The bad news about......

[Ricardo]

getting into 2 channel, and starting to listen with good speakers and "mid-fi" components...

I've been really enjoying my SDA 1B's for the last week....the best was yesterday when I changed 2 drivers that had a damaged voice coil; they were probably damaged during the trip from Florida....you all know what those carriers can do....got replacements from Polk (Thanks to Ken for all the help !!!). What sounded great before the change, now sounds AWESOME.....

Anyway, have them connected directly to the HK 3480 and using the Denon CD changer I got from Trey, and to my ears this is just magic; I know some of you will say that I should go separates, tubes, etc...but let me enjoy this thing in stages, as it should be. For now I am very pleased with the sound, since it's the first time I have something like this. Upgrades will sure come sometime in the future

Now to the bad news....I don't have a large CD collection, but it's amazing how bad some recordings can be. I never noticed this before, I guess the better the system, the higher the recording quality you need....

I want to start buying some CD's but I don't want to get something that will sound like crap....Are there any recommendations on what labels I should or should not get, or what are the palces I should buy from or avoid??

Thanks!!

[polkatese]

wat kind of music do you listen to?

If you are into jazz, here are my list:

Warner Bros Music (Newer than YR 2000 production year)
Concord Jazz
Pablo
Chesky
GRP
Telarc

My rule of thumb, any newer recordings tend to be recorded much better. Any reissue/remaster from the 50/60s has many issues.

Have fun!

[Ricardo]

wat kind of music do you listen to?

If you are into jazz, here are my list:

Warner Bros Music (Newer than YR 2000 production year)
Concord Jazz
Pablo
Chesky
GRP
Telarc

My rule of thumb, any newer recordings tend to be recorded much better. Any reissue/remaster from the 50/60s has many issues.

Have fun!

Thanks..in fact I do like jazz; really enjoyable with my "new" system; where do you find those labels? All I've seen (BMG, Tower records, etc) is the usual WEA, Capitol, Verve, columbia, etc. Never heard of the ones you mention, except for Warner.

[PolknPepsi]

Now to the bad news....I don't have a large CD collection, but it's amazing how bad some recordings can be. I never noticed this before, I guess the better the system, the higher the recording quality you need...

My better half has some good music cd's that are a generic label and show their bad side. I'm still trying to figure out which brand/label of cd's are the better ones. Thanks...Polkatese

[faster100]

couple drivers were bad? Those were brand new.. last i knew i bought all the last 6509's from polk, unless they have a stand in for them.. hope they are all fixed now.. :) shipping and polk drivers don't do to well for sure

[Ricardo]

couple drivers were bad? Those were brand new.. last i knew i bought all the last 6509's from polk, unless they have a stand in for them.. hope they are all fixed now.. :) shipping and polk drivers don't do to well for sure

Yup....I think this is a good learning...these biggies should not be shipped...period.
I had not noticed it until I played some low bass music at a moderately high level...heard a few "cracks", and found two bad drivers. As per Ken, a blow in the side of the speaker could have caused this.

You are right on the 6509's...they run out of them; Ken said that they can be replaced with 6503's which are the ones I bought.

[steveinaz]

Now to the bad news....I don't have a large CD collection, but it's amazing how bad some recordings can be. I never noticed this before, I guess the better the system, the higher the recording quality you need....

True stuff, it's a double-edged sword with audio. You might want to try a good external DAC, mine worked wonders on more than few awful CD's. The "Best of the Guess Who" comes to mind quickest because it was horrendous. Tinny, 2-dimensional, squawkey; though it's still a poor recording, I can listen and enjoy it now.

[W WALDECKER]

wat kind of music do you listen to?

If you are into jazz, here are my list:

Warner Bros Music (Newer than YR 2000 production year)
Concord Jazz
Pablo
Chesky
GRP
Telarc

My rule of thumb, any newer recordings tend to be recorded much better. Any reissue/remaster from the 50/60s has many issues.

Have fun!

Windham Hill Music is a small label that has wonderful recordings. for example Michael Hedges entire catalog is on this label. Windham Hill is owned by Alex De Grassi who is a world class Guitarist in his own right....thanks....WCW III

[Emlyn]

Check out the recommended recording lists at www.acousticsounds.com

The company owner has a list there as well as lists of good recordings from editors of The Absolute Sound and Stereophile. A lot is on vinyl, but many recommended recordings are on CD as well.

