) that this guy thinks are good reference material. I have several from this list and would agree with his assesment (at least on the ones I own). It covers a fairly broad spectrum of genres so you might already own a title on the list.

    http://www.johnvestman.com/commercial_cds.htm

    I'd like to see more mastering engineers' list of favorites. Hell, I'd love to sit in and listen on their gear. They have very nice toys.

    My current favs. are:(strictly based on SQ)
    Eric Johnson-Ah via Misicom
    Fleetwood Mac-self titled, and Rumors
    Allman Brothers-Live at the Fillmore East
    Yes-Fragile
    Pink Floyd-The Wall
    Kansas-Leftoverture
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  • bopicasso
    bopicasso Posts: 878
    edited March 2009
    I just bought the new Rocco Delucca and the Burden yesterday and it is a very good sounding cd..
    My Dynaudio are very revealing and this cd sounds amazing!
    Living Room setup: Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, Krell KAV 300i, PS Audio DL III DAC, Tyler Acoustics Taylo 7u, Dynaudio Audience 120C+, SVS 25/31PCI, B-P-T Clean Power Center, Ps3, Panny 50" S1 Plasma, Tekline speaker cables, Audio Art interconnects, and Pangea power cables.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited March 2009
    Just got my CD order from amazon.com - Jeff Golub, Out of the Blue.

    "Wanna Funk" is a must have for a demo! :D

    Clean, crisp, and sonically groovin'!

    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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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited March 2009
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Also the Dolly Parton cover of Jolene is phenomenal!!!

    I remember watching the video of that song. Excellent....I like it more than the cover of "Jolene" by ONJ.

    Covering familiar territories....any album by Mary Chapin-Carpenter, but especially "Come On Come On"
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