What are you listening to right now?

I like my high fidelity so no MP3s The RB CD format is already compromised enough and modern recordings is making things even worse with too much boosting and compression.

What I'll do is listen to 1-2 samples and will usually buy the CDs if the samples take off with me. If the album ends up not resounding with me then it's archiving at worse or the s/hand market..

Listened to this apart from "Animals" yesterday after inspiring pixs from Mr. Leonard Ong

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - 30th Anniversary Edition Hybrid SACD. The Saturn only plays CD so listened to the CD layer which on this pressing is inferior to SACD layer. Time for an Esoteric or Ayre C-5xeMP? Time will tell.. The Scorpios give excellent bass on the simulated heart beat for track #1 - Speak to Me

llsaw, give the JVC XRCD edition of DSOTM a listen if you can. I'm confident its sonically better than the SACD edition. (considering if you're solely playing the CD Red Book layer)

cmboy wrote:llsaw, give the JVC XRCD edition of DSOTM a listen if you can. I'm confident its sonically better than the SACD edition. (considering if you're solely playing the CD Red Book layer)

Yes, heard of that too. Will give it a try one of these days. Thanks for the tip!

Sadao Watanabe - How's Everything. Live at Budokan.

The only CD I have that lights up the 'de-emph' LED on my external DAC.

Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring. This "concept" album starts off with some great drums like a war movie or a Kitaro cd but is actually an album long paen regarding the breakup of a relationship. Pretty decent recording. Good enough that I've ordered their first album


Was reading the latest copy of Hi-Fi News talking out remastering of U2's "The Unforgetable Fire" album so decided to dig out my old CD for a listen. Sounds rather bright n lacking in bass for first couple of tracks but things improve by the time it gets to my favourite track "Bad". Am gonna get the remastered edition one of these days.


Decided to do U2 for rest of the evening so also took out my old (>14 years) MoFi pressing of U2's The Joshua Tree. Still sounds great and will do a direct comparo with the recent remasters one of these days.

Was reading the latest copy of Hi-Fi News talking out remastering of U2's "The Unforgetable Fire" album so decided to dig out my old CD for a listen. Sounds rather bright n lacking in bass for first couple of tracks but things improve by the time it gets to my favourite track "Bad". Am gonna get the remastered edition one of these days.


Decided to do U2 for rest of the evening so also took out my old (>14 years) MoFi pressing of U2's The Joshua Tree. Still sounds great and will do a direct comparo with the recent remasters one of these days.
[/quote]


Agreed with "Bad" and "Where The Streets Has No Name" track always playing in my head...
The greatest rock band ever...

I recommend their autobiography "U2 by U2". Interesting read yet poignantly funny at times. Shows you that rock stars are also human like the rest of us..

Hi There,

During the period of CNY, unearth some of my rare/hard to find CD's for a spin.
Here are 1st part of them:



Sheffield Lab Drum & Track Disc (Us pressing) which
I found it better than my the other same CD from Canada & Japan.



Sheffield Lab Gold CD - James Newton Howard & Friends




Sheffield Lab Gold CD - Amanda McBroom




Sheffield Lab Gold CD - The Sheffield Jazz Experience




Sheffield Lab Gold CD - Kodo Heartbeat Drummer Of Japan




Sheffield Lab Gold CD - James Harry & His Big Band




Sheffield Lab Gold CD - The Sheffield / A2TB Test Disc




Sheffield Lab - A World Apart
This CD been produced for testing of Bang & Olufsen's Hifi System.




Sheffield Lab - Up Close Volume 2

llsaw wrote:

cmboy wrote:llsaw, give the JVC XRCD edition of DSOTM a listen if you can. I'm confident its sonically better than the SACD edition. (considering if you're solely playing the CD Red Book layer)

Yes, heard of that too. Will give it a try one of these days. Thanks for the tip!

Pink Floyd Dark side Of The Moon on XRCD format? That's news to me. Where did you guys get this CD from? When was this released and sold?

