DCC Archive Best of the Best?

Hi,

What are your 5 favorite audiophile cd's and why?

Let It Rain,
Jeffrey

 

In no special order:

Kind Of Blue - It's audiophile qualities I'd rank as good, but the music itself is timeless.

DCC/ Court And Spark - This CD has an exqusite sound that is rare in terms of the warmth and realism of her voice.

MFSL/ Moving Pictures - Five seconds into Tom Sawyer, and the story is already told. The characteristic Mo-Fi impact and clarity is a perfect match for this music.

DCC/ Aqualung - The perfect album with the perfect sound. This was one of my earlier DCC acquisitions, so I never expected this kind of sound from such an old production.

MFSL/ Days Of Future Past - It's a little bass heavy but still better than the regular off-the-shelf CD. Again it's the music, but I think there's still room for improvment.

 

Roy Orbison: All Time Greatest Hits (DCC)-----Great detail and smoothness

Donald Fagan: Nightfly---This is not a DCC or MFSL CD, but it sure sounds like one.

Nat King Cole: Greatest Hits (DCC)---Beautiful voice and beautiful recordings

Elvis Presely: 24 Karat Gold (DCC)—Once again, beautiful voice and beautiful recordings.

Beach Boys (Razor and Tie)---Huge soundstage, great voices.

Moody Blues: Days of Future Past (MFSL Vinyl 1/2 speed master) Great dynamics. The rumbling cymbal at the begining emerges from complete silence.

Steely Dan: AJA (MFSL)--My favorite group

 

Gold CD's:
R.E.M. - Murmur MFSL (the first I bought, the one that got me hooked on all of this)
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
(they are two of my favorite of all-time, and thank god Steve managed to put these out)
U2 - Joshua Tree MFSL (U2 and REM were my favorites in jr. high, but not quite anymore. I still love this album, though, which sounds much better than my old CD of it)
Joni Mitchell - Blue DCC (maybe the best singer-songwriter album, unless you count Blood On The Tracks and Plastic Ono Band as falling in that genre; even better than the HDCD version)

I recently got an SACD player and SACD's, so I'm still knocked out by it. Here's what I bought for it:

Leonard Bernstein - Rhapsody in Blue, etc.
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Miles Davis - Miles Smiles
Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde

 

My five top albums in no particular order

Robert Cray: Strong Persuader MFSL UD2 but would like the UD1. Stunning compared to the commercial release, great songs.

CCR: Bayou Country DCC Incredible realism. Sounds like Tom is in my living room sitting on a stool playing.

The Eagles: Hotel California DCC By far superior to any other release of this album

Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon MFSL UD1 A bit of eq use on the bottom end but still worth it (at least until Steve does it).

The Who: Who's Next MCA. I'm in Canada, need I say more. LOL

 

Top Five DC's (Ramdom Order)

Eagles Greatest Hits (DCC)- I had all this on vinyl and CD this blew them out of the water!

Nat "King Cole/Love is the Thing (DCC)- Even when you play this DC on a (Large/Table Top size)you can hear the man standing right in front of you!! And the music!

Elton John/ Madman Across the Water (MFSL) -It like having a picture of a Picaso for years, then see the real thing! You see the shading and brush strokes and can start to feel you know art. (Steve's LP is also amazing, I have that also, but we are talking DC's here.)


Jackson Browne/Late For the Sky (DCC) - I've loved the album but it was always played flat. Steve puts the car outside your house, shuts the doors and starts the car (without ajusting the idle). By the end you feel, Late for the Sky.


Elton John/Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (MFSL) -The Album is like falling through a story-book. This CD is like falling with a parachute, you see all these great detals you did not get to see before and you almost don't want to land.


The All-Time Greatest Hits Of Roy Orbison (DCC)- I had this CD before. I had seen Roy before he died in 1990. When I first played this CD I cried because it reminded my that you can't see him any more, but this was pretty close (for the music). I think this is better then 24kt Elvis

 

Which Kind Of Blue do you have?

*Ben Webster Soulville (Japanese Verve)
*Nirvana Nevermind (MFSL)
*Muddy Waters Folk Singer (MCA)
*Miles Davis 'Round About Midnight (Japanese Sony)
*Monk's Music (Japanese Riverside)

 

Damn, I saw this subject line and was hoping it was a commentary on the classic Eric Roberts movie.

But I personally like III (subtitled "No Turning Back"), with Gina Gershon. Hell, I like anything with Gina Gershon.

 

It's the Columbia/ Legacy SBM, remastered on vintage tube equipment. It has a bonus alt. take of Flamenco Sketches.

Oh, I just noticed that the notes indicate that it is a remix, that it was remixed on an all tube 3 track machine. It's still my favorite version though. I'd like to hear some other opinions on this...