[polkatese]

Thanks..in fact I do like jazz; really enjoyable with my "new" system; where do you find those labels? All I've seen (BMG, Tower records, etc) is the usual WEA, Capitol, Verve, columbia, etc. Never heard of the ones you mention, except for Warner.

Here are some links:

http://www.fantasyjazz.com/html/pablo_available.html

http://www.concordrecords.com/

http://www.chesky.com/

http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/label.aspx?lid=3

http://telarc.com/

[Danny Tse]

While I think all the music labels mentioned so far do a good job on their recordings, it comes down to the individual titles and the people who engineered them. No music label can guarantee each and every one of its releases will sound good. With that said....I highly recommended the latest remastered version of Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" and Dave Brubeck's "Time Out" on Sony. Simply stunning.

[LuSh]

This is a critical time during your path of upgrading and your heading in a dangerous direction. Good stereo systems should make you want to listen to more and more music. Not a small stack of well recorded cd's and a box full of crap. I can't tell you how many high end systems I've heard that are clinical to the point where the owner won't play anything that isn't from Chesky. Right away you have to ask yourself why am I spending this dough in the first place? The right reason is usually because you love music.

It is fun to find exceptionally well recorded music but remember, the bulk of what we listen to isn't recorded with all the stops pulled out. I think your next upgrade should be source. That Denon changer is holding you back, and it should be your next priority. By changing the source you'll be able to live with the bulk of your musical collection and enjoy your system more. When you decide to make that change is entirely up to you.

Aside from the usual jazz, blues rifts you'll find from exotic swedish recording labels consider:

Rock
The Band "The Last waltz"
Alice In Chains "Jar of Flies"
Alice In Chains "Unplugged"
The Allman Brothers "Live at the Fillmore"
RadioHead "Ok Computer"
RadioHead "Kid A"
NIN "Downward spiral"
NIN "With Teeth"
Other suprising stuff is anything by Korn. Green Day's Nimrod. The Clash.

Jazz stuff
Diana Krall "Live in Paris"
Jazz at the PawnShop (jvcxcd)
Opus 3 20th special addition disk.

[steveinaz]

This is a critical time during your path of upgrading and your heading in a dangerous direction. Good stereo systems should make you want to listen to more and more music. Not a small stack of well recorded cd's and a box full of crap. I can't tell you how many high end systems I've heard that are clinical to the point where the owner won't play anything that isn't from Chesky. Right away you have to ask yourself why am I spending this dough in the first place? The right reason is usually because you love music.

It is fun to find exceptionally well recorded music but remember, the bulk of what we listen to isn't recorded with all the stops pulled out. I think your next upgrade should be source. That Denon changer is holding you back, and it should be your next priority. By changing the source you'll be able to live with the bulk of your musical collection and enjoy your system more. When you decide to make that change is entirely up to you.

Absolutely, I agree 100%. Don't tailor your music to your system, build a system that will play everything well.

[Ricardo]

Thanks everyone for all the input; I continue to find differences in CD quality, and I don't want this to be the reason to stop listening to music I really like. I've been looking into some players, and found 3 that I might consider; appreciate any input on which would be a better buy (I know....go listen and decide...but anyway I'm asking :)) I know I could get better spending more....but I want to keep it below 300. If there are other options I am not listing, please speak up.

Onix XCD-88 @ 299
http://www.av123.com/products_produc...s&product=25.1

Cambridge Audio 340C @ 250
http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/pr...r%20in%20Black

Cambridge Audio D500SE @ 299
http://www.spearitsound.com/Cambridg...o/d500sesp.asp

[danger boy]

good quality recordings by none other than Diane Schuur

[polkatese]

Schuur she sounds great, always, DB! :) did you have the one with Maynard Ferguson on trumpet? gotta have that one, for sure.

HT Rookie, with your budget cap, I would look into Audiogon. You'll get the most bang for your money for players in the $700+ range for $250 - $300. For instance, there is one Denon 2910, 6 months old, for $300 (no affil):

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....lay&1134885128

it's a universal player, plays SACD - DVD-A too.

