2. analog
  3. 1246451558

Establishing a common analog listening bias

Maybe it is possible to establish a widely accepted common ground in terms of listening bias by choosing and agreeing on 10-30 LPs all readily available new to all audiophiles for decent price.
If all listening tests and personal comments regarding the sound of components and systems in the various threads and posts would refer to any of these LPs mainly, everyones comments and experiences would much easier be understood by their fellow Audiogoners.

How about an "Audiogon baker's double-dozen"?

This would create a solid ground for all of us.

How do you think about this ?
dertonarm
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Halcro, D.
>>> side one on the Royal Ballet set is dead on perfect phase - the other 3 sides are not...<<<

I follow this with great interest :-)
The one (for me) most important short coming of side 1, the stereo double album, (I also have the single 1st disc in mono), the cutter left that 'nasty' 50Hz buzz 'marking/trace' on the groove.
It can be clearly heard subsiding when going into dead wax.
There are a number of older recordings (period from 1958 to 1963) that seem to have that exact problem also, I'm thinking DG.

Maybe we can get 'Atmasphere' to comment on this, as he seems the one contributor most closely knowledgeable of cutting-lathes, and their problems.

Axel

axelwahl
788 posts
 
Hi, one more?
"Ma Mère L'Oye" by Ravel with Ansermet and OSR?

Any comments on that one's 'PHASE'?

Another that's 'too good' by any chance?
A.
dertonarm OP
1,042 posts
 
Hi, in general the DECCA-engineers had a more lucky hand regarding absolute phase in the recording equipment than their collegues at RCA and EMI.
Thats why on the best DECCA SXLs you will have - once your VTA is 100% (...99%) groove-compliant - a extremely convincing recreation of the actual recording location, its proportions, separation and localizing of individual voices and the sense of real air.
Ma mère L'Oye is good - but on a par with another 30-35 DECCA recordings.
Then the OSR is first rate rarely.
But this DECCA too may serve well.
Cheers,
D.
stiltskin
499 posts
 
Halcro your description of what you hear off Belafonte's long time and highly regarded performance is totally mystifying.

"Voices and instruments undemanding though well recorded""

"Audience is simply an ill defined and sometimes a distorted screech of nebulous applause"

WHAT!

This excellent R.C.A. recording has been known as such among music enthuses for "decades"....
axelwahl
788 posts
 
Oh, oh, now we're getting down to brass-tacks!
Who'll be the judge on all this lot now?

Got to pull this Belafonte LP from under my locker and see what's what.
I do recall the music is not exactly down everyone’s alley though, my girl friend (17 year younger to say) is going to throw stuff at me I suspect.
A.
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