2. analog
  3. 1046804225

Best sounding LP's

I'm new to analog, and discovering that LP's, like CD's, are definitely not created equal in terms of sound quality. I've bought some used classical LP's, including a recent Deutche Gramaphone (sp?) recording that sounded really great and I realized how bad the others were after that.

Is there a web site that rates records for their recording quality? CD's also for that matter. If there's not one, somebody should start one. For me with classical, sound quality is paramount. How do you guys decide what to buy?
matt8268
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Deutche Gramaphone are far not the best sounding ones.
Angel are a-bit better.
Among the classical ones the best ones probably RCA Victor.
Despite that Angel has the best musicians and performances recorded.
For jazz and rock I prefere German issues over US ones.
nar_com
70 posts
 

http://www.high-endaudio.com/supreme.html
For classical LP that would be a good start

BTW, take a look at classicrecords.com
Most of their reissues are great.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
If sound quality is paramount for you, in classical LP's I have generally found Phillips to have excellent quality and some good recording artists as well. DG is touch and go. EMI, London, Decca also have excellent recording practices and the surfaces of all of these were usually quite good (when new). Angel & RCA have some good music but a lot had pressing problems. RCA Living Stereo however could be just outstanding, as could Mercury Living Presence. You can also find great LP's by Telarc. For CD's you usually get good sound from London/Decca, EMI, Chandos, Telarc, BIS, Hyperion, Harmunia Mundi, Delos, Dorian, Denon, but watch out on DG these have similar problems to a lot of their LP's. CBS (Sony) and RCA as well. On the major labels the music recorded in the last 10 years usually sounds very respectible. Enjoy.......
More to discover