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  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
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    Southeast Iowa
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    992

    Talking Top Quality Recordings

    Since putting together an incredible, highly discerning, system I find myself wanting to listen mostly to top quality recordings. Especially jazz and bluegrass. But early jazz and bluegrass recordings are often of poor quality. It takes a lot of the enjoyment out of listening to great music. Don't get me wrong, I like listening to the music...just not some of the recordings.

    I want to be able to listen to yesterday's music with today's sound quality. I want to hear my system perform. I know you're not going to hear outstanding SQ on a recording made in the '40s or '50s. But there are some remastered recordings that sound pretty good.

    My favorite music is swing and bop from the late '40s and later, and bluegrass from the late '70s and later. But I especially like what I call "neo-traditional" bluegrass, groups that bring something new to traditional bluegrass without crossing the musical boundaries...keeping it bluegrass. My number one favorite kind of music.

    However, a good bit of the reason I like later styles of bluegrass is the SQ. I want to find more albums with superior SQ. I mean, what good does it do to have an outstanding high end home audio system playing '50s quality recordings.

    So, having bloviated about all that, I would like recommendations on high quality recordings. Especially, jazz of the '50s and later, and bluegrass from the '70s and later. I want to be able to hear top notch SQ coming through my system. Recommendations?
    Amplifier: Pass Labs INT 250 integrated.

    DAC/Streamer: MSB Discrete Dual Power Supply.

    Server: Roon Nucleus with lifetime subscription.

    Speakers: Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary
    Model.

    Headphones/Amp: Focal Stellia phones, NAIM Uniti Atom Headphone Edition headphone amp/music player/server/streamer.

    Cables: AudioQuest Rocket 88 speaker cables,
    Mackenzie interconnects.

    Speaker Stands: HiFi Man.

  2. #2

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    Are you interested in using sources other than digital? Larry
    Analog-VPIClassic3-3DArm,Lyra Skala+MiyajimaZeroMono,2xAmpex ATR-102,Otari MX5050B2, Merrill Trident Tape Preamp, Herron VTPH-2A&BottleheadPhonoPre,
    Dig Rip-Pyramix,IzotopeRX3Adv,MykerinosCard,PacificMicroso nicsModel2 AD
    Dig Play-Lampi Horizon, mch NADAC Roon/HQPlayer,Oppo105
    Electronics-DoshiPre,CJ MET1mchPre,Cary2A3monoamps
    Speakers-AvantgardeDuosLR,3SolosC,LR,RR
    Other-512 Engineering Tim Marutani Symmetrical Power IsoTrans and cables,AudioDiskVinylCleaner,
    Music-2.3KR2Rtapes,1.5KCD's,500SACDs,60TBripped files

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Staten Island, New York
    Posts
    703

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    Have a look at the Blue Note Jazz reissues. The Classic Series and Tone Poet Series are excellent in music and sound. The timeframe of the LP’s are primarily from the 1950’s and 1960’s. You won’t be disappointed.

    Available at the usual online places.

    Blue Note 80 & Classic Series – Blue Note Records

    Tone Poet Series – Blue Note Records
    Paul

    Speakers: Von Schweikert VR-5 Anniversary MK II Front L/R, LCR-35 Center, VR-1 Rear L/R Sub: JL Audio F113
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  4. #4

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    Quote Originally Posted by bluegrassphile View Post
    Since putting together an incredible, highly discerning, system I find myself wanting to listen mostly to top quality recordings. Especially jazz and bluegrass. But early jazz and bluegrass recordings are often of poor quality. It takes a lot of the enjoyment out of listening to great music. Don't get me wrong, I like listening to the music...just not some of the recordings.

    I want to be able to listen to yesterday's music with today's sound quality. I want to hear my system perform. I know you're not going to hear outstanding SQ on a recording made in the '40s or '50s. But there are some remastered recordings that sound pretty good.

