Challenge Classics

[Audiocrack]

Here are two 'Bert van der Wolf links' you might find interesting:


https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=45800

https://www.audioshark.org/manufacturer-events-demos-100/our-visit-northstar-studio-netherlands-16460.html

 

[Audiocrack]

Lute Music - Positive Feedback

From Heaven on Earth - Lute Music from Kremsmunster Abbey

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[Audiocrack]

As (nearly) all of Bert’s dxd recordings this file with lute music sounds very impressive indeed.

 

[Audiocrack]

Prokofiev Symphonies with James Gaffigan - Positive Feedback

The Prokofiev Symphonies with James Gaffigan - An Exceptional Cycle

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These Prokofiev recordings sound really awesome in (their original recording format) dxd. Try them and I assure you that you will not be dissappointed.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Prokofiev Symphonies with James Gaffigan - Positive Feedback

The Prokofiev Symphonies with James Gaffigan - An Exceptional Cycle

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These Prokofiev recordings sound really awesome in (their original format) dxd. Try them and I assure you that you will not be dissappointed.

agree. i have all these Challenge Classic Prokofief recordings in dxd (352-24) and they are superb. i listen to them often. they really scale, meaning i can push them and they hold together with fantastic realism.

and the Wadax combo took them to a higher level.

 

[LL21]

Look forward to hearing them...hybrid SACD but nevertheless, gets very solid reviews as performances, as well as recordings/masterings.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Look forward to hearing them...hybrid SACD but nevertheless, gets very solid reviews as performances, as well as recordings/masterings.

i own them in dxd and dsd256, and while i slightly prefer them in the native dxd, they are very fine in the dsd too.

 

[Audiocrack]

Look forward to hearing them...hybrid SACD but nevertheless, gets very solid reviews as performances, as well as recordings/masterings.

Hello Lloyd, the performances on all four recordings are very good while the recording quality is really superb. I have all four recordings available in dsd 256 and dxd files. To my ears the dxd sounds more open, dynamic and (somewhat) more ‘real’ than the dsd 256 version, while on the other hand the latter sounds somewhat softer and more refined or ‘silky’. As I mentioned earlier here on WBF, Bert van der Wolf allowed me to join him on one of the Prokofiev recording days: I sat in the (great sounding) music hall in Hilversum, Holland and I enjoyed my time during the afternoon sessions tremendously. Have not heard any sacd -version of these Prokofiev recordings but undoubtedly these will be very good as well.

 

[LL21]

Hello Lloyd, the performances on all four recordings are very good while the recording quality is really superb. I have all four recordings available in dsd 256 and dxd files. To my ears the dxd sounds more open, dynamic and (somewhat) more ‘real’ than the dsd 256 version, while on the other hand the latter sounds somewhat softer and more refined or ‘silky’. As I mentioned earlier here on WBF, Bert van der Wolf allowed me to join him on one of the Prokofiev recording days: I sat in the (great sounding) music hall in Hilversum, Holland and I enjoyed my time during the afternoon sessions tremendously. Have not heard any sacd -version of these Prokofiev recordings but undoubtedly these will be very good as well.

Wow! What a great experience! Plus, you are now one of the very few who were actually there during the recording that the rest of us listen to (and some of us endless debate what it was meant to sound like)!

 

[Audiocrack]

Wow! What a great experience! Plus, you are now one of the very few who were actually there during the recording that the rest of us listen to (and some of us endless debate what it was meant to sound like)!

Yep, I suppose so. Although the dxd-version sounds more ‘real’ to my ears the dsd 256 sounds very good as well (as, I suppose, does the sacd-version). Hope you will enjoy these recordings as much as Mike and I do: I listen to them on a very regular basis because imho they belong to the best large orchestral recordings I know and - in the end (much) more important of course - they let me rediscover Prokofiev as a mighty fine composer.

 

[LL21]

Yep, I suppose so. Although the dxd-version sounds more ‘real’ to my ears the dsd 256 sounds very good as well (as, I suppose, does the sacd-version). Hope you will enjoy these recordings as much as Mike and I do: I listen to them on a very regular basis because imho they belong to the best large orchestral recordings I know and - in the end (much) more important of course - they let me rediscover Prokofiev as a mighty fine composer.

Great! After also reading about 7 reviews of the performances, I decided to just order the lot, and they are arriving over the next several days. Fortunately, I checked, and most of my collection of Prokofiev are his other compositions...have only 1 of his symphonies (Jarvi) which is very good but would appreciate another.

 

[Audiocrack]

Great! After also reading about 7 reviews of the performances, I decided to just order the lot, and they are arriving over the next several days. Fortunately, I checked, and most of my collection of Prokofiev are his other compositions...have only 1 of his symphonies (Jarvi) which is very good but would appreciate another.

Please keep us posted, Lloyd, as regards your listening experiences: like I mentioned before, I hope you will enjoy them as much as we do.

 

[Audiocrack]

Recording Reports Archives

Producers and Engineers provide NativeDSD listeners insights on their recording process and give notes on the production, see the recording setup and find direct links to the music discussed.

www.nativedsd.com

This link inter alia pays tribute to Bert van der Wolf, the mastermind behind Challenge Classics.

 

[Audiocrack]

More Intriguing Music From Eric Vloeimans - Positive Feedback

More Intriguing Music From Eric Vloeimans

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[Audiocrack]

Bruckner Symphonies with Jaap van Zweden - Positive Feedback

Bruckner Symphonies with Jaap van Zweden

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I have them all in dsd 256 and dxd. Love the music of Anton Bruckner and Bert’s recordings are very fine.

 

[Audiocrack]

Although this link regarding some very fine large orchestral recordings made by Channel Classics does not really fit in a thread that is dedicated to Challenge Classics - both companies are Dutch based but Channel Classics is a completely different company - I thought that it might nevertheless be quite interesting for (some) our members that love classical music, in particular orchestral pieces. So here it is: https://positive-feedback.com/revie...sterpieces-from-ivan-fischer-and-jared-sacks/

 

[Audiocrack]

Pianist Hannes Minnaar - Artistry to Savor Pianist Hannes Minnaar - Artistry to Savor - Positive Feedback

Pianist Hannes Minnaar - Artistry to Savor

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[Audiocrack]

Hannes Minnaar Shostakovich - Positive Feedback

Hannes Minnaar Performing Shostakovich, Beethoven and More

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[Mike Lavigne]

waiting for the 16tb version of the Samsung SSD 860 EVO 2.5 Inch SATA III card to be introduced (for my server drive garage). suppose to be in 2023 sometime.

so i can swap out my -3- 8Tb cards for -4- 16tb cards on my Wadax Ref Server, and take me to 66tb total. right now i only have 3 x 8 = 24 + 2tb resident = 26tb total. with about 20tb of files resident.

then i can go full-tilt boggie buying all the dxd files i want. buying any now would just be frustrating.

 

[Audiocrack]

Right now listening to Hannes Minnaar in dxd playing Gaspard de la nuit by Maurice Ravel. Always loved the middle part of this piece: Le Gibet. This album was recorded by Bert and is called Nox. It includes piano music from Schumann and Zuidam. Beautifully recorded.