50 of the best hi-fi albums for audiophiles

"We didn't set ourselves the task of picking the absolute, definitive best 50 albums for audiophiles.

"We did, however, manage to compile the below list of 50 records (and a little further listening for each) we feel span genres, styles of production and sonic character rather well. If nothing else, they'll give your hi-fi a workout and, hopefully, broaden your musical horizons at least a little."

> From the introduction to the article

gsm18493,

If you are associated with the article, I don’t recall you mentioning "definitive" in your original title/post. I recall this.. "50 of the best hi-fi albums for audiophiles". When one mentions audiophiles, I can only assume, they mean, the best sounding.....You now want to go back and renew your original meaning.

My "Automatic for the People" does not give my system a "work-out". It does give my ears a sense of...'I don't want to subject myself to this anymore".

Agreed that AFTP would not be on my list.  Reckoning is a much better choice in the REM realm, at least for me.

I am surprised by the list. There is quite a bit of music that I like, but audio quality in analogue recordings from the sixties?

I had expected the usual list of audiophile warhorses, many with good sonics, but so-so music, or material so well-trod that it is hardly a revelation. The inclusion of The Congos, Heart of the Congo, is cool. It isn't a sonic masterpiece in the audiophile sense, but it is a trip to listen to; Lee Perry cobbled it together using some of the top players in Jamaica, using a TEAC 4 track deck - 2340 o4 3340?-- bouncing tracks to get more space to overdub. The whole thing is a marvel of sound, but it isn't purist stuff- if anything, it is a wacky, wonderful exploration of the art of dubbing and Jamaican roots reggae.  (PS: if you want to buy this record, there is only one I've heard that sounds decent- it is the OOP Blood & Fire copy. The short-lived Simply Vinyl reissue of same sounds flat and dead).