Munch/Boston Beethoven 9 (1958): Variable quality (e.g. audiophile) recordings available?

[iracema1]

I have always enjoyed the playing/singing on this recording. My copy is a mass-issued re-release CD from the 1990s.
However, perhaps my standards have been raised by this group as far as actual sound quality, and this one is plagued by high-end distortion and other maladies. In actual fact, higher-quality mono recordings are more listener-friendly

I saw that Arkivmusic has a print-on-demand version of this based on an earlier Japanese release:

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Playlist?source=CTRV&cat=38428&label=RCA

I wondered if this would represent an upgrade and a better way to enjoy these outstanding soloists (Leontyne Price, Maureen Forrester, et.) than on the tinny, distorted copy I have. All suggestions appreciated as I would love to know of other options..or something skillfully "remastered"

Best

Andy Smith

[Norman Schwartz]

Post by iracema1
I have always enjoyed the playing/singing on this recording. My copy
is a mass-issued re-release CD from the 1990s.
However, perhaps my standards have been raised by this group as far
as actual sound quality, and this one is plagued by high-end
distortion and other maladies. In actual fact, higher-quality mono
recordings are more listener-friendly
I saw that Arkivmusic has a print-on-demand version of this based on
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Playlist?source=CTRV&cat=38428&label=RCA
I wondered if this would represent an upgrade and a better way to
enjoy these outstanding soloists (Leontyne Price, Maureen Forrester,
et.) than on the tinny, distorted copy I have. All suggestions
appreciated as I would love to know of other options..or something
skillfully "remastered"

I have the Sony DSD mastering of this recording, Amazon ASIN: B003YI3CXC and
though the sound should be as good or better than any alternative, it too is
disagreeable.

[r***@verizon.net]

It is one of my favorite 9th's. For whatever reason, it is not sonically up to the standards of its RCA Living Stereo contemporaries. I have it on "Great Conductors of the 20th Century". I had always hoped it would be reissued in the Living Stereo SACD series. Perhaps the master tape has issues and that's why it wasn't included. At this point, I think it's wishful thinking to keep hoping for an improved reissue. The other Munch/Boston recordings of the same era are in much better sound. In my opinion Munch's Schubert 8th and 9th and Harold in Italy can sonically and interpretively hold their own against the latest recordings.

[Steve de Mena]

Post by r***@verizon.net
It is one of my favorite 9th's. For whatever reason, it is not sonically up to the standards of its RCA Living Stereo contemporaries. I have it on "Great Conductors of the 20th Century".

The Japanese issue sounds a little better than the EMI "Great
Conductors of the 20th Century", as if it were a copy one generation
closer to the source. It still sounds like they had the faders up a
little too high, but you might find it worth it to get this copy.

Steve

[Norman Schwartz]

Post by Steve de Mena

Post by r***@verizon.net
It is one of my favorite 9th's. For whatever reason, it is not
sonically up to the standards of its RCA Living Stereo
contemporaries. I have it on "Great Conductors of the 20th Century".

The Japanese issue sounds a little better than the EMI "Great
Conductors of the 20th Century", as if it were a copy one generation
closer to the source. It still sounds like they had the faders up a
little too high, but you might find it worth it to get this copy.

The cover of this looks just like Sony's somewhat recent DSD recording.
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BVCC-20001

I assume their "[Blu-spec CD] [Limited Release]" description implies that
their product is superior to either EMI's Great Conductors or Sony's DSD
release, both of which I own and regard as unlistenable.

Post by Steve de Mena
Steve

[Steve de Mena]

Post by Norman Schwartz

Post by Steve de Mena

Post by r***@verizon.net
It is one of my favorite 9th's. For whatever reason, it is not
sonically up to the standards of its RCA Living Stereo
contemporaries. I have it on "Great Conductors of the 20th Century".

The Japanese issue sounds a little better than the EMI "Great
Conductors of the 20th Century", as if it were a copy one generation
closer to the source. It still sounds like they had the faders up a
little too high, but you might find it worth it to get this copy.

The cover of this looks just like Sony's somewhat recent DSD recording.
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BVCC-20001
I assume their "[Blu-spec CD] [Limited Release]" description implies that
their product is superior to either EMI's Great Conductors or Sony's DSD
release, both of which I own and regard as unlistenable.

Post by Steve de Mena
Steve

Blu-spec, or SHM-CDs have nothing to do with the mastering or source
of the tapes for the CD. Unless specifically mentioned I assume they
use an existing master. It uses different materials in the actual CD
and I think it's a complete ripoff. Notice no one outside of Japan
makes them?

Steve

[Norman Schwartz]

Post by Steve de Mena

Post by Norman Schwartz

Post by Steve de Mena

Post by r***@verizon.net
It is one of my favorite 9th's. For whatever reason, it is not
sonically up to the standards of its RCA Living Stereo
contemporaries. I have it on "Great Conductors of the 20th
Century".

The Japanese issue sounds a little better than the EMI "Great
Conductors of the 20th Century", as if it were a copy one generation
closer to the source. It still sounds like they had the faders up a
little too high, but you might find it worth it to get this copy.

The cover of this looks just like Sony's somewhat recent DSD
recording. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BVCC-20001
I assume their "[Blu-spec CD] [Limited Release]" description implies
that their product is superior to either EMI's Great Conductors or
Sony's DSD release, both of which I own and regard as unlistenable.

Post by Steve de Mena
Steve

Blu-spec, or SHM-CDs have nothing to do with the mastering or source
of the tapes for the CD. Unless specifically mentioned I assume they
use an existing master. It uses different materials in the actual CD
and I think it's a complete ripoff. Notice no one outside of Japan
makes them?

