Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site olivej.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!sun!qubix!ios!oliveb!olivej!greg From: greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: Good old vinyl recordings (long) Message-ID: <235@olivej.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Oct-84 13:25:58 EDT Article-I.D.: olivej.235 Posted: Tue Oct 16 13:25:58 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 18-Oct-84 08:20:53 EDT References: <26@angband.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca Lines: 37 Steve, you need to hear the Reiner "Pictures" and the Telarc "Carmen" suite on better equipment. Don't be surprised if you find your comments about the relative sound qualities remain the same, but are reversed as to which recording they apply to. On the Magneplanar MG-III or Tympani IV (which I've heard driven by a Threshold amp) it's the digital recording that sounds as though there is a veil between the orchestra and listener and the analogue which removes that veil. As to the Giulini/Chicago "Pictures", I find this a well-conceived and satisfying performance, but have to agree with the negative comments on the recording. I have it on a reliable source that the DGG engineers were consciously trying to "improve" the sound of the Chicago Symphony - specifically, to make it sound like the Berlin Philharmonic. Or, rather, to make it sound like their recordings of the Berlin Philharmonic. Not only did this not work, but it squandered the resources available - i.e., the marvelous tonal qualities of the actual Chicago Symphony. I have to admit, however, that for all of the discussion of the recorded sound on these performances, the recording of this work which finds its way onto my turntable most often is the Toscanini/ NBC Symphony which I find has the power and force occasionally lacking in the Reiner performance and the animation and vibrancy occasionally lacking in Giulini's. The recorded sound is poor even for its time and requires some patience on the part of the listener to listen through to the actual playing. This poor recorded sound, which at least appears to have been reproduced honestly on the gold-jacket English "Toscanini Edition" series, is made worse by the additional treble boost and bass cut on the domestic RCA Victrola issue, and the phony echo and attempted spaciousness which further muddies the sound on the Italian "half-speed mastered" edition. - Greg Paley