Maybe China pressing?

mouth watering sheffield lab collections, mr artesuano. awesome!

quote="igmcheah"]

llsaw wrote:

cmboy wrote:llsaw, give the JVC XRCD edition of DSOTM a listen if you can. I'm confident its sonically better than the SACD edition. (considering if you're solely playing the CD Red Book layer)

Yes, heard of that too. Will give it a try one of these days. Thanks for the tip!

Pink Floyd Dark side Of The Moon on XRCD format? That's news to me. Where did you guys get this CD from? When was this released and sold? [/quote]

I've been doing some research. Pink Floyd archives does not list any XRCD pressing for Japan.

http://pinkfloydarchives.com/DJaCDPF.htm#DSOTM09

Will continue looking around..

US market lists the following manufactured by JVC mention under MFSL Ultradisc II. No mention of XRCD

Title: Dark Side of the Moon (MFSL UltraDisc II #2)
Record Company: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Catalog Number: UDCD 517
Bar Code: 0 1577-51517-2 7
Matrix Information:
1) Top: UDCD 517 5C MFD BY JVC
2) Top: UDCD 517 5C12 MFD BY JVC
Pressing Plant: JVC
Production Mastering: JVC
Release Information: Second UltraDisc II release. MFSL original master recording, 24 karat gold UltraDisc II. 8 page fold-open booklet.
Sound Mastering: Remastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.
Total Time: 42:59
Track Peak Levels: 29.3 / 34.1 / 39.2 / 40.3 / 41.5 / 56.3 / 49.2 / 57.8 / 52.9 / 60.0
Description:
Front Cover: Black with prism. Across the top in gold it says Original Master Recording.
Back Cover: Black. Title. Song titles. Credits. In the lower right is the bar code. Lower center is the MFSL logo. Lower left is the Harvest logo. "ULTRADISC II."
Cover wrap-around: Issued in a plastic jewel case that featured the lift / lock system for holding the CD, with a thin paper cover wrap-around on the outside. The front of the wrap-around extended around the front left side of the CD, and says "UltraDisc II - The Ultimate Listening Experience! - The original limited edition 24-karat gold audiophile collector's disc." The spine of the CD is covered by the wrap-around on the top and left side, with the CD title and catalog number on both, and the bar code on the top flap. The back of the wrap-around had the CD title, songs, catalog number, and an explanation of UltraDisc II. The inside of the wrap-around has a listing of MFSL titles available as of September 1993.
Longbox: Some copies of this CD were issued in a cardboard longbox case with a red strip containing the words "Original Master Recording" across the top, and a round UltraDisc sticker on the front.
Label: Matte black label on a gold disk, with the label information etched out so that it appears to be written in gold.
To the right of the center hole, it says "ULTRADISC II."
At the top edge of the label, it says:
24 KT Gold Plated
At the bottom edge of the label, it says:
"Made in USA"

joydivision wrote:Maybe China pressing?

This could be a possibility. Again from Pink Floyd archives.

http://www.pinkfloydarchives.com/DCnCDPF.htm#PFDSOTM1

EMI's Typhoon Music: Typhoon Music is a joint venture between EMI Records and various music companies operating in the People's Republic Of China and Hong Kong. Typhoon/EMI began operations in 2003 in the People's Republic of China, and issues albums on Typhoon/EMI's PushTyphoon label. In Hong Kong, albums are issued on Typhoon's Gold Label.
Counterfeit CDs: Black market or counterfeit compact discs are very common in China. These non-licensed, illegal releases can be distinguished by a number of different features:

1. Counterfeit compact discs may be given special designations to make them appear to be high quality. Such designations include HDCD, Gold CD, DSD CD, XRCD, etc. These are all pirated CDs.
   
2. Counterfeit compact discs are generally always completely filled with music, i.e. they are 74 to 80 minutes in length. Counterfeiters fill up the entire compact disc with songs from other albums, or put two albums on a single disc, whereas official releases just have a single album on the disc.
   
3. Counterfeit compact discs may have alot of different record companies listed, i.e. Sony/BMG, EMI, Universal, etc. The pirates list them to make the CD look official, even though many of the names are companies that are not even associated with one another.
   
4. Counterfeit compact discs may have words misspelled on the cover or label. It is common for a Chinese counterfeiter to misspell English words.
   
