Zero Distortion: Tango Time

[Lagonda]

That's fine. This is hobby is about gear too. More is the point why you were not exposed to that awareness in 80s or 90s - no fault of yours, but the audiophile community does that.

Ked, 20 years ago being an audiophile was not easy. If you did not have audiophile friends, information was from a couple of magazines only.
Today information and temptations are much easier available
Personally i was more interested inT&A, not TT’s 20 years ago.

 

[bonzo75]

I am just commenting on what I think is the current buying situation and uses, not on the old buying practices of the big WBF collectors or people's sorrows for having missed great deals in the past. There is life outside WBF and many sites devoted to LP collecting ... Many of the recordings you are now referring exist since long in CD format and have been discovered and debated in classical forums more than once.

BTW, I could have bought a local great collection of Decca's, EMI's, Philips and DG classical LP's (around five thousand recordings) for investement a few years ago, but decided I did not want to become rich selling LP's when I will retire - just got those I really enjoy.

Sure I am not collecting for investment either - I am just buying those that I enjoy, but they will hold, and probably appreciate in price. Tang is not buying for investment either. If someone chooses to do business that is fine too. As long as you knowledgeably picked out of that collection, great. Given your vast knowledge of technical stuff about hifi, it would be worrying if this information system did not make you very knowledgable about LPs

 

[bonzo75]

I am just commenting on what I think is the current buying situation and uses, not on the old buying practices of the big WBF collectors or people's sorrows for having missed great deals in the past. There is life outside WBF and many sites devoted to LP collecting ... Many of the recordings you are now referring exist since long in CD format and have been discovered and debated in classical forums more than once.

BTW, I could have bought a local great collection of Decca's, EMI's, Philips and DG classical LP's (around five thousand recordings) for investement a few years ago, but decided I did not want to become rich selling LP's when I will retire - just got those I really enjoy.

As I said in earlier post to Folson, the digital route is great, but the source of information on the audiophile forums from the digiphiles about performances is not. Like you said, "classical forums" - btw, I have visited the violinist forums and such, and tried some of they their recommendations.

 

[spiritofmusic]

So Ked, can you identify any famous classical pieces where what you consider worthwhile sonically from audio and also performance standpoints numbers just one or two, and others maybe a dozen or so?

 

[bonzo75]

So Ked, can you identify any famous classical pieces where what you consider worthwhile sonically from audio and also performance standpoints numbers just one or two, and others maybe a dozen or so?

Tang already has been posting what is sonically and performance wise good

Though I didn't understand what you mean by one or two, others maybe a dozen or so

 

[spiritofmusic]

Is there a piece where literally the choice of memorably superior sonics/performances on lp is limited to just a few choices, and others where you could take up several inches of shelf space w one after another after another peachy lps?

 

[NorthStar]

Yes, Tang has posted a dozen music videos he made from fabulous music performances and quality sound, in this thread. I cannot thank him enough as his music taste rings with mine.
And a big thanks also to Ked for an excellent writing intro (first post of this thread; link), plus the great music recommended selections with the tremendous contributions of the General. ...One of the top best threads.

 

[bonzo75]

Is there a piece where literally the choice of memorably superior sonics/performances on lp is limited to just a few choices, and others where you could take up several inches of shelf space w one after another after another peachy lps?

I think in most cases if you had enough money you could buy many interpretations, but the sonics-cum-performance would be lesser but still you would have choices. That is quite a weird question for me maybe you should ask G since his LPs are taking up a lot of shelf space.

 

[microstrip]

As I said in earlier post to Folson, the digital route is great, but the source of information on the audiophile forums from the digiphiles about performances is not. Like you said, "classical forums" - btw, I have visited the violinist forums and such, and tried some of they their recommendations.

I was not referring to audiophile forums when addressing classical music, just classical recordings forums and sites. And yes, although they never refer to it, 99% of them are "digiphiles".

