Which Record makes your system shine?

Since my system is so great at creating a large, deep, layered soundstage, one of the recordings I go back to often, is, "Static and Ecstatic", by composer, Ernst Krenek.

This recording has such a 3d soundstage, it is easy for me to imagine I can get up from my listening chair, and walk into the soundstage, and steal a violinist’s bow.

Musically speaking, it is atonal, complex, and overall, pretty "thorny" sounding, so YMMV. Which is exactly the way I like my classical music to sound.

Depends on what the listener likes. Anything that was recorded direct to disk is usually very good, Telarc and Crystal Clear both recorded this way, Sheffield may have. All are excellent. These will be mostly classical recordings.

Alan Parsons made great recordings of his own music. He was the recording engineer for DSOTM, which many people have referred to over the years. Pink Floyd did some great recordings, my favorite is Wish You Were Here and on the Island Label. Island was a great label for any of the UK bands.

Joni Mitchell did some very nice recordings. So did Tori Amos.

American Gramaphone is Chip Davis' label, some outstanding recordings, including the Fresh Aire series and a lot of Christmas music, which I don't normally care for but I like it the way Chip Davis does it. 

Hi Jay -

There are two records -

Joan Baez - 'Diamonds and Rust'

This is the 1980 release from Nautilus Records.  Surpasses any other pressing, vinyl or digital.  Picked this record up used in Toronto for I think CAD10 a few years back.

https://www.discogs.com/release/3223414-Joan-Baez-Diamonds-Rust

Elton John - 'Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra'

I have a newer vinyl pressing, but it's either MCA or Rockets records.  I have had this music in my collection on CD since it was released almost 30 years ago.  

System being referred to -

• Prima Luna Prologue 5 Power Amp (purchased new - 20 years) 
• Music Fidelity CD PRE 24 (preamp/ cd player) - (purchased new - 22 years) 
• Zu Audio Dirty Weekend Floorstanders - (purchased new - 7 years) 
• Decware ZP3 phono preamp - (purchased new - 3 years)
• Technics 1210 TT; Audio Technica cartridge
• Audioquest & QED cables

Thanks for letting me play, 

Rich 

Boston, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Al Stewart to name a few. Some records definitely sound better than others. 

"James Taylor Greatest Hits on Vinyl and that record just sounds a bit veiled to me."

Greatest Hits/compilation albums are always SQ compromised and are best enjoyed without "audio ears."

Seek the original pressing/audiophile release.