Let the best be your guide


All of us have had to come to grips with bad sounding recordings. They can be disabling and make you question your whole system. The trick is to accept them for what they are and not to generalize. I try to listen for the music and skim over the imperfections. When confronted with a clinker, to save my sanity, I play a recording i know to be superior sounding. That restores my faith  in the system and brings me back to reality.

128x128rvpiano

I use a Mclntosh MQ112 Environmental Equalizer to fix some recordings. Just what the doctor ordered. Love it. 

A bad recording is a bad recording no system, speakers to boot will improve that situation, old age, hearing, or forgiving tolerance might factor though lol. Compare the likes of vintage Rolling Stones vinyl to current mastering abilities, might pass in a mediocre car but on a high end revealing system… laughable.

I dont try to "fix" any recording. I accept the imperfections. Any system that makes everything sound good is a colored system.

 

I enjoy the good recordings and if I find something that isn't a good recording, if it's so bad I can't enjoy it I don't play it.

I had a guest who really liked Dolly Parton and some of her early songs you can tell the recording is subpar but not her performance.  I've also hear updated mixes on Tidal where I thought the mix was horrible and moved on.

I view music like food - I'll enjoy it and if I don't I don't consume it.  Certainly try something new but just because it's doesn't mean you have to like it.