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Something for Everyone in Super High Fidelity

Like a missionary in the jungle, I continue to practice my usual high end evangelism with non audiophile friends, rarely finding the eager disciple.

Despite warnings of this peculiar audiophile habit in many other threads, I must admit I am often tempted to play something that sounds good, only to be reminded that music which people don't like (not to mention straight percussion or steam trains) probably wont inspire them to upgrade their stereo system.

On the other hand, we all know that deferring to a friends musical taste for a demo will immediately locate the screechiest, worst sounding recording in your collection.

Bearing this in mind (and maybe some of you have already done this) 1) what COLLECTION of well recorded tracks, 2) across genres of music, would you 3) put on a compliation CD or "rip" into WAV files to accomodate the widest musical tastes of future audiophiles?

Some classical? Jazz? Rock? Soundtracks?

Each of these genres have been discussed in other threads, but what tracks would you include to capture the widest possible audience as an audio missionary?

Thanks for ideas.
cwlondon
hens
173 posts
 
Two current faves are Dave's True Story - self titled album and Keb Mo - 'Peace ...Back by Popular Demand.

For rock, I go with the Eagles Live (the opening sequence of Hotel California makes a stunning impact!) or Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. I also second Hodu's nomination of 'A Walk Across the Rooftops' by the Blue Nile.

For classical, I stick to the well known The Four Seasons, Camina Burana or the 1812 Overture.

But to be honest, regardless of how bad the recording might be, you've got a better chance of showing how good the music can sound when they're listening to their own music choice. A decent mid-fi system will still murder a 3 in 1 or 'surround sound in a box' system that so many of my mates seem to find sufficient.

Good luck on your quest!
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
Hens

Your closing point is exactly my point - people who are not predisposed to being audiophiles are unlikely to be moved by music they don't like - no matter how good it sounds.

But the idea here is that if we can collect enough, diverse examples of well recorded music, we can assemble something for everyone in super high fidelity.

Here's another:

Eric Clapton - Old Love - from the unplugged CD.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,670 posts
 
Hens wrote: "For classical, I stick to the well known The Four Seasons, Camina Burana or the 1812 Overture. " GAK! First, those are common and boring with no real surprises. Second, those are compositions, not recordings. All exist in positively dreadful recordings/performances as well as decent and outstanding ones..................if one cares. So, this is not a useful contribution.
hens
173 posts
 
Kr4, thanks for your educational words. I was really highlighting the type of music rather than wanting to get into the detail of which specific performances - they are all well known to my non-hi-fi friends and are able to highlight what a good system can do in areas that other genres of music don't. This was the reason they were mentioned.

Speaking of "not useful" contributions, would you care to actually nominate some tracks yourself for the benefit of the thread?
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I think Hens was offering his idea's to this thread, Kr4 slammed him for his ideas with his opinion, who cares about composition and recordings....the point is a selection that folks may enjoy hearing. You are a simple man Kr4 if you cant see it was your post that had nothing to offer.
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