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The absolute best and worst-sounding CD you own ?

This could be a tricky one. Many audiophiles and music lovers will care more for an artist they like in mediocre sound than a artist they can't stand no matter how great the recording is. Still, I am interested in finding out what truly outstanding recordings there are out there. Of course there are listening biases and all that can be said about the equipment.

My personnal best: Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall

My worst: The standard cd issue ''YES-Fragile'' just plain bad no matter on what you play it on. OK so this is a ''rock'' cd and they are all supposed to sound bad right?, still, there is no excuse for this turkey.

Let's have your choice...
sonicbeauty
priz
49 posts
 
Mdomnick, August and Everything After is the only CD I own by The Counting Crows. This recording is actually very good for rock music. Mine is not the Mobility Fidelity disc.

My only compliant was that there was background hiss during the softer passages (noticable because I listen quite loud). As I’ve refined my components, I was amazed at how much lower this hiss became. I would rate this recording very high.

If you want superb, Steely Dan’s latest, Eveything Must Go.
I think sonically it is their best—better than Two Against Nature, which was also very, very good.

Another well recorded rock disc by a lesser known band is Bring It On by Gomez.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Gullahisland, sign me up. I am glad that someone finally said it. Cafe Blue is the worst sounding recording I have ever heard with the possible exception of Picnic by Robert Earl Keen. Best is the Steve Greene Trio's Acoustic Living; good music too.
eddaytona
216 posts
 
Best; Ricki Lee Jones's first album. Better than the LP IMHO.
Worst: A live recording of Joan Sutherland that i bought at Border's Books. It apparently is some sort of bootleg type CD that was obviously recorded by someone in the audience with a stereo tape recorder in their lap and sounds like you would expect for someone in the rear of the hall. You can hear people next to the recorder moving in their seats and the sound kind of warbles and drifts. It is copyrighted and sold commercially however so not sure what gives.
rsbeck
887 posts
 
Here are some more great recordings --

Lyle Lovette -- Joshua Judges Ruth

Alison Kraus and Union Station -- Live

Bela Fleck -- Live Art

The Cure -- Galore
gileon
45 posts
 
Best sounding - Alan Parsons Project: The Definitive Collection. Superb remastering of some great songs.

Worst Sounding - Concrete Blond: Bloodletting. One of my favorites, musically, but recording wise, have never heard a more abysmal sound.
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