You call yourself an audiophile?

Mag · « **on:** 24 Apr 2018, 04:15 pm »

A friend of mine was visiting years ago and requested I play Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. I said " I don't have that one." He said "you call yourself an audiophile!"

I now have DSOTM by Pink Floyd.

What other album/s or song/s should an audiophile have in their collection, even if you seldom listen to it? To be worthy of title 'Audiophile'.

1. Dark Side of the Moon- Pink Floyd

mresseguie · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 04:26 pm »

A few years ago, I walked into an audio shop to audition a pair of speakers. I had brought 5 or 6 CDs. One of the CDs was Dark Side of The Moon. When the owner of the store noticed it, she commented on how she'd never use such music for an audition. "It isn't real music made by real instruments."

It was my first experience with audiophile attitude.

Sorry. I haven't contributed, but I'll be back with something good.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 04:38 pm »

The true classic audiophile approved list of music is Harry Pearson's TAS list
The current Absolute Sound has the up to date version of the list of recordings
approved of.
These are recording which sound good. (according to Harry Pearson and now TAS staff.)

Most listed are Classical, but some Rock and Jazz too.
(I have known about this list for 40 years,, I own maybe twenty.. Shows how much I care?)

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 04:45 pm »

I wouldn’t buy an album just to fit someone’s idea of what they think I am or should be. This hobby is about playing the music you want when you want. So I make a habit out of tossing out CDs I don’t much care for.

OTOH, if you’re into streaming, it doesn’t hurt to check out recommendations.

mav52 · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 04:47 pm »

That TAS list , if you like Classical I guess its cool, just a few "popular" albums listed"

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-super-lp-list-2017/

CSI · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 06:06 pm »

Quote from: mav52 on 24 Apr 2018, 04:47 pm

That TAS list , if you like Classical I guess its cool, just a few "popular" albums listed"

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-super-lp-list-2017/

Slightly off topic but I see that the list is now curated by Jonathan Valin. In addition to audio journalism Jonathan is noted for writing 14 very good mystery detective novels - still available at your library or from Amazon.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 07:09 pm »

I would add some albums of musical merit to audiophiles:
Abraxas - Santana great analogue sound in SACD.
Triunvirat - Spartacus a noted compressed CD at the original Harvest release.
Kraftwerk - Ralf & Florian Great SQ in LP, lots of treble content suited to test treble performance of a system;
Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto 2
Khachaturian Spartacus/Gayne Ballets
Michael Shrieve - Transfer Station Blue digital recording suited to transients tests, lots of percussion and smooth keyboards.
Steve Roach - Dreamtime Return ambient music indicated to test soundstage size.
Steve Roach - Structures from Silence suited to test low intensity performance of your system.

zapper7 · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 07:11 pm »

10,000 Fists Disturbed
Current Blue Man Group
Unbreak My Heart Tony Braxton

I agree that these ultra great CDs need to sound great on a component you may want but then again so does the music you regularly listen too.

JakeJ · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Apr 2018, 07:52 pm »

Quote from: Wind Chaser on 24 Apr 2018, 04:45 pm

I wouldn’t buy an album just to fit someone’s idea of what they think I am or should be. This hobby is about playing the music you want when you want. So I make a habit out of tossing out CDs I don’t much care for.

OTOH, if you’re into streaming, it doesn’t hurt to check out recommendations.

+1. The "Approved Audiophile List of Music" is your favorite recordings played on your stereo. Example: I have a Nautilus Half-Speed mastered LP of the Moody Blues - "Threshold of a Dream" and I have never seen this on any published list but is one of my go-to recordings for detail and articulation. Make your own list and be happy.

I would add that I have been finding new music through Tidal, Spotify, and a local FM radio station that is very well recorded. I don't listen to AC/DC, Deep Purple, or Black Sabbath anymore as it's just boring now.

RPM123 · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 12:49 am »

I would say that an "audiophile" is more concerned about the playback chain (equipment) as to how the music is being reproduced than the music being played.

Early B. · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 01:02 am »

We all have our "go to" CDs and songs whenever we need to test changes to our system, and we believe them to be "audiophile quality." One of mine is "Blue Light Til Dawn" by Cassandra Wilson.

wushuliu · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 02:33 am »

Having DSOTM makes you an audiophighle...

JerryM · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 02:42 am »

Here's a pretty good list from our trusty mascot lonewolfny42:

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 1 Oct 2008, 04:30 pm

Three of the picks so far are on the 2006 NYAR Cd....here's the full list...

New York Audio Rave - “Reference Tracks - 2006”

1 - Copland - "Fanfare For The Common Man" (Telarc)
2 - Wynton Marsalis Quartet - "Feeling Of Jazz"
3 - The Bad Plus - "Keep The Bugs Off Your Glass, And The Bears Off Your Ass"
4 - Bozzio, Levin, Stevens - "Duende"
5 - Ben Harper - "Gold To Me"
6 - Morphine - "Buena"
7 - Bernadette Peters - "Blackbird"
8 - Kalman Olah Trio - "Inspiration Of Variation XXI"
9 - Mino Cinelu - "Oncoming Horizons" (bass test)
10 - Nils Lofgren - "Keith Don’t Go"
11 - Groove Troopers - "Bearing Bears and Boring Boars"
12 - Stevie Ray Vaughan - "Tin Pan Alley" (w/ Johnny Copeland)
13 - The Only Reference Track You’ll Ever Need… (woof,woof)

Hope you're doing well, Chris.

wushuliu · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 02:47 am »

Quote from: RPM123 on 25 Apr 2018, 12:49 am

I would say that an "audiophile" is more concerned about the playback chain (equipment) as to how the music is being reproduced than the music being played.

hey now, I resemble that remark!

My audiophile recommendation: 'Spare Ass Annie And Other Tales' (William S. Burroughs/Disposal Heroes of Hiphoprisy - 1993)

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 02:49 am »

Quote from: wushuliu on 25 Apr 2018, 02:33 am

Having DSOTM makes you an audiophighle...

LOL so Iam a big audiophool, I have 3 PF collections and more some SACDs.

Bendingwave · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 04:31 am »

I don't really give a shit about titles and what others refer to me as a audiophile or not as I just do me...I prefer songs that I enjoy that are recorded very well.

I realized how some good recorded songs sound very good even when used directly from youtube > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpMfP6qUSBo

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 11:26 am »

For me:
Sara K, Closer Than They Appear
Pat Methany and Lyle Mays, As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls
Paul Simon, Graceland
REM, Automatic for the People
Stereophile, Test CD #3
Shadowfax, Too Far to Whisper
Holst, The Planets, Bernstein NYP

timind · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 11:41 am »

I'm not ashamed to say I listen to Patricia Barber on occasion.

Tyson · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 03:07 pm »

Mahler's Symphony 5 conducted by Bertini. It has it all - emotive horn solo at the start, huge crushing dynamics, a rhythmic march based tune, large numbers of instruments all going crazy at the same time in a large sound space.

mick wolfe · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Apr 2018, 03:13 pm »

Quote from: timind on 25 Apr 2018, 11:41 am

I'm not ashamed to say I listen to Patricia Barber on occasion.

Me too. Like her a lot actually.