5. Counterfeit compact discs may have the IFPI number scratched out or removed from the matrix. The reason this is done is so that the record plant that pressed the discs cannot be identified.
   

llsaw wrote:

joydivision wrote:Maybe China pressing?

This could be a possibility. Again from Pink Floyd archives.

http://www.pinkfloydarchives.com/DCnCDPF.htm#PFDSOTM1

EMI's Typhoon Music: Typhoon Music is a joint venture between EMI Records and various music companies operating in the People's Republic Of China and Hong Kong. Typhoon/EMI began operations in 2003 in the People's Republic of China, and issues albums on Typhoon/EMI's PushTyphoon label. In Hong Kong, albums are issued on Typhoon's Gold Label.
Counterfeit CDs: Black market or counterfeit compact discs are very common in China. These non-licensed, illegal releases can be distinguished by a number of different features:

1. Counterfeit compact discs may be given special designations to make them appear to be high quality. Such designations include HDCD, Gold CD, DSD CD, XRCD, etc. These are all pirated CDs.
   
2. Counterfeit compact discs are generally always completely filled with music, i.e. they are 74 to 80 minutes in length. Counterfeiters fill up the entire compact disc with songs from other albums, or put two albums on a single disc, whereas official releases just have a single album on the disc.
   
3. Counterfeit compact discs may have alot of different record companies listed, i.e. Sony/BMG, EMI, Universal, etc. The pirates list them to make the CD look official, even though many of the names are companies that are not even associated with one another.
   
4. Counterfeit compact discs may have words misspelled on the cover or label. It is common for a Chinese counterfeiter to misspell English words.
   
5. Counterfeit compact discs may have the IFPI number scratched out or removed from the matrix. The reason this is done is so that the record plant that pressed the discs cannot be identified.
   

Thumbs up, Sherlock! Now if only you could find where cmboy got his DSOFTM XRCD from...

This is bout as much Sherlocking as I will do. I'll just let CMBoy state his case. Would love to checkout the cover and details.

In the meantime I'll just listen to my DSOTM SACD on my trusty Saturn CDP and dream of my mega CD/SACD/DVD-A player..

Hi There,

My 2nd part of unearth rare/hard to find for spin during the period of CNY.

Here are 2nd part of them:




Golden String - The Wonderful Sound Of Three Blind Mice




Sheffield Lab - Music For Winds Of Percussion




Sheffield Lab - Erich Liensdorf



Cai Qin Gold Disc- Old Song -Japan Press
(This one still un-open as I had another cd)




Stradivarius On Gold - Yoko Fujita & Keiko Ogura
(This one still un-open as I had another cd)




Gala Stradivarius Concert Gold Disc - Vivaldi Four Season




The Golden Memories Of Mari Nakamoto Gold Disc

joydivision wrote:Maybe China pressing?

china boleh!

i like this recording label, but now no more

leonard ong wrote:

joydivision wrote:Maybe China pressing?

china boleh!

i like this recording label, but now no more

Sui! I also like Consonance Audio!!!

Where's the real DSOTM XRCD??!!!! One guy claimed the sound is more superior than the SACD version, another claimed he has heard of that version.

Meanwhile I'll just sit back and listen to Under Pressure by Queen and Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice. I like to amuse myself on which version I like more. Darn it's hard to make decisions in life... Anyone wants to claim alternative versions to these recordings, be it XRCD or SACD?

joydivision wrote:Where's the real DSOTM XRCD??!!!! One guy claimed the sound is more superior than the SACD version, another claimed he has heard of that version.

Meanwhile I'll just sit back and listen to Under Pressure by Queen and Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice. I like to amuse myself on which version I like more. Darn it's hard to make decisions in life... Anyone wants to claim alternative versions to these recordings, be it XRCD or SACD?

Frankly Joydivision, do u always have to be so anally know it all offensive? CMBoy was just stating that he has a better sounding version of DSOTM compared to my SACD and I'm happy for him. Also pardon my speech but "heard of that" figuratively means I have heard from the grapevine about this version being discussed before and not I've heard the XRCD. Do I really care if it's real, fake or pirate or bootlegged or even if it's made in China? Not really. Am quite happy with my version plus I'm not a hard core collector and more of a music lover hence very rarely will have multiple versions or pressings unless its in my short list of all time favourite albums. I might check out the version described by CMBoy if I've time eventually as I've mentioned in my response to him.

