[PhilNYC]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2006-08-22T152139Z_01_N22476890_RTRUKOC_0_US-DYLAN.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

[EProvenzano]

...but does Bob have a fully modded SB2 pulling lossless files from a music server? 

Seriously though I don't have the same frame of reference Bob does.  I don't have any experience with studio monitoring systems or vinyl's prime time, which I assume he's refering to.  I wish I did, unfortunately I don't know what I'm missing.

This is funny:

CDs are small. There's no stature to it.

Based on that, he must have thought Laser Discs were incredible!

[JoshK]

That is a pretty broad brush with which he paints.  But I know what he is getting at, and there is a lot of truth in it. 

[EProvenzano]

Bob's an icon to say the least, and if he pursues the battle for improved SQ, then I appreciate his efforts.

His comments seemed so vague that I questioned his sincerity.  After all he seems cynical at the best of times. 

Josh what do you think is missing from modern recordings that he claims was present a few decades ago?  Are small labels such as Telac and Chesky capturing this magic, or has the CD format doomed the quality for ever?

I have his "Essential" set.  Although Bob thinks they all suck, can anyone recommend a well recorded CD that I should check out next?

[Rob Babcock]

Most of his music is worthless, too.   I think it's pretty humorous how no one is exempt from Rose Colored Glasses Syndrome, aka "Back in my day everything was better."  Same ol' same ol'- "technology sucks...er, I mean it does now!  The technologies of my teens and twenties though, that was good."   There's a plethora of nauseating sounding recordings from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's & 90's to go along with the bad ones of today.  Still, I'd say sonically most of the best recordings I've heard are newish ones.  Especially when it comes to classical music.  Perhaps Bob just doesn't have a very broad musical base!

[Daryl]

I am a big Bob Dylan fan and have many of his records (Blonde on Blonde is my favorite).

I would never take audiophile advice from a musician however.

My experience with musicians is that they hear the notes no matter how bad the sound quality of the system.

I read a quote of David Byrne where he said he plugs his CD player into the aux. jacks on his TV because his TV already has an amp and speakers and it makes no sense to repeat them.

It's funny how manufacturers like to get endorsements from musicians, producers and recording engineers when they actually are the last ones who would know what makes good equipment.

Daryl