Better Quality CD's

Unless you want SACD (Super Audio) or HDCD (High Definition) which are also available at Best Buy, generally speaking there is no such thing as a better quality CD. They are all the same. There are the occassional collector CDs made from other materials like gold, but not for the mass market.

EMI's "Recordings of the Century", Decca's "Legends", Sony Music's 20bit re-issues, and DG's "The Originals" sound pretty good (DG is variable). But that's classical. What do you listen to?

It depends on your taste in music. Mine is rather eclectic, so I'll recommend two labels I enjoy. Acoustic Disc and MA Recordings. They are both painstakingly recorded and offer outstanding sonic quality.

On the Talon Audio website (http://www.talonaudio.com/select.htm), there are lists of "expert selections." Most can be ordered from amazon.com.

For the Rock & Pop genre, Mobile Fidelity (MSFL) gold discs (ultradisc) are about the best of the best. Unfortunately, the went out of business a while ago, so finding 'em can be tough and and paying for them can be even worse! They are getting pricy. Try "elusive disc", eBay, or half.com. DCC also produces gold discs...good, but in my opinion, not quite the sonics as MSFL. Japanese pressings are usually outstanding. Next on the list are German, Austrian, and Dutch imports. British imports' sonics run "hot and cold", but the quality is at least equal or better than American pressings. I have been really impressed with the Canacian discs that I have heard. Be careful of "Remastered" discs. Sometimes, they run compression at mastering, making the disc sound more powerful but losing micro-dynamics. I have a remastered Yes "Classics" and a Japanese version not remastered...the Japanese version wins hands down. STAY AWAY from anything marked CEMA or Sony Music Special Presentations...in my experience, both have nasty sonics especially on the high-end. If you listen to strings forget about CD format and go to analog...these instruments just seem to have an edge to them on CD that vinyl seems to get right. If you want to know about specific titles, you may e-mail me.