[simoon]

Since my tastes in classical music tends to be on the atonal, and "thorny" sounding side, musically speaking, YMMV.

But sonically, these are worthy.

LP:
Ernst Krenek - Static and Ecstatic (1972)

Amazing for demonstrating image and soundstage. This thing creates such a 3d soundstage, it is easy for me to imagine I can get off my listening seat, and walk into the soundstage and steal a bow from a violinist. Dynamics are also very good.



Charles Wuorinen and Donald Martino

Again, great 3d soundstage. Good dynamics, very detailed. And again, "thorny" sounding music.

Back in the 70's, the budget label Nonesuch, did a series of recordings called "Spectrum: New American Music", that tended all to be recorded very well.

Several years back, I was at an audio event here in LA, where Peter McGrath (recording engineer with Wilson Audio) gave a talk. Afterwards, I approached him to discuss these recordings, not thinking he would know about them. As soon as I mentioned them, his eyes list up. Turned out one of his mentors engineered a bunch of these. He made a statement something like, "considering how good these budget recordings are, it is a real indictment on modern recordings".




CD:
Augusta Read Thomas - EOS: Goddess of the Dawn (2015)

This is on the consistently good, Reference Recordings label. Huge, layered soundstage, dynamics to spare, very coherent. Percussion is particularly well recorded.

Musically, this is on the more "approachable" side of my tastes. Definitely modern, but not a super challenging listen. 

Jason Serinus, in a review for Stereophile called it a "sonic spectacular".

https://www.stereophile.com/content/sonic-spectacular-utah




I recently discovered the Kairos Music label https://www.kairos-music.com/, that is loaded with the type of classical music I love. So far I have bought about 10 recordings of theirs, and so far, they have all been recorded very well.

[Jeff_From_Michigan]

100% in agreement with Victor - Dawn to Dust does indeed sound spectacular.  And this is the Qobuz 24/192 stream via USB from the computer to my sub-$2K desktop system. I can't imagine how good it is going to sound on the main rig.

Thanks for the tip, simoon!

[Desertpilot]

Hello all,

Just want to say, I am very gratified that my thread has almost 43,000 views.  Thank you.  My purpose was to list music that would challenge your system.  I do own plenty of DSD multichannel surround albums.  My preference over the past few years is DXD (24/352..  Music is often recorded in DSD 256 and then mastered in DXD.  I like owning the DXD master version.  I have not found any new music to list here.  There are a few releases coming and I will list them.

Thanks again everyone!

[FullRangeMan]

Thanks for inform us your real life personal experience Marcus