[Ricardo]

No need to send more input on the players...just bought this:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....lay&1134844350

Offered 190 shipped and he accepted; right now I am on a "the cheaper the better" mode; this player has really good reviews, so I think I will not be disappointed. If I am, I am sure I can sell it for the same I am spending now.

[tonyv1]

Windham Hill was started by William Ackerman, owned now by BMG. Here's the link .

[steveinaz]

Thanks everyone for all the input; I continue to find differences in CD quality, and I don't want this to be the reason to stop listening to music I really like. I've been looking into some players, and found 3 that I might consider; appreciate any input on which would be a better buy (I know....go listen and decide...but anyway I'm asking :)) I know I could get better spending more....but I want to keep it below 300. If there are other options I am not listing, please speak up.

Onix XCD-88 @ 299
http://www.av123.com/products_produc...s&product=25.1

Cambridge Audio 340C @ 250
http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/pr...r%20in%20Black

Cambridge Audio D500SE @ 299
http://www.spearitsound.com/Cambridg...o/d500sesp.asp

Get the D500SE. Far better than the other 2 choices in my opinion, and would make a great transport with its extremely low jitter.

[audiobliss]

HTRookie - The add's been removed, so I can't see what it is? What'd ya get? :)

[Ricardo]

HTRookie - The add's been removed, so I can't see what it is? What'd ya get? :)

Wow, the guy was fast in deleting the add.

I got a used Cambridge Audio D500SE

Pretty good price, and as I mentioned, I can always sell it again with no loss.

[audiobliss]

Awesome! I'm sure you'll not be disappointed!

Congrats!!


Now...if only you could get some tubes in the mix.....;)

:D:D:D:D

[Ricardo]

Awesome! I'm sure you'll not be disappointed!

Congrats!!


Now...if only you could get some tubes in the mix.....;)

:D:D:D:D

No....I really, really think tubes will not come any time soon...repeating to myself, repeating to myself, repeating to myself...

[reeltrouble1]

Its ok you can keep telling yourself how tubes wont sound that much better.!!!! :D

Oh those whispers in our head.

+1 Lush post

RT1

[polkatese]

So, HTRookie, I heard it through the rumor mills that you are in the market for tube pre-amp and power amp? trust me, it's worthed!

In fact, there are several killer deals on audiogon, just let us know if you need our helps...

:)

[W WALDECKER]

Windham Hill was started by William Ackerman, owned now by BMG. Here's the link .

you are absolutely correct. my mistake! i own Windham Hill albums by Michael Hedges,Alex De Grassi,Tuck Andress, Liz Story,David Torn, and the most recent one that i own is a Will Akerman cd and he is an excellent Guitarist in his own right also. thanks for keeping me straight

[LuSh]

There is a Museatex iDat, the first Bidat. It's unmodded and listed for $875 right now (Audiogon) , I think you could work that guy down to $600. Send it to John Wright. Chances are you'd have a DAC that could compete with anything in the world at any price.

Hell, even email John Wright and ask him first about the DAC for sale. He usually buys them himself. I think his email is on www.museatex.com still.

[jmierzur]

There is a Museatex iDat, the first Bidat. It's unmodded and listed for $875 right now (Audiogon) , I think you could work that guy down to $600. Send it to John Wright. Chances are you'd have a DAC that could compete with anything in the world at any price.

Hell, even email John Wright and ask him first about the DAC for sale. He usually buys them himself. I think his email is on www.museatex.com still.

Checked with John late last week. He did not have any Bitstream's on hand. Did not ask about the iDat though...

[LuSh]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....onv&1134670025

there you go bud, that dac looks exactly the same as mine. Work that guy down, and then email John and link him to that posting. Make sure you get John's input. How much it will cost to upgrade, what kinda of performance you should expect in relation to the Bidat and Bitstream. Tell him Paul sent you, if you want. I talk to him regularly. You won't find a more honest person in Audio I can assure you.

[jmierzur]

Thanks for the link, but the add states shipping to US only. In the past, I have not been successful trying to convince sellers to ship to Canada. So I wait.