    My favorite music is swing and bop from the late '40s and later, and bluegrass from the late '70s and later. But I especially like what I call "neo-traditional" bluegrass, groups that bring something new to traditional bluegrass without crossing the musical boundaries...keeping it bluegrass. My number one favorite kind of music.

    However, a good bit of the reason I like later styles of bluegrass is the SQ. I want to find more albums with superior SQ. I mean, what good does it do to have an outstanding high end home audio system playing '50s quality recordings.

    So, having bloviated about all that, I would like recommendations on high quality recordings. Especially, jazz of the '50s and later, and bluegrass from the '70s and later. I want to be able to hear top notch SQ coming through my system. Recommendations?
    Welcome to the rabbit hole! You don't need a turntable, you are now realizing your audiophile traits. Welcome & forever be unsatisfied...

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    5,948

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    I get it ...
    McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105

    “One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
    "You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
    ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    St. Louis, MO, USA
    Posts
    3,041

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    I find quite a bit of the older Jazz recorded very well and typically sounding more as live, not so much getting messed up in the engineering. I don't go into the 40's or much mono though.

    Fine & Mellow by Ella Fitzgerald is an example of what I'm talking about.
    Rambling Boy by Charlie Haden Friends & Family, excellent Bluegrass
    Most Oscar Peterson or Ray Brown I've found to be good, as well as Count Basie.
    Basie Live at the Sands, and I love him with Big Joe Turner
    Scott Hamilton, yet to find a bad recording
    try Burning Beat by Buddy Rich
    The Spirit of 67 by Pee Wee Russell
    See if you like Perfect Imperfections by Marla Canon Goodman
    All In The Family by Joey De Francesco
    Getting To It by Christian McBride
    Stan Getz has some modern Big Band Jazz that is great sound quality.

    I suspect olde Bluegrass wasn't recorded on the best of gear or studios. Good Jazz shouldn't be that hard to find.

    If you pick a good song and let Roon take over you usually get some gems. That's if you have a streaming music service for Roon to explore. Another way with music services is to search by label or artist in the "playlist" category.

    Hope this provided some help.
    Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
    Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
    Clearaudio Performance DC w/Maestro cart
    Clarus Concerto & their Crimson cables

    HT: Marantz AV8003, Linn 5125, JBL SAM3ha, Revel s30,
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    Parasound P6, MBL 8006b, Artisan speakers/subwoofer

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Southeast Iowa
    Posts
    992

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    I may be in the future.
    Amplifier: Pass Labs INT 250 integrated.

    DAC/Streamer: MSB Discrete Dual Power Supply.

    Server: Roon Nucleus with lifetime subscription.

    Speakers: Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary
    Model.

    Headphones/Amp: Focal Stellia phones, NAIM Uniti Atom Headphone Edition headphone amp/music player/server/streamer.

    Cables: AudioQuest Rocket 88 speaker cables,
    Mackenzie interconnects.

    Speaker Stands: HiFi Man.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Southeast Iowa
    Posts
    992

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    Ha! Thanks, bzr.
    Amplifier: Pass Labs INT 250 integrated.

    DAC/Streamer: MSB Discrete Dual Power Supply.

    Server: Roon Nucleus with lifetime subscription.

    Speakers: Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary
    Model.

    Headphones/Amp: Focal Stellia phones, NAIM Uniti Atom Headphone Edition headphone amp/music player/server/streamer.

    Cables: AudioQuest Rocket 88 speaker cables,
    Mackenzie interconnects.

    Speaker Stands: HiFi Man.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Southeast Iowa
    Posts
    992

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    Wow! Great recommendations!! Thank you all. Keep 'em coming.
    Amplifier: Pass Labs INT 250 integrated.

    DAC/Streamer: MSB Discrete Dual Power Supply.

    Server: Roon Nucleus with lifetime subscription.

    Speakers: Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary
    Model.

    Headphones/Amp: Focal Stellia phones, NAIM Uniti Atom Headphone Edition headphone amp/music player/server/streamer.

