Sheffield Lab

I have about a half dozen of them, purchased back in the day, and they are indeed sonic "tours de force."

The one caveat I would cite, though, is that the Leinsdorf/LA Philharmonic classical recordings, while utterly spectacular and perhaps unparalleled with respect to dynamic range, clean transient response, powerful and accurate bass, and inner detail, were mic'd and recorded in an acoustic environment such that on some systems and to some listeners the string sound in particular will be objectionably dry, bright, and perhaps even harsh. Those expecting warm, lush acoustics may be disappointed, especially if their system tends toward brightness to begin with, and/or tends to homogenize and lose detail on massed strings.

That said, IMO both the classical and popular Sheffield D-to-D's are sonic treasures.

Best regards,
-- Al

I agree with Mofi, notwithstanding the caveat I stated earlier about the sonics of the Leinsdorf recordings (which despite that caveat are perhaps unequaled among classical recordings in several important positive respects, as I indicated).

It would certainly be reasonable to maintain that most or all of the Sheffields are not to one's taste, or that they are not among the best performances of the best music ever recorded. But to categorically reject all or most of them as musical dreck, that one (and apparently by implication others) should avoid listening to even if one were paid to do so, is simply ridiculous IMO.

Regards,
-- Al