Thanks for the response, gentlemen. It sounds like I'm on target and in good company. This is by far the best system I have ever owned and the T1s are incredible. The magic they can work with a great recording is out of this world. I guess it's easy to get spoiled and want that from every track.

Wayne, I think my system is always musical but it's distracting when the imperfections are so clearly audible. Albums like Kind of Blue from Miles Davis is a great example. It's a very musical album on my system; however, the version I have is full of mastering issues.

The Imagine Dragons Album that Imahawki references is another great example. I have it on my iPhone and it sounds pretty good with headphones. When I play it through my 2-channel setup, it sounds bad. It is compressed and 2 dimensional. There is virtually no depth or sense of space.

Like Rick, my system has me looking for quality recordings and I think that's one of the great benefits of this forum. It's much easier to find those gems when several people are on the lookout and sharing their results. I appreciate the reviews and look for certain aspects in the reviews that strike a chord with me.

Thanks again for the feedback. Once I get my processor upgraded, I will be moving my 2-channel set up to the front of my room, right between my T1s. At that point, I can start playing around with cables, cords, and wires to fine tune things a bit. That article that Anthem posted yesterday was great and I think I'm close to the baseline step. One thing is for sure: I am enjoying the journey!

Cheers,

T Cobe

T Cobe wrote: .... my system has me looking for quality recordings and I think that's one of the great benefits of this forum. It's much easier to find those gems when several people are on the lookout and sharing their results. I appreciate the reviews and look for certain aspects in the reviews that strike a chord with me.

Cheers,

T Cobe

Well said, T Cobe!

Great subject you started, and for me also the reviews on this forum are a great way to expand my musical horizons. Keep them coming, all!

Thanks!


Rick

And now, some words from the old guy.

Consider also, the performance itself. I have CD copies of reissues of classical and jazz recordings originally released on vinyl in the 1950s. I have these CD reissues because they sound better then my original vinyl recordings. I also have these recordings because I think the performances themselves are outstanding.

For example, I have a CD reissue of a 1958 recording of Bolero - I also have the 1958 monaural LP. The CD reissue is of the stereo version (very early days of stereo recordings). The CD reissue was constructed from the master tapes. Is this CD the sonically best CD I own? Nope. Is it a sonically enjoyable CD? Yes. What about the performance? In my opinion, it is the most exciting performance of Bolero that I have ever heard and I was thrilled when RCA finally released it on CD.

There are many ways to enjoy music.

Best,

Art

Great point, Art. Many review sites for music include two ratings. One for the sound quality and another for musical performance. It's too bad when a talented artist is recorded by a lower quality studio with poor production capabilities. As Imahawki also stated, a great deal depends on the mastering/production of the recording.

I decided to go back and read my Oppo 103 manual due to some things I was, or was not hearing, in my music. Namely, I've been missing a bit of bass and warmth lately. This hasn't always been the case and it wasn't noticeable on all recordings so it was difficult to pinpoint. What I discovered in reading my manual is that I should have the "down mix" for the Oppo set to stereo for 2-channel music playback on the analog outputs.

After switching the down mix to stereo, my sound is warmer, the bass more powerful, and playback a bit more forgiving. I can only assume the onboard processor for the Oppo was trying to convert the stereo music to surround playback. As such, bass was being directed to a sub that wasn't there, vocals to an absent center channel, and various other processes. While I'm more pleased with the sound, it has me thinking more than ever that a good old fashioned 2-channel CD player is the way to go.

I have a few new albums coming this weekend and am considering picking up the ERC-3. Either way, I'll post some more listening impressions. I'll have to go back and listen to some more of the albums Im more familiar with as well. It appears I can change these settings while music is playing, so I'll probably do that on the fly as well. I don't recall when I changed the down mix on my Oppo but I sure am glad I read the manual...

Cheers,

T Cobe

Hi Art,
I hear you about performances. Spot on.
The one you are referring to, is it the same one that we can now get on SACD? The one pictured here?
Thanks, God Bless,
Wayne

Hi Wayne,

You have uncovered the treasure. If you have not heard this version of Bolero, you have missed what I believe to be the most exciting recording of Bolero that I have ever heard. The rest of the disc is worthy as well. A funny little story: I have this Bolero on a mono RCA LP called "The Virtuoso Orchestra" - an LP which I have had since I was a teenager. It is the first performance of Bolero that I ever heard and it became the standard for me. It never failed to impress the girls.

I have other CD reissues of older recordings which I also have on LPs. The CDs are always a pleasure when compared to the LPs. Some of them contain wonderful interpretations of different pieces of classical music. Another example from my archives is the Shostakovitch Symphony # 11 "1905" as interpreted by Leopold Stokowski conducting the Houston Symphony Orchestra (an EMI CD). The section for massed Double Basses is stunning.

Best,

Art