 

I didn't know it was mastered on tube, but I woundn't doubt it. I have the Japanese DSD mastered CD (LP replica), and it sounds wonderful. It also sounds very different to the Classic Quiex version I have (just different, not better), already aware of the different sound I'd have anyway. It is also the one with the bonus track, so I'm almost positive it's the same mastering mirroring the SBM with a minor Japanese magic dust. It's a very magical recording, and religious experience to listen to. The Classic 45RPM I've heard to be even better, then there's people in the Audioasylum.com that insist the 6-eye Columbia is the best ever, and the SACD is murder via brightness. I don't buy the 6-eye opinion, but then again, one would have to experience it to know.

Yeah, the latest CD is heavenly, and if it is a mirror of the Japanese, then I agree whole heartedly.

 

I have a white label promo 6 eyes Kind of Blue and I would rate it higher than the 45RPM, which I think is better than the the regular Classic reissue. All the CDs of this album are less involving for me, still agree it's a great sounding Japanese CD though. There are some wonderful sounding CDs out there - my top five:

1. Elton John/Madman Across the Water - MFSL
2. Muddy Waters/Folk Singer - MFSL
3. Blue/Joni Mitchell - DCC
4. Rikki Lee Jones/Pop Pop - Domestic
5. Nat King Cole/Love is the Thing - DCC

 

I envy you that Madman CD. The last one I saw at eBay went for $113. I'm ordering the DCC vinyl.

 

My Top 5:

1.Cream-Fresh Cream (DCC-Steve Hoffman's Mona Lisa))

2.Procol Harum-Broken Barricades (MFSL-Trower starts to REALLY stand out!)

3.Derek & The Dominos-Layla (MFSL-The best sounding version to my ears.)

4.Miles Davis-Cookin', Steamin', Relaxin', Workin' (DCC-might as well count as one !)

5.John Mayall & Eric Clapton-Bluesbreakers (MFSL-Better than all of the current **** remasters-domestic and import!)

Happy Listening ! -ED

 

Hmm...coming from me this is gonna sound *really* silly, but....

There are certain things I actually prefer on the Astley mastered CD (stereo/mono issue). Other than the first 3 tracks (which sound really bad on the Astley CD), in many cases that CD just sounds more open. A bit more high end. Too much? Perhaps, but it seems like the MoFi doesn't have enough...

 

My audiophile faves (in no particular order):
1. "Unseen Rain" Ginger Baker
2. "Gone Just Like a Train" Bill Frisell
3. "200 More Miles" Cowboy Junkies
4. "The Great Deceiver" King Crimson
5. "Waiting For Columbus" Little Feat
6. "Just One Night" Eric Clapton - MoFi version recorded by John Astley!!!!
7. "Live and Let Live" Bobby King and Terry Evans
8. "Is There Anybody Out There?" Pink Floyd
9. "Kind of Blue" Miles Davis Sony 64935
10. "Time Out" Dave Brubeck Sony 65122

 

Sorry about the 10, but you get that!!!!

 

In no particular order...

The Beatles - Abbey Road MFSL. My first audiophile experience

Led Zeppelin II MFSL. Severe output.

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds DCC. Reaquainted me with the audio delights.

Elvis - 24 Karat Hits DCC. Gave me a new appreciation for the man.

Deep Purple - Made In Japan DCC. Their pinnacle reproduced as it should be.

 

My best sounding?

Wilco-Being There(Bob Ludwig)
Muddy Waters -Folk Singer(MFSL)
John Coltrane-Blue Train(Classic Records)
Pink Floyd-The Final Cut(stock version)
The Cars debut (DCC)
Elvis 24 Karat hits
Moody Blues -In Search of the Lost Chord(Mofi)
That one blew my mind.

 

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who posted. Would love to see more opinions, especially from all the regulars & Steve H.

Please help me spend my $ before my wife does.

The Race Is On,
Jeffrey

 

Fair enough Luke, but I got to say to my ears this CD is just to bright and "tinny". I like the MOFI more because it has warmth and just sounds more natural. The Astley CD to me sounds so slick that it reminds me of those lousy ZZ Top CD's. Look forward to hearing more of what you think. -ED

 

YES ... EXCELLENT disc, great songs, great sound. Vinyl or CD, you can't go wrong (I have and enjoy both).

I'd also have to nominate:

"The Doors" (DCC);
"Court & Spark," Joni Mitchell (DCC);
"Kind of Blue," Miles Davis (Sony Legacy ... technically not an audiophile release, but a very nice CD);
"Sunday at the Village Vanguard," Bill Evans Trio (JVC XRCD)