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is one of the great albums out there so let's just enjoy it in whatever pressing and format. But hopefully not in low resolution MP3 though

Hi CMBoy,

Would be great if you could publish details of your DSOTM XRCD. Am not "dying" to know its existence but it would be nice to learn something new everyday. One should never stop learning or sharing one's knowledge..

As anal as it might reflect you, I just want to find out the truth which is part of quest of knowledge.

By the way, what's wrong with listening to DSOTM in mp3 format? Say someone who can't afford a DSOTM SACD & hifi equipments and listen to that album in mp3 format. Does it make him any less of a music lover than you?

joydivision wrote:As anal as it might reflect you, I just want to find out the truth which is part of quest of knowledge.

By the way, what's wrong with listening to DSOTM in mp3 format? Say someone who can't afford a DSOTM SACD & hifi equipments and listen to that album in mp3 format. Does it make him any less of a music lover than you?

Of course it doesn't. But this is a hi-fi forum after all isn't it? So we should as much as possible try to promote great sounding and recorded music..

For tonight i listen to Bruce Katz Band - Crescent Crawl

llsaw wrote: Of course it doesn't. But this is a hi-fi forum after all isn't it? So we should as much as possible try to promote great sounding and recorded music..

Point taken. I'll start saving for an entry level hifi set and start collecting cds instead of listening to mp3s.

Back to music listening, I'm playing The Dears - Gang of Losers. Mp3s are good...



By the way anyone has a copy of No Cities Left which was released in 2004? Dying to get a hold of that.

joydivision wrote:

llsaw wrote: Of course it doesn't. But this is a hi-fi forum after all isn't it? So we should as much as possible try to promote great sounding and recorded music..

Point taken. I'll start saving for an entry level hifi set and start collecting cds instead of listening to mp3s.

Oh.. judging by the pixs you have posted in "How many CDs/ LPs do you have?" I'm sure you don't have to start collecting

llsaw wrote:Oh.. judging by the pixs you have posted in "How many CDs/ LPs do you have?" I'm sure you don't have to start collecting

Well if you want to think that I only have mp3s in my collection and all the albums I've posted in the forum are in mp3s, be my guest.

Nothing beats from working from home. Ahhh time to wake the neighbors.



Mmm, do I have this in mp3s or CD? And oh did I tell anyone I've met Dani Davey before? Lol

joydivision wrote:

llsaw wrote:Oh.. judging by the pixs you have posted in "How many CDs/ LPs do you have?" I'm sure you don't have to start collecting

Well if you want to think that I only have mp3s in my collection and all the albums I've posted in the forum are in mp3s, be my guest.

Nothing beats from working from home. Ahhh time to wake the neighbors.



Mmm, do I have this in mp3s or CD? And oh did I tell anyone I've met Dani Davey before? Lol

Ahh? Why so defensive? I have never thought of what you're thinking if it makes you feel better and less hung up. If you like MP3s good for you but the fact is this is a hi-fi forum as I've stated previously. Lets just end all this nonsense...

I read this topic once a while, not everyday.
MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES!... I MADE A GENUINE MISTAKE!..
I got mixed up with DSOTM and Dire Straits Brother in Arms XRCD. (amongst many others in XRCD)
I did a very close listening comparison of a stack of various editions of BIA I have in my collection.(one of my high favourite albums) Perhaps I wasn't thinking straight during the time of posting because being preoccupied with amazement and happy to read what you guys are enjoying spinning very nice cd's every other day.

There's NO xrcd of DSOTM... not that I know of (when I'm really thinking straight). I only have the SACD and double CD US pressed version in my collection. I had a chance to buy the Mobile Fidelity version many years ago but didn't take it up, perhaps not really into this kind of rock. Nevertheless I was really amazed with Roger Waters Amused to Death gold disc on CBS Mastersound Long Box edition which is among another most precious aquisitions from years ago.

