Reference Recordings


Does anybody find Reference Recordings truly high fidelity?
In orchestral music, their perspective seems to be from the rear balcony of the auditorium.
 I’ve always thought if my system improved I would hear what many critics rave about.
But now I’ve come to the conclusion they are just dull and washed-out recordings with no sound staging and lots of bass.  Even with the HDCD setting available on my Oppo 105 the sound still is distant and watery.
Is it just me, or do others feel this way?
128x128rvpiano
Once you get used to the RRs the sound is not so bad, but nothing like the raves of some critics
I've found most of the RR's, of which I own quite a few, to be uninteresting. I prefer to seek out really great recordings from the Golden Era of recordings. And ... that isn't limited by a steady diet of RCA's and Mercurys either. :-)

Frank
FWIW, a few other Reference Recordings I think highly of -

1) Copland - Appalachian Springs Suite (OV for 13 instruments)

2) Menotti/Barber Concerts for Violin & Orchestra

Both were recorded by Prof Johnson with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.

On the subject of Prof Johnson and the art of recording in the late 50’s, Professor Johnson’s Astounding Sound Show, if you can play vinyl and your interested (research on Google) this recording is a hoot! My house is still reverberating from the African drums cut - I used to love to bring the house down with this. :-)
@newbee - newb, which of his recordings is a hoot, with African drums? Ah, you fixed it. Thanks, I have that one on a shelf, will have to pull it out. 
I have many of the old ones Prof did- one of my favorites, sonically, is the Three Penny Opera.
As you probably know, he went to hi-rez digital a while ago. I got the chance to learn about some of his recording techniques in connection with a Doug McLeod album which has a lot of very quiet passages--

Whart, Revised! But I thought all you guys were clairvoyant and would just know these things. :-)