    Cables: AudioQuest Rocket 88 speaker cables,
    Mackenzie interconnects.

    Speaker Stands: HiFi Man.

  10. #10

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    I would recommend tape if you are interested. Several great jazz albums from the 50's and '60s from Tape Project, Acoustic Sounds, and Horch House. 15ips 2 track tape is the closest to the original sound of the recording.

    Here are several selections:

    The Sidewinder Lee Morgan
    Work Song Nat Adderley
    Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane
    Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins
    Action Peterson, Oscar
    Girl Talk Peterson, Oscar
    Mellow Mood Peterson, Oscar
    My Favorite Instrument Peterson, Oscar
    Night Train Peterson, Oscar
    The Way I Really Play Peterson, Oscar
    Travellin' On Peterson, Oscar
    We Get Requests Peterson, Oscar
    The Sermon Smith, Jimmy
    Afro American Sketches Nelson, Oliver
    Blues and the Abstract Truth Nelson, Oliver
    Waltz for Debby Evans, Bill Trio

    I have all of these tapes.

    Larry
    Analog-VPIClassic3-3DArm,Lyra Skala+MiyajimaZeroMono,2xAmpex ATR-102,Otari MX5050B2, Merrill Trident Tape Preamp, Herron VTPH-2A&BottleheadPhonoPre,
    Dig Rip-Pyramix,IzotopeRX3Adv,MykerinosCard,PacificMicroso nicsModel2 AD
    Dig Play-Lampi Horizon, mch NADAC Roon/HQPlayer,Oppo105
    Electronics-DoshiPre,CJ MET1mchPre,Cary2A3monoamps
    Speakers-AvantgardeDuosLR,3SolosC,LR,RR
    Other-512 Engineering Tim Marutani Symmetrical Power IsoTrans and cables,AudioDiskVinylCleaner,
    Music-2.3KR2Rtapes,1.5KCD's,500SACDs,60TBripped files

  11. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Ormond Beach, Plantation Bay CC
    Posts
    5,168

    Re: Top Quality Recordings

    Quote Originally Posted by bluegrassphile View Post
    Since putting together an incredible, highly discerning, system I find myself wanting to listen mostly to top quality recordings. Especially jazz and bluegrass. But early jazz and bluegrass recordings are often of poor quality. It takes a lot of the enjoyment out of listening to great music. Don't get me wrong, I like listening to the music...just not some of the recordings.

    I want to be able to listen to yesterday's music with today's sound quality. I want to hear my system perform. I know you're not going to hear outstanding SQ on a recording made in the '40s or '50s. But there are some remastered recordings that sound pretty good.

    My favorite music is swing and bop from the late '40s and later, and bluegrass from the late '70s and later. But I especially like what I call "neo-traditional" bluegrass, groups that bring something new to traditional bluegrass without crossing the musical boundaries...keeping it bluegrass. My number one favorite kind of music.

    However, a good bit of the reason I like later styles of bluegrass is the SQ. I want to find more albums with superior SQ. I mean, what good does it do to have an outstanding high end home audio system playing '50s quality recordings.

    So, having bloviated about all that, I would like recommendations on high quality recordings. Especially, jazz of the '50s and later, and bluegrass from the '70s and later. I want to be able to hear top notch SQ coming through my system. Recommendations?
    Country Bluegrass Audiophile Essentials | HIGHRESAUDIO

    The Jerry Douglas Band is pretty good.


    Not on that site, but Allison Krauss- Paper Airplane is pretty good.
    2chl : Vincent Sp331MkII, W4S STP-SE Stage 2, Kef 201/2, KEF 140, Vapor Breeze, Lumin, Bryston CD, BHA-1, Quicksilver Headamp, HD650, HD800s, HD820's, Dan Clark 1.1, Focal Stellia, OPPO 203, 105. ( Boxed up: Pass Xa-30.5, VPI Classic, Dynavector DV-20XL, Manley Chinook, Cadenza Bronze)

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Top Quality Recordings

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