BTW, the 250 greatest recordings of all time: chosen by 35 of the world's leading musicians (Gramophone website) : https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/focus/greatest-recordings-of-all-time-chosen-by-leading-musicians. The comments on how the musicians criticize others recordings is also worth reading.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I think in most cases if you had enough money you could buy many interpretations, but the sonics-cum-performance would be lesser but still you would have choices. That is quite a weird question for me maybe you should ask G since his LPs are taking up a lot of shelf space.

Ked, The General can chip in whenever he likes, I'm sure he's reading all these comments.

I'm not sure why it's such a difficult question. You've made known a viewpoint that classical lp listening should ideally be predicated on careful researching of the best performances and the best pressings, and not just randomly buying any old version of Beethoven's Ninth, eg.

All I'm asking is whether in your journey into really getting to know the inside track on meaningful lps, you've discovered that there are multiple versions worth buying of almost every classical title, or whether many titles literally have only very few performances on lp worth seeking out.

 

[spiritofmusic]

“buy broadly and cheaply...”

Marc

Bill, it is purely a function of wanting to immerse myself in more classical. A bit like being thrown into a pool, struggling to paddle, and learning to swim.

It will hopefully be the case that as I find pieces that melt my heart, I concentrate on getting to know more about the provenance of the best examples of these titles, and get an increasing subset of better and better alternatives.

 

[Tango]

Is there a piece where literally the choice of memorably superior sonics/performances on lp is limited to just a few choices, and others where you could take up several inches of shelf space w one after another after another peachy lps?

I will post more interesting pieces at accessible price. I will avoid posting very expensive ones. I have many hit and miss's. I like a lot new contemporary music but 99% of whatI bought turned out to go to my one time wonder bin..they sucked! sonically. I am focusing into classical now because the more I listen the more I like and I have a lot less hit n miss's. For Classical the miss's are mostly because of surface noises. To reduce hit n miss's we need to participate more in this kind of "showoff." And Ked will say again that this kind of posting is driving up the price. Merry-go-round.

Tang

 

[spiritofmusic]

Tango, I go on Ebay and choose "Price: Low to High"
Plenty of choice down in the foothills.

 

[Tango]

Tango, I go on Ebay and choose "Price: Low to High"
Plenty of choice down in the foothills.

I said before Marc. I go to youtube first. At least I would like the music I purchase even if they turnout to be terrible sonically. Ked told me a few great sounding great performance records. I even listened with him too. But I did not buy because they were not the music I like. Try to do this and your spending could be more efficient.

Tang

 

[spiritofmusic]

Tang, we have a fantastic bookshop with a great classical music section. I'm minded to read up on composers, go to the selected recommended compositions, and as you say, get summaries on YT, and make decisions to buy.

But even taking random punts, v little have I found I actively dislike.

 

[NorthStar]

Tang, just keep doing what you do; posting your own music tube videos of the tunes you like, with your additional notes/comments, and regardless of price.
We'll take care of the rest ourselves.
...Taking over from there; locating the music, purchasing it, commenting and listening. ????

 

[Tango]

It is fine to go with digital. Somehow, in case you haven't noticed the trend on the forum, digital people Usually aware only of modern performances and analog ones seem to be the ones into the golden era ones. Some digital guys are also choosing lesser performances for better sonics (similar to some tape guys) such as many of these DSD sites that are now cropping up with cafe performances

My biggest learning from the general has not been the sonics of analog, but of the performances that I was missing before that, as my view was clouded only by the audiophile press. I think tang will tell you the same..Those who cannot afford expensive LPs on well set up analog systems should investigate Hoelscher and other golden era artists on digital.

Yes. I say the same here..every words.

The fact is it is even more difficult getting good pressings for piano. And the lack of new musical performances on vinyl will eventually make me go into digital.

Tang

 

[NorthStar]

It's much more pleasing visually to see a record spinning than a compact disc.
And the albums you are spinning they sound exquisitely enrapturing, even from distance (YouTube).

 

[bonzo75]

Yes. I say the same here..every words.

The fact is it is even more difficult getting good pressings for piano. And the lack of new musical performances on vinyl will eventually make me go into digital.

Tang

There are a lot of good piano pressings.

 

[bonzo75]

It's much more pleasing visually to see a record spinning than a compact disc.
(YouTube).

Are you a cat Bob