DVD-A recording titles to die for

If your setup is multichannel, and you will listen to classical, try TACET DVD D107, Mozart Flute Quartets. To really get the full impact, your rear speakers ought to be as good as the fronts. Other TACET discs are also excellent, but this is the one I use to demo my system.

I have found that DVD-A and SACD audio quality varies greatly between discs. Don't be discouraged by a few duds. However, certain Labels tend to be reliably better, and more expensive. The TACET discs will set you back nearly $30, but worth it.

Other great dvda's are:
Tommy--the Who
Frampton Comes Alive
From the Front Row--Kansas and Pat Benetar
1011 Woodland --the Fixx-- good surprise!!
Flamenco A Go Go--Steve Stevens -- smokin guitar

First, my principle criterion for great-sounding classical recordings is naturalness--I want to be transported to the concert hall.

With that in mind, all of the several Naxos clasical DVD-As ( http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/default.asp?label=NaxosDVDAudio&active=CD&Title1=NAXOS%20DVD%20Audio&InParam=((iv_type=3)AND((class_code='NDL')or(class_code='NDS'))) ) are at least very good. My favorite is the Shostakovich 7th Symphony by Yablonsky and the Russian Philharmonic O., # 5.110020. I also have several of the Silverlines with Abravenal conducting the Utah SO. They're all at least good; those produced and recorded by Mark Aubort and Joann Nikrenz of Elite Productions are best. My favorite is the Sibelius Symphonies 2 and 3, #288255-9. Evey time I listen to the 3rd and 4th movements of the 2nd I get goosebumps.

I agree heartily with Eldartford--quality is highly variable.

Also, there seems to be great differences of opinions among producers/engineers on how loud the centerchannel should be...from not used at all to (IMO) WAY too loud. I like the solidity that use of the CC brings, but often I turn it down.

Jeffreybehr..."transported to the concert hall" is what a really good stereo system will do. Multichannel can do it somewhat better. However, multichannel can also do something that stereo can't...transport a small group of musicians, classical chamber group, jazz, or bluegrass, into your listening room. This makes perfect sense. It's the best "you are there" sound there is. It can also put you into the midst of a larger orchestra, but many folk, probably those who have not performed in an orchestra, find this annoying.

I think that center channel is very important, as it is the logical place to put a soloist. However, I agree that the center level varies a lot. I have violin concertos where, if I crank the volume up enough to really feel the orchestra, the violin is lounder than any real violin can play, and therefore is sonicly poor. It's like looking at your girlfriend's complexion under a magnifying glass!

Finally, I disclaim any status as a guru.