The problem with the music

Just because you don't like Cinematic Systems style, don't make the mistake of dismissing his message. Based upon the astonishing number of posts where people are looking to warm up the sound of their systems with, take you pick - tubes, interconnects, power cords, cables, tweaks, etc., I'd say it is fairly common for audiophiles to assemble systems that make significant portions of their music collection sound bad.

I agree with Nrchy that the music industry isn't concerned with audiophile values, but I disagree that it's the fault of the recording engineers. As audiophiles we may not like some of the artistic decisions made in the recording process, but from a technical point of view most major label recordings are well made. As an analogy consider any of the latest big budget Hollywood movies. They may be piss poor films, but the production values (lighting, sound, costumes, sfx, cinematography, set design, etc.) are all first rate. Every recording engineer I've ever met strives for good sound quality. To achieve that within budget and time constraints while dealing with a group of insecure temperamental artists is not little feat.

"I did not see anybody making loud and clear statements about how pathetic recordings are. I do see statements that say that some recordings are pretty crappy, and i dont think anyone will disagree with that. Looks like you are somewhat confused."

I alwaus wondered when thier attitude will end up like this...

"Whats the point in spending craploads to make good recordings when everyone will steal these as mp3's anyway?"

"Their" is a few recordings? or is "their" industry execs?

I agree that some or maybe MOST engineers, producers, and music companies don't care much for recording quality.

Most engineers make a few recordings?
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"and once again.... i repeat.....
What was being questioned was the level of desire of the production companys to create audiophile recordings...."

"have just bought 50 cd's from megadeth to Keb Mo to Gergiev SACD and they were all excellent. Your system is the problem not the recordings." let me add good-excellent, I typed ahead and skipped a word.

I put 2 and 2 together, if Nrchy was having similar experiences to me then his question would have been different. I assumed his system was reinforcing the comments made by Mike Large to a large degree. What do you think now?
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But i do see you tootin yer own horn about how yer right and everyone is backing off, which i dont really see that either champ. To tell the truth, you went off the deep end here thinking that everyone is saying all recordings are crap, i cannot find a single instance where that happens.

MMmmm, we have a semantic issue as you can see now.

for example;

So you are saying that all the recordings are superb and nobody should doubt thier quality, it is just Nrchy's crappy mismatched system?

brilliant deduction. yes my rose colores glasses makes this possible.
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"Looking at this thread it looks more of a discussion about the level of desire in modern recording companys to produce high quality recordings, which i think most people would agree that not all recording agencys put quality of recordings as thier top priority"

My point whether it is an industry priority or not is that recordings have been quite good overall...has your experience differred?
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Metralla,

Stepping up to make my point;

"Are you referring to the two Gergiev SACDs with the Kirov Orchestra on Philips? Sheherazade and the Shostakovich? The former is pretty dire and the latter substandard. Just trying to get a reference point."

The Sheherazade recording is not dire as I would come discover, but if your system isn't right it will be a mess.

But at this point Slappy it was much more important for you to talk about me then the topic. As you may want to check.
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And Since im wrong, and obviously backing off, why dont you go ahead and pull out some quotes off this thread from us shouting out all loud and clear that all recordings are pathetic, just one more little boot in our butts as we go scampering away from your brilliant logic and insight :)

I hope that was satisfactory, in addition when you say Sony doesn't care, that's like half the recording industry just so we understand magnitudes of statements.

"know there are labels that are sympathetic to our obsessions, but does Sony/Columbia, Mercury, or RCA etc. give a rats #$%&@ about what we want?"

No shizzle my nizzle sherlock, but they do care about the quality of their recordings, its the product they make. I can count on RCA Red Seal recordings being very good to outstanding. etc.
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Just so Its complete;

Real World Studios/ Peter Gabriel/ Mike Large, use ATC loudspeakers, every bit as good as any audiophile speaker.
Neither point,has anything to do with me being a dealer.

Lets not forget, JBL, Westlake, Genelec and Meyersound etc, all of which make speaker that any music lover would be proud to own.
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Audiophile anecdote;

In the last month I have visited two audiophiles who for the last 6 months have listened to broken speakers. One refused to recognize this and listens blissfully? today, well I understand he's shopping for new speakers.

The other well we'll see how long it takes to get fixed. But what is interesting is their comments about how one recording is awful and another etc. When if fact the only thing the recordings are guilty of is exposing the "dire" problems in their speakers. Both of these individuals have systems in excess of $60,000. Funny thing but i'm not willing to assume that your system is setup right because one is an audiophile.

Always somwhere else to put the blame it seems, or the magic cable will come to the audiophiles rescue again.
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Moot, not mute....thanks Pbb

No victory to be had when I can't get my point across, which was that as audiophiles we have a responsibility to have our house in order and as you can see in my anecdote above this is something that often is overlooked. The audiophile system is not above reproach and since we have control over it we should make sure its perfect within its perfect environment.

Does anyone disagree?

The point remains that one does not have to have a great system to hear that something is amiss in many of the recordings being sold today. I say this not to make the point, but to reinforce it; why are there so many people remastering, or selling 'audiophile' recordings if this is not true.

Maybe it's not worth arguing this point as cinematic and others seem to think that everything is fine.

If no one is holding the manufacturers, and engineers, responsible there is really no reason for them to offer anything more than what they are offering today.

Nrchy I don't like the tone in a few of the posts directed at you and interesting as they are they are heading a bit off topic.

I buy a lot of new music and whilst never claimining Audiophile ears I do find the vast majority to sound at least fine and a lot of them good.
Of course there are exceptions-if you take the new U2 album which I will review on Lugs soon-it sounds decent on headphones and on my iPod speakers-put it on my main system and it's pretty horrific.
However I believe that is their intention to make sure the "sound" hits the mass market-I say it in my review U2 didn't get to be one of the biggest bands in the world by worrying about niche markets.

It's a shame because I believe there is no need for this approach but I don't find it that common.

Hi Ben, you mention that you believe that there is intention to make sure the sound hits the mass market. My question would be, if the mass market doesn't know good from bad, why not make it good? (I am not agreeing with or disagreeing with one side of this or the other, simply asking a question.)