Progressive Rock

Yes9 said :My question is, giving the poor recording quality of the 70's stuff, especially Genesis, my favorite, is there really any point in continuing the upgrade path. Or as I suspect, have the I reached the old proverbial "point of diminishing returns"?

Before I replaced my Sonic Frontiers preamp, I would have agreed pretty much on this idea of diminishing returns. But, after buying and using the Ayre K-1x preamp(using balanced in/out), I believe there is much to be gained via upgrade, sorry to say!
As far as early Genesis, the texture & layering of Tony Bank's keyboards and Hackett's guitar are so sweet, I have never heard it like this, and I bought these albums new 30+ years ago in 1972-1974, and have never stopped listening to them. I marvel at what I have missed on these over the years. (The remastered CDs are what I listen to now; LPs are well-worn by now).
Try the Mike Oldfield remasters...VERY nicely done, long cuts,worth the $10 they can be found at!

You can't talk about Prog these days without mentioning Porcupine Tree. Most of their stuff is on LP too.

My system, while not designed to play rock at all, is fine with it (and I tend to be brutal about it...) and I am one of those at the shows that plays stuff like that all the time- King Crimson, ELP, Camel. Didn't make Stereophile this year though...

Being a HUGE Gentle Giant fan, I have often used the Octopus CD, along with Masque by Brand X, and a few others to audition audio equipment. I have always tried to purchase gear that was the most accurate, revealing, transparent, etc. I think if you have some good recordings of piano, acoustic guitar, drums, cymbals, violin, brass, concentrate on equipment that makes all of this sound natural. Then poorly recorded music or electric instruments will be as good as they can be. You don't have to design a system around Prog or Classical, as mentioned, stress accuracy and you'll be fine.
Sonny

Iseekheils --

I'm not sure if you own a turntable, but you simply haven't HEARD "Octopus" til you've heard a decent vinyl pressing of this great recording.

In my system, the bass is at least a full octave deeper, and all other parameters (dynamics, high-end clarity, soundstage, etc.) is noticably better...

I also listen primarily to "prog rock" and am fortunate enough to have a good friend who constantly seeks out "new" GREAT prog rock bands -- those of you who can find 'em, and are fans of Genesis, YES, ELP. etc. will probably really like "Ad Infinitum", Simon Says "Paradise Square", and a few others that are recent, clean, dynamic digital recordings.

I am probably quite a bit younger than some here so I did not grow up with 70's prog.
But I am heavily into modern Prog Rock and you would be suprised that almost all prog these days has very high production values, much more so than average music recorded today.

If you like stuff like Yes, ELP, Kansas e.t.c check out

Spocks Beard
Arena (ex Marillion members, brilliant)
Porcupine Tree
Ayreon
Enchant

and prog rock with a bit more harder edge
Dream Theater
Shadow Gallery
Symphony X
Pain Of Salvation
Threshold