Thanks Steve, I didn't realize that Blu-Spec was that SHM-CD crapola. I have
always been under the impression that Japanese listeners were very astute,
so it's surprising that they fall for that. It makes me wonder if they have
done any A/B testing and then 'talked themselves into' whatever it is that
they want to believe.

Post by Steve de Mena
Steve

[AcousticLevitation.org]

I have always enjoyed the playing/singing on this recording. My copy is a mass-issued re-release CD from the 1990s.....<snip>

Regarding SHM (I'm assuming Blu-Spec as well), the claim is that the plastic substrate is of a different material which lets the pits and bits be read more accurately. I don't buy into that, but i Have bought a bunch of pop SHMs such as from Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison, and the sound is, if not better, definitely different. I'd put money on the theory that SHMs are remixed in some manner. I haven't heard any of the classicals.

If I may throw in a particular pop record in a classical music group, the Japanese CBS (not Blu-Spec) of Laura Nyro's Christmas and the Beads of Sweat has been remastered with amazing clarity of the individual lines yet keeps the whole picture as well. The remaster has, sadly, has not been released in the US, not assume anywhere outside of Japan. I got mine fro, CDjapan.

Steve

[Norman Schwartz]

Post by AcousticLevitation.org

Post by iracema1
I have always enjoyed the playing/singing on this recording. My
copy is a mass-issued re-release CD from the 1990s.....<snip>

Regarding SHM (I'm assuming Blu-Spec as well), the claim is that the
plastic substrate is of a different material which lets the pits and
bits be read more accurately. I don't buy into that, but i Have
bought a bunch of pop SHMs such as from Joni Mitchell and Van
Morrison, and the sound is, if not better, definitely different. I'd
put money on the theory that SHMs are remixed in some manner. I
haven't heard any of the classicals.
If I may throw in a particular pop record in a classical music group,
the Japanese CBS (not Blu-Spec) of Laura Nyro's Christmas and the
Beads of Sweat has been remastered with amazing clarity of the
individual lines yet keeps the whole picture as well. The remaster
has, sadly, has not been released in the US, not assume anywhere
outside of Japan. I got mine fro, CDjapan.

It's only the last movement of that Munch LvB op.125 that sounds so raspy,
the first three, though not so great sounding are mostly okay. I once bought
a SHM (London/Decca?) disc from CDJapan because it wasn't otherwise
available, or perhaps it had been at some ridiculous price. I neither
expected or was able to hear anything unique (however actually at my age
just being able to hear is good enough). Amazon had a mp3 of it for sale,
which I did purchase and download but can't tell it being any different than
the sound of the SHM CD. I should however add that I can easily hear
differences between downloaded Amazon mp3s vs. their CD counterparts.

Post by AcousticLevitation.org
Steve

[g***@gmail.com]

Post by Norman Schwartz

Post by AcousticLevitation.org

Post by iracema1
I have always enjoyed the playing/singing on this recording. My
copy is a mass-issued re-release CD from the 1990s.....<snip>

Regarding SHM (I'm assuming Blu-Spec as well), the claim is that the
plastic substrate is of a different material which lets the pits and
bits be read more accurately. I don't buy into that, but i Have
bought a bunch of pop SHMs such as from Joni Mitchell and Van
Morrison, and the sound is, if not better, definitely different. I'd
put money on the theory that SHMs are remixed in some manner. I
haven't heard any of the classicals.
If I may throw in a particular pop record in a classical music group,
the Japanese CBS (not Blu-Spec) of Laura Nyro's Christmas and the
Beads of Sweat has been remastered with amazing clarity of the
individual lines yet keeps the whole picture as well. The remaster
has, sadly, has not been released in the US, not assume anywhere
outside of Japan. I got mine fro, CDjapan.

It's only the last movement of that Munch LvB op.125 that sounds so raspy,
the first three, though not so great sounding are mostly okay...

According to this:

- The recorded sound is generally pleasing, but in the finale the balances are sometimes odd, the chorus recessed in the perspective, wind solos sometimes too loud.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Jan03/Munch_GCOC.htm#ixzz5Vg3g7B3H

[drh8h]

Post by g***@gmail.com

Post by Norman Schwartz

Post by AcousticLevitation.org

Post by iracema1
I have always enjoyed the playing/singing on this recording. My
copy is a mass-issued re-release CD from the 1990s.....<snip>

Regarding SHM (I'm assuming Blu-Spec as well), the claim is that the
plastic substrate is of a different material which lets the pits and
bits be read more accurately. I don't buy into that, but i Have
bought a bunch of pop SHMs such as from Joni Mitchell and Van
Morrison, and the sound is, if not better, definitely different. I'd
put money on the theory that SHMs are remixed in some manner. I
haven't heard any of the classicals.
If I may throw in a particular pop record in a classical music group,
the Japanese CBS (not Blu-Spec) of Laura Nyro's Christmas and the
Beads of Sweat has been remastered with amazing clarity of the
individual lines yet keeps the whole picture as well. The remaster
has, sadly, has not been released in the US, not assume anywhere
outside of Japan. I got mine fro, CDjapan.

It's only the last movement of that Munch LvB op.125 that sounds so raspy,
the first three, though not so great sounding are mostly okay...

- The recorded sound is generally pleasing, but in the finale the balances are sometimes odd, the chorus recessed in the perspective, wind solos sometimes too loud.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Jan03/Munch_GCOC.htm#ixzz5Vg3g7B3H

This recording has always languished in the shadows. From RCA, it followed the blazing Toscanini and preceded the Reiner, which overall was really inferior. Munch didn't stand a chance.

DH