Regretfully yours.. cmboy!..

cmboy wrote:I read this topic once a while, not everyday.
MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES!... I MADE A GENUINE MISTAKE!..
I got mixed up with DSOTM and Dire Straits Brother in Arms XRCD. (amongst many others in XRCD)
I did a very close listening comparison of a stack of various editions of BIA I have in my collection.(one of my high favourite albums) Perhaps I wasn't thinking straight during the time of posting because being preoccupied with amazement and happy to read what you guys are enjoying spinning very nice cd's every other day.

There's NO xrcd of DSOTM... not that I know of. I only have the SACD and double CD US pressed version in my collection. I had a chance to buy the Mobile Fidelity version many years ago but didn't take it up, perhaps not really into this kind of rock. Nevertheless I was really amazed with Roger Waters Amused to Death gold disc on CBS Mastersound Long Box edition which is among another most precious aquisitions from years ago.

Regretfully yours.. cmboy!..

Too many CDs already in your collection CMBoy. Care to donate some?

llsaw wrote:
Too many CDs already in your collection CMBoy. Care to donate some?

Hahaha!.. Tell you some truth, another lot of a dozen cd's coming my way soon, not entirely audiophile of course but I think they're of collectible status in some years to come and OF COURSE I fancy the music very much. I don't simply buy for the sake of buying.
BTW, please don't simply say some disc is China pressing. There's always tell tale signs (developed by own research and experience) whether a disc is genuine or not.

BTW, that Tsai Chin Denon IS A GENUINE JAPAN PRESS. I have 2 edtions of these.. Just took the pic.

cmboy wrote:I read this topic once a while, not everyday.
MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES!... I MADE A GENUINE MISTAKE!..
I got mixed up with DSOTM and Dire Straits Brother in Arms XRCD. (amongst many others in XRCD)
I did a very close listening comparison of a stack of various editions of BIA I have in my collection.(one of my high favourite albums) Perhaps I wasn't thinking straight during the time of posting because being preoccupied with amazement and happy to read what you guys are enjoying spinning very nice cd's every other day.

There's NO xrcd of DSOTM... not that I know of (when I'm really thinking straight). I only have the SACD and double CD US pressed version in my collection. I had a chance to buy the Mobile Fidelity version many years ago but didn't take it up, perhaps not really into this kind of rock. Nevertheless I was really amazed with Roger Waters Amused to Death gold disc on CBS Mastersound Long Box edition which is among another most precious aquisitions from years ago.

Regretfully yours.. cmboy!..

Wow, there is a double CD version of Dark Side Of The Moon? When was this released in the USA? What are the songs in the second disc?

Errrrrrr...GERAM GERAM WITH MYSELF! I think I should bang my my head a few times to think straight. Its Pink Floyd The Wall double disc. Its SACD DSOTM and normal run of the mill DSOTM.
Thanks for bring me to my senses. I think I really need STRONG STRONG COFFEE NOW!

This is getting to predictable. Maybe I'll start claiming I have Animal 4 disc boxset.


Mr. Cheah, remember we were talking about the Pink Floyd's Shine On boxset and the first disc is titled 'The Early Singles'. I just read that there are 2 unreleased tracks in that cd namely "Point Me at the Sky" and "Apples and Oranges". I was wondering if there are other formats available for these two songs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Early_Singles_(Pink_Floyd_album)

joydivision wrote:This is getting to predictable. Maybe I'll start claiming I have Animal 4 disc boxset.

Look her Mr Joy.. I come out in the open and admitted my mistake almost immediately! My postings are not with any offence nor malice nor purposely to mislead. Like anyone else, its up to anyone to believe or not. If its a genuine mistake, its a genuine mistake. You really don't have to rub it in.
If you HAVE A PROBLEM or SOME GRUDGE WITH ME... SAY SO!

[/quote]

Look her Mr Joy.. I admitted my mistake almost immediately! My postings are not with any offence nor malice.
If you HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME... SAY SO!.. you don't have to be sarcastic![/quote]

I have a problem with you, do you have a problem with that?

cmboy wrote:

llsaw wrote:
Too many CDs already in your collection CMBoy. Care to donate some?

