Most of us would agree that the basic need for the audio equipment is to reproduce the sound of MUSIC. Live music event is something to cherish, be it classical, rock, jazz, opera, or even music on the streets. Reproduced music at home is an alternative to live event. When we are in front of plethora of equipment, we actually are trying to imagine that we ARE there, that's all there is to it. Any AUDIOPHILE who thinks that the current state of the art equipment (at any price) can substitute real sound, should consider himself to be and AUDIOFOOL.
Everyone listens to music and almost everyone has to make the choice of purchasing the music system. The system in question could be a simple boom-box (which almost invariably satisfies the basic needs) or an esoteric HIFI (which seldom satisfies the audiophile's needs). I am not going to discuss about buying the equipment in this particular post but something that is even more crucial than simply making the decision about which equipment.
The MUSIC! Yes, we all are inclined towards certain type of music. Whether we own a boom-box or an esoteric HIFI. Therefore, music is not just the need for an audiophile but a need for a casual listener as well. All the magazines say the same thing repeatedly ''Take your favourite music to audition the equipment'' or ''Audition the equipment with the music you like''. Why not have one such list to choose from, based on your own liking, either in terms of artist or genre of music?. You can come up with a list of your own, in similar fashion that I have compiled one for my own use.
I have come up with a list of CD's that are very highly rated for sound quality and can be very suitable for evaluating the equipment. Besides, they also happen to be one of the best performances of the particular artist in question. I have selected them from my collection of 800 odd albums and they happen to be my top favourites both in terms of performance as well as acoustic quality. I also have albums that sound lousy but due to sentimental reasons only, I own them (not listed here). I listen to a variety of music and the list is pretty long, in some ways I am very old fashioned, however, on the other hand, I also listen to new type of music. Check it out!
Cassandra Wilson-New Moon Daughter
(this album can actually give you goose bumps – it demands your attention to various sounds of the instruments in the mix. Ordinary speakers start shivering when they are called upon to handle the dynamics of the superb recording).
Pablo de Sarasate-Zigeunerweisen op 20 (from Carmen Fantasy) Anne Sophie Mutter with Weiner Philharmoniker (DG) (just one word I would like to associate with this performance ''astonishing'', from the first note till the end of the climax. This is the only 4D sound recording that I have in my collection, 4D or no 4D, this album is superbly recorded).
Enya-Watermark
(an album recorded so well that one can actually distinguish layer upon layer of keyboards and synthesisers in the mix)
Eagles-Hell Freezes Over
(adjudged by many as one of the finest recordings in pop history, used by many top manufacturers of esoteric equipment for demonstration, I have been an Eagles fan since mid seventies and the memory has not yet faded away of the time I used to listen to the BBC-Top Ten on the short wave radio every Wednesday evening! Hotel California was on the charts then)
Glenn Miller-In the digital mood on GRP label
(you may or may not know but this is the album which Sony used for launching their first CD player to masses in November 1983, just one month before Philips came up with their first CD player. Digital recording was first introduced back in 1972, it took 11 years for the industry to come up with a viable solution for carrying digital sound – The Compact Disk)
Alan Stivell-Renaissance of the Celtic Harp
(one of the finest harp player's in the world, ''Harpes du Novel Age'' which is a sequel to ''Renaissance....'' being the other shinning example) one of the most difficult instruments to reproduce for any component in the Hifi chain, IMHO piano being the most difficult. I found this recording to be my reference.
Zakir Hussain with John McLaughlin and Jan Garberk-Making Music
(have you ever heard instruments talking to each other? This is it!)
Fourplay-Fourplay
(debut album of Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason and Lee Ritenour first time together, this is another album used by top notch companies for demonstration)
Strunz and Farah-Primal Magic
(one of the best flamenco guitar CD's IMHO, unbelievable speed, timing and control of the instrument, a very, very clean and crisp sounding album-a masterpiece)
John Williams-Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuaz
(the performance and artistry of the classical guitar is superb, track 2 upon reaching its climax can make you feel exhausted even if you are sitting comfortably in your chair)
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong-Porgy and Bess
(we haven't found a replacement for Ella and probably never will)
Al Dimeola, John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia-Saturday Night in San Francisco
(a conversation of three guitars!)
Eric Clapton-Unplugged (an extremely intimate recording)
Szakcsi-Sa-chi
(his debut album on GRP Label-an excellent solo new age Jazz piano recording)
Sting-Soul Cages (an album dedicated to his father's memory and sung from the heart)
Sting-Nothing like the Sun (polished production, infinite variety of sounds, exceptionally clear mids)
Branford Marsalis-Trio Jeepy (non-commercial Marsalis)
Fleetwood Mac-Rumours (rumour has it that this is their finest recorded studio album)
Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms (a very difficult mix of instruments to produce on ordinary system even by today's standards, the CD dates back to 1984!)
Tracy Chapman-Debut Album (for vocals)
Dave Grusin-The Gershwin Connection (superb dynamics)
Kevin Eubanks-Shadow Prophets ( a very lively recording)
Natalie Cole-Unforgettable (a recording in Black and White)
Santana-Supernatural (the natural talent of Carlos Santana oozes out in this album-the track with Eric Clapton is the test track for me)
Happy Listening!
Thank you for dropping by and reading what I write.
All text Copyright Quadophile 2004
