[thebearded1]

Though I can't really do a/b comparisons as most Mapleshade recordings aren't available on other labels, I have to say that these recordings are unreal! redwine trio, drink smalls, ben andrews, big joe maher, clifford jordan all sound as good as anything (including sacds) that has ever played on my cd player.  No, i in no way am involved with the company....in reality, my problem with mapelshade is that i really don't like 75% of the music they offer...but the above artists are excellent and the sound is as well......

[ZLS]

"in reality, my problem with mapelshade is that i really don't like 75% of the music they offer..."

   " Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"

    This from a person who owns a whole bunch of Mapleshade CDs. but have stopped purchasing them for the reason stated. 

[thebearded1]

LOL...I do love the music on the cds i listed AND they sound incredible.......

[TerryO]

Ditto on the 75%. The best Mapleshade recording I own and I've got a number of them, is Walk With Me by the ARC Gospel Choir. I'm not a fan of Gospel, however this is such a good recording for evaluation work on speakers that I consider it indispensable.

The best recordings, on a cd format, that I've heard lately, are First Impression Music's K2 HD recordings. These are uniformly superb and contain music that I can listen to. High-Rez recordings, both on Cd and hard drive servers are generally about as good as it gets and are getting very close to really good Vinyl in sonic quality. However, Reel to Reel Master Tapes, like those from the Tape Project, still hold the sonic edge overall.

Best Regards,
TerryO

[mdconnelly]

Agreed about Mapleshade!   But not liking about 75% of their CDs might be true about a lot of other labels as well.  Hell, sometimes I feel that that way about my own collection 

I think I own about maybe a dozen at this point... and they are all consistently recorded well.   Mapleshade's price is exceptional when you buy 4 at a time.  And while I have yet to take advantage of it, the fact that you have 30 days to return any of their CDs if you don't like them is also exceptional.   I have noticed that he is starting to put up mp3 samples on his site so perhaps that will help.

OK, you got me wanting to try a few more...

[Audiovista]

I love Mapleshade! On few of their CDs I hear faint hiss and/or hum (proves that there is tube equipment involved). However, that does not prevent me to enjoy the sound and music... Unlike previous posters I like 25% of the catalog 

[jimdgoulding]

I'm a fan of Datevik and Andy McKee and NEXT's releases.  You can read about the Mapleshape philosophy under "about us" at their site.  They get some serious sound, alright.  Been meaning to get a First Impression.  Next stop for me.

Those two I mentioned, play em LOUD!  Especially the latter.  Blow you away.

[nathanm]

Mapleshade CDs are like health food; you know they're good for you, but they just don't taste  very good.  What we need is a Mapleshade competitor, someone to apply the same stereo PZM recording aesthetic but with bands that aren't quite so boring, for lack of a better term.  I'd do it, but instead I'll just be some jerk on a message board hollaring, "Hey, Something needs to be done by Someone!"

[Hyfi]

I may have only heard Drink Small on a nice high end system....before I acquired it. Very nice recording indeed but I can't say as a rule that they are all better than everyone elses recordings. Others that come to mind would be Pope, Chesky and also some musician owned labels.

[Kevin Haskins]

I like most of them I have.   "The Arc Choir" has some issues.   The singers are overloading the mics at many points on the recording.   At least that is what it sounds like from this end Terry. 

Kendra Shank is a little sibilant.   I prefer a mellower female vocal.   You don't get that in a live atmosphere and it doesn't sound right on the recording to me.

For the most part though I like the recordings.