Hahaha!.. Tell you some truth, another lot of a dozen cd's coming my way soon, not entirely audiophile of course but I think they're of collectible status in some years to come and OF COURSE I fancy the music very much. I don't simply buy for the sake of buying.
BTW, please don't simply say some disc is China pressing. There's always tell tale signs (developed by own research and experience) whether a disc is genuine or not.

BTW, that Tsai Chin Denon IS A GENUINE JAPAN PRESS. I have 2 edtions of these.. Just took the pic.

huiyo!! mine is the left one!! the right one same songs as left or not? i like the recording. it's light & flat. i even go down hunting every performers under this label before they disappear from the shelf. damn!! .

now listening to rod stewart "i don't want to talk about it"

Leonard, they're not the same track list. Both albums together offer a nice reprospective of Tsai Chin's hits although some tracks are not among her greatest hits. I could think the tracks are selected based on merit of audiophile quality. I remember buying both at MPH bookstore a long time ago.

Right now i'm listening to my 8 year old nephew practice his scales on the 97 Key Bösendorfer. Excruciating!

American Idol, Top 8 girls

Landy, you have my sympathy..

Last nite was great!

Martin Gore - Counterfeit 2. Depeche Mode's main songwrite released his second solo album in 2003 14 years after his first EP. As per Counterfeit concept the songs are not writtien by Martin but are instead by his favourite artists including Lou Reed, John Lennon, Nick Cave, etc. There is even one song sung entirely in German! Primarily electronic in nature


Joni Mitchell - Blue (HDCD, remastered). Need more be said?


Mary Chapin Carpenter - Between Here and Gone. Ms Carpenter's my favourite country/folk/acoustic/pop singer songwrite and IMHO this is her best album based primarily on themes of travel, marriage and by 9/11. Melodic and beautiful!

Noah and the Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down. Was so pleasantly surprised by their second album that I had to get their debut. Despite the depressing title "Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down" is the exact opposite of "The First Days of Spring" in terms on mood. Much more cheerful! Excellent sound quality too!

Hey, guys. Do you know what is funk and how it sounds like?

Vey recent aquisition of Asian artist LP to CD reissue replica gotten from here and online.
All those sticker labels aren't on the actual cover graphics but on the protective plastic sleeve.
Had a wild idea of intending to frame them up somehow.
The actual vinyl LP would have been costly so I settled for re-issues and I'm quite happy with the remastered cd's. Amazingly, many of these are EXCELLENT. I can't really complain about the sound considering the price of each made great economical sense and worth it.
Shown below is a huge part of the artist's entire career discography (a couple more not shown here). Crazy huh..considering some tracks may be repeated in some discs. I could have settled for Greatest Hits disc and thats that, but didn't.

These 2 arrived yesterday.

Pink Floyd - The Division Bell. Inspired by Leonard Ong HMV UK's having a sale on Pink Floyd and am considering getting "A Momentary Lapse of Reason"


Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon. Slowly completing my Joni Mitchell catalogue. Similar in style to Blue.

drife wrote:jazzfunksoulmusic, if james brown is reference funk then its a bit too pure for me. i prefer other variants like bill withers, ray brown trio, chili peppers, rage against, some jamiroquai gets my feet tapping.
if you're into new age and solo guitars try Trace Bundy (videos on youtube). very intelligent and mind boggling indeed. remember that Canon Digital Ixus jingle? that track's only so so, he's got really good tracks with reasonably good recordings. my chai qin, mary black, jennifer warnes, aaron neville, gabrielle roth totem, holly cole etc cds are getting dusty now.

I c Seems that you are more into the late music thats infulence a bit of funk as you mentioned besides, if you like the late artist that have a heavy funk, you should try greyboy and the all star or poets of ryhthm. I thought Bill Whiters is soul singer? If i'm not mistaken, he is a soul singer. He is more soulful than funky but he has a few nice funky stuffs . As I know, Ray brown is a jazz artist. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

how do you guys think about this album? An old album from Norah Jones,



Jazz vocal kinda new to me.