SH Spotlight I'm asked stuff: Favorite mastering engineer, best BOSTON CD, best TRAVELING WILBURYS CD, etc..

I have this dream every week it seems.

VP

 

Previous Quote from Sam: The best way to get hooked was when we heard better systems. My friend's father had AR/3 speakers and an AR turntable. Fantastic in its time. Made me want to go out and upgrade.

I bought a Mono Bell 15 W amp in 1967 from a friend that was a little older because he had built a Dynaco PAT4 and Stereo 120 and bought AR3a speakers plus an AR XB TT. I was totally impressed. After graduating high school in 1969 I life guarded that summer and wanted to upgrade to Stereo. I remember looking at a Lafayette receiver at the time. I could not swing the exact system my friend had but I bought a Dynaco SCA80 and AR4ax speakers and Dual 1209 TT. After a couple of upgrades along the way, I still remembered the sound of the AR's and I finally got a pair of AR3a's about 5 years ago. They are all I need. Just replaced the crossover and redid the pots on one and going to do the other soon.

 

Regarding your DCC gold disc of Venus and Mars (GZS-1067), the dynamics are nearly explosive. What surprised you most about that experience?

 

If anyone is intrigued, I just found this... Interesting info. That was my first gold disc, and what a tremendous sound. That disc has been through a lot, but it's mine!

 

I didn't realize the 45 for "Listen to What the Man Said" was a completely different master with less compression. Has that been used for any CD out there (without any questionable mastering, like the NoNoised compilations of the '90s)?

I don't think it was used for the McCartney Archive Collection remasters.

 

Did a quick search, the most dynamic CD mastering is on Pure McCartney where it has a DR of 11. Elsewhere it's like 8 or 9, and even on the '80s CD compilation All the Best! it's measured at 10, so maybe Pure McCartney uses the 45 master?

 

I feel about the same about every Beatles album, I've heard 'em all to death. The exception is side two of Abbey Road, this one still gets me in the feels.

Re the WA, the 5.1 surround extractions are a revelation. For example, the individual surround stems for "Birthday" are an absolute hoot. Talk about unearthing buried treasure, it's kinda like having access to the multi-track tape as far as instrument isolation goes.

Most of the WA surround mix was great for this kind of thing. AR was OK for a few goodies, Pepper was a mess.

 

Straight from the album master, I'm afraid. I had to do a little surgery in Audacity to make it better.

 

Steve, in your opinion what are good nearfield speakers to purchase today.

There is a subwoofer attached to this small system I set up in a music room. But existing B&W speakers are malfunctioning so looking for new speakers.

 

Is Klipsch still held up as a standard, do you know?

 

Steve, a question I've wondered about since hearing how Big Star's #1 Record was cut...

The story goes that the EQ was manually adjusted as the cut reached the inner grooves to compensate for the natural loss of high end response in the vinyl, keeping that signature bright sound throughout.

Is this a common practice with most LPs? Does a computer make this calculation these days?

 

If they still do, never cared for them using horns for tweeters.

 

FWIW, if anyone wants to listen, an original Capitol Records #4091 radio station promotional copy:



And another user uploaded his own 45 here.

 

That's the UN-compressed version? I can hear the pumping on the final verse. Singing is almost completely obscuring the instrumental backing track.

 

As a new member to this forum but life-long music lover and long-time fan of your work thank you! Your name introduced me to the word 'audiophile', and to the idea that music doesn't always get released to the world as well as it can the first time around, and can be given new life after years of hearing things otherwise! This site is helpful and informative, and reminds me often I'm not the only one who still gives a care about sound quality of music!

 

Same! This forum is such a pleasure thanks to Our Host to keeping it going!

 

Sorry to read this tidbit, I can only imagine the difference the Bowie albums may have had if only some more money would have been available!

 

Hey hey, look what I found.



This was from my sister's collection. She had the "Junior's Farm" 45, too.

 

I hope the level of quality control was greater for that one.