KVR Audio

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:51 am

Back in the day, THE THE - Infected

Heathcliff · Post by **Heathcliff** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:53 am

Mike Oldfield - Amarok

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:35 pm

I'd happily list ones with low fidelity recording or something live recorded on a crappy cassette recorder. It's not about sounding 'best' - albums just sound the way that they sound.

Quietinthedark · Post by **Quietinthedark** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:48 pm

tehlord wrote:Back in the day, THE THE - Infected

Huh. I must admit, THE THE's first album, while I wasn't that into it as a music listener, I have often used it as reference tracks.

The remastered Rolling Stones album, Hot Rocks?. Very good sounding.

For metal, the first Rage Against the Machine disc. Even if it is a little lower volume by loudness warrior standards.

PurpleCatfishBettie · Post by **PurpleCatfishBettie** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:45 pm

Vinnie Vincent Invasion: Invasion (remastered, 2003)

commuter · Post by **commuter** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:49 pm

Violator-depeche MODE

skipscada · Post by **skipscada** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:26 pm

robojam wrote:I'd happily list ones with low fidelity recording or something live recorded on a crappy cassette recorder. It's not about sounding 'best' - albums just sound the way that they sound.

Why would you happily list records that are "low fidelity" or "crappy" when someone asks you to suggest records that sound good? Of course a record can be good without sounding good or be crap despite sounding good, but that's irrelevant here.

Examples of good workmanship are valuable for persons who aim to become good at what they're doing. Reference recordings are fundamental for mixing.

Moe Shinola · Post by **Moe Shinola** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:33 pm

Astronaut Wife - Flying Saucer

Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas

Steve Roach - Structures From Silence

The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall

Jimi Hendrix - Blues

King's X - Faith Hope Love

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:39 pm

Joy Division - Closer
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
T.Rex - Electric Warrior

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:45 pm

ontol wrote:One standout for me, at least as far as mixing goes, is Rumors by Fleetwood Mac.

I am not a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, but I have heard songs from that album in a million different places through as many different systems and it always sounds clear. Whether it was a huge and expensive system or some tiny little transistor radio half-buried in the sand at the beach.

+1 on this.. not a fan either, but great sounding album. A couple more on my personal fave list:

Amused to Death -- Roger Waters... just love the dynamics of this album, both in terms of songwriting and production

Pretenders II ... ok, maybe this is the nostalgia talking, but this album has a special place in my heart and ears...

Ghost in the Machine / Zenyatta Mondatta ... either one, take your pick

Reach the Beach -- The Fixx ... crystalline 80's pop... love his voice...

Moving Pictures ... have to +1 this...

Elemental -- Tears for Fears... another album w/ great dynamics... and clean clean clean

Woodface -- Crowded House ... clean production and engineering here...

Brown Sugar -- D'Angelo... another from D'Angelo... haven't heard Voodoo, but Brown Sugar is actually on my Top 4 or 5 All Timers list... fantastic sound and production here...

I'm sure there are many more... Zeppelin, etc. G*d... just looking at that list... modern engineering sux dog poo, it really does...

hibidy · Post by **hibidy** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:54 pm

It really does mostly but sometimes I hear exceptions. Every once in a while someone has just the right amount of "limiting" w/o the "smash to death" syndrome.

BTW, worst mixed records? Mars Volta. Just horrible. Can't listen to them on cans......CAN'T DO IT!

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:01 pm

skipscada wrote:
robojam wrote:I'd happily list ones with low fidelity recording or something live recorded on a crappy cassette recorder. It's not about sounding 'best' - albums just sound the way that they sound.
Why would you happily list records that are "low fidelity" or "crappy" when someone asks you to suggest records that sound good?

Because it's subjective and that type of recording might be "the best sounding album" to me.

Why wouldn't I list it?

lofty · Post by **lofty** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:05 pm

lofty · Post by **lofty** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:55 pm

herodotus · Post by **herodotus** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:09 pm

robojam wrote:
skipscada wrote:
robojam wrote:I'd happily list ones with low fidelity recording or something live recorded on a crappy cassette recorder. It's not about sounding 'best' - albums just sound the way that they sound.
Why would you happily list records that are "low fidelity" or "crappy" when someone asks you to suggest records that sound good?
Because it's subjective and that type of recording might be "the best sounding album" to me.

Why wouldn't I list it?

I agree, with a caveat. The problem is that you are right, 'best' is indeed subjective.

Not all evaluations of recordings have to be that subjective, though. The idea of 'fidelity' is nowhere near as subjective as 'best'. And there are definitely some recordings that have better fidelity than others.

But fidelity is almost gone as a standard in recording (except for orchestral recordings). Most people are going after a 'sound' that is highly artificial, so there is no standard to judge this sound against like there always was in the days if high fidelity (e.g. 'Is it live or is it Memorex?). This is all well and good, but people still want a simple standard even though there really isn't one.

What are the best sounding albums in your opinion?