Mercury Living Presence

Nice.  Love your setup. You must be proud!   Thanks for resurrecting old thread!  
 

 

I've found the MLP CDs I've heard to have a distinct timbre that is perhaps "brighter" than most modern good recordings, but I also find the recordings to be very smooth and dynamic and not "overly bright". I've always associated this distinct timber as being the "Living Presence" alluded to in the sereis name.

I'm sure different ears will hear different things though.

I've found the unique timbre of certain "Living Presence" recordings to be useful as a very unique reference source standard when auditioning digital sourced audio systems .

Does anyone think there are any modern recording series the equivalent or at least similar to the MLP recordings in terms of how the recordings are produced and mastered? I've never researched this but I can't think of anything I know of off the cuff.

Mrmitch

not sure I know what series/line you are referring to exactly by "shaded and WHite Dogs".

Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

As a avid audio/music fan, perhaps even audiophile, I'm increasingly becoming aware that despite the inherent dynamic range advantages of digital recording, compression is becoming more and more the norm with modern recordings due to mass marketing effects. It is perhaps the most disturbing and ironic trend I can think of in regards to the music industry and how it serves what I would call the high end listening community, as represented largely on this site. Its ironic in the sense that even as the technology to enable great recordings improves, the results, by design, are increasingly mediocre.

Unfortunately, I guess it is what it is. Thankfully there are still some niche recording shops that focus on producing the best sonic product possible.

Heads Up!

Amazon has this currently for < $100.

I noticed it over the weekend. My copy is on its way....

Box set arrived. Have not opened yet.

My first real exposure to the MLP recordings where they caught my ear was back in mid 90's with the CD recordings of Leroy Anderson and another of Circus music using the 35mm film technology that I got from the local public library. I've been hooked since.

I think at least the Circus music CD is in this set.

I'm hoping for the Leroy Anderson as well. LA wrote some of the catchiest, most accessible and recognizable pop/classical music ever that many do not know about, but not sure if that one is in there.

If the box set comes anywhere near living up to my expectations, this could be the place I would recommend a newcomer in this hobby with any interest in classical music start out.

MLP and Telarc is an interesting comparison that I am familiar with.

I do not think I would ever mistake any recording I have heard on either label for the other. Apples/oranges. I associate Telarc with mostly digitally mastered recordings whereas MLP in their day was 100% analog (with later masterings in the 90s to these CDs).

Fascinating how such different beasts can still both sound very good.

Analog warmth, soundstage and dynamics are the hallmarks of the best MLP recordings. I do not necessarily consider these to be more strictly natural sounding in timbre, but most enjoyable and involving regardless.

MLP recordings sound very good on my OHMs in particular due to the simple miking techniques used in most/many. The soundstage is absolute top notch in regards to size and positioning of instruments within and that allows a lot of natural detail and a high degree of musical involvement. In this regard, I would say the closest sounding modern recordings I know of are those on the Mapleshade label, which employs similar production values in regards to how performances are miked. Still I doubt I would confuse a Mapleshade with a MLP recording. Two different beasts from two different eras still.