fuwen

I think it is very difficult to tell just by the look of the CD whether the recording will be good or not. The best bet is to be able to test it, but of course not always possible, and also the equipment at the shop that allows u to test may not be doing justice to the recordings, and worse still there is this individual preference/taste for music that can make things very complicated. I guess the easier way is to ask people who you know have the same music preference, go for your favourate label, the artist u like most and so on. Music format cannot guarantee good recordings, as it is much dependent on the source. So lousy recordings, even on SACD or HDCD or XRCD, you are not going anywhere. Personally I encountered a junk recording on a SACD (Philips, Butterfly lover) and one on XRCD (Chai Xin Juan). These 2 I would highly not recommended! U are right, I got some chinese compilation, bought them becourse I miss those songs in my student days, but, I guess those people who remaster the recordings just trying to be smart, so despite gold CD, 192Hz, and whatever whatever, those CDs were just not listenable on a good jig. However, on low budget portable equipment they do some justice to the high frequencies. I have stop buying those compilation already, especially the HK, Taiwan one.

Hi! Any body any idea good PCDP independent repairers around in Singapore?

As far as I know, no! I have been playing back SACDs on my marantz SA-14 in 2 channels mode. I felt that is much superior to CD format, apple to apple. However, on dual format SACDs there is a layer of SACD data and a layer of CD data. In conventinal CDP it will play back in the normal (I guess is PCM ) mode. Not sure is this the answer u want.

Some other recommendations: DG 400 038-2 Tschaikovsky and Dvorak String Serenades. Performed by Karajan and Berlin. Very famous 2 serenades, but not as easy to understand as Mozart's. DG 457 711-2 (CD version) DG 471 648-2 (SACD version) Chopin Polonaises played by Maurizio Pollini If you like Chopin shoud go for the SACD version. Playable on conventional CDP. Philips 400 021-2 Scheherazade (Symphonic Suite after 1001 nights) by Rimsky Korsakov Herman Krebbers: solo violin Kiril Kondrashin conducting Royal Concertgebouw There is a budget version under the '100 Classics' series 454 550-2 As for piano, have you try Mozart Piano concerto no. 21? The version I have is DG 447 436-2 with Concerto no. 17, 21 and 6. Soloist and conductor: Geza Anda Listen to no. 21 2nd movement. Wow!

Hi! cmk, this post for the Dvorak. Symphony No. 9 'New World' New World refering to America, where the composer stayed there for some time, a little bit home sick. I have 3 versions with me. DG 474 266-2 (2 CDs 'Karajan/The collection' series) 1964 recordings Karajan/Berlin in this 2 CDs set u also get: Sym. no. 8, 5 Slavonic Dances and Schezo Capriccioso and also from the composer Smetana The Moldau, 3 dances from 'The Bartered Bride' Good value for money. DG 439 009-2 Karajan/Wiener 1985 recording with Dovrak Sym 9 and Smetana Die Moldau Decca 430 702-2 with Dvorak Sym 9 conducted by Kirill Kondrashin/Wiener and American Suite conducted by Antal Dorati/Royal Phiharmonic The same Dvorak recording is also available in the Decca budget series 452 439-2 'American' Quartet; string quartet no. 12 in F major, op 96 Strongly recommend the version by Emerson Quartet DG 445 551-2 Masters series with Tchaikovsky String Quartet no.1 and Borodin String Quartet no. 2. Every notes of American quartet are nice. For Borodin listen to the 3rd movement. Dvorak Cello Concerto I have the versions by Fournier, Starker, Yo yo ma, Rostropovich and Jacqueline duPre. Would recommend DG 413 819-2 Rostropovich/Karajan/Berlin. Just by looking at the soloist/conductor/orchestra I cannot stop myself from collecting this recording. You may also consider EMI Classics 5 55527 2 Jacqueline du Pre Dvorak and Elgar Cello concerto This particular CD was recommended for the Elgar performance, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli with London Sym Orch. Jacqueline played (always) with great emotion and tension and dynamic. She unfortumately died fairly young. I will quote what one of my friend said about her performance: she put in 120% effort! Thanks for your patient.

Hi! Rameish, how u find Glenn Gould interpretation?

Mackie mentioned about Mahler, wow! Not something easy to understand and his recordings are normally very long (2 CDs) and with vocals. cmk, u can try the Mahler Symphony no.6, actually the most 'çonvertional' of all Mahlers Symphonies. However it is named 'Tragic' so be emotionally prepared. Commended by critics the most Tragic/sad Symphonies ever written. The Telarc version 3CD-80586 is interesting, comes in CD and SACD version. With the price of 1 CD/SACD u get 3 CDs/SACDs with the conductor Benjamin Zander described in detailed about the works and the way he interpreted and conducted the work. The orchestra was Philharmonia. The recording and performance actually IMO not very good but from this CD set u can learn a lot about Mahler and his Sym 6. This symphony has conventional 4 movements (very unconvertional for Mahler actually) and there are 2 versions where 1 perform the 2nd movement before the 3rd and the other version the 3rd before the 2nd. Not a problem for mordern CD player as you can program the playing sequence. Also in this CD set 2 versions of the last movement are included. It was said that the original last movement with 3 hammer blows was so tragic that Mahler when first conducted it decided to change to another version without the 3 Hammer blows. I also got a Karajan/Berlin version DG 457 716-2. Karajan used the original 3 hammer blows version. It is very sad, the 3 blows refering to the death of Mahler's daughter, his removal from a post, and the discovery of his fatal sickness. A bit strange and errie for this symphony, is that, Mahler actully composed it during his happiest time, way before the happening of the 3 incidences, so is he able to crystal ball his future fate?..........

Hi! cmk, I am getting to understand your music preference. Quite surprise u do not quite like Dvorak. His things are quite easy to understand and with nice melodies especially those composed when he was in America. Must listen ones include Sym no. 9, American quartet and Cello concerto. Let me know if u are keen and I can recommend some good recordings. Heifetz is one of my favourate violist. In particular I like his Scottish Fantasy and Beethoven Violin Concerto ( I have the RCA, BMG and the XRCD24 versions). But his Beethoven violin concerto tempo is very fast and some may not be able to take it. Personally I like his Beethoven Concerto very much. His Beethoven Concerto is the fastest in all my collections and the slowest one is that by Anne Sophie Mutter recoreded recently. Here are some of my recommendations see if u already have them: Beethoven 9 Symphonies Karajan/Berlin 1960s recordings DG 463 088-2 (5 CDs version) DG 474 600-2 (6 SACDs version) IMO recording not the best but listen to the performance of Karajan/Berlin in their prime time, u can feel the energy and the force. As I said before, grab anything by Carlos Kleiber Dvorak Piano Concerto Sviatoslav Ritcher/Carlos Kleiber EMI Classics 5 668952 Schubert Symphonies 3 and 8 Carlos Kleiber/Wiener DG 449 745-2 Tschaikorvsky Sym no. 6 Karajan/Berlin 1977 recordings DG 419 486-2 Karajan/Wiener 1985 recordings DG 439 020-2 You will be moved by the 2nd theme of the 1st movement. If u get the Sony DVD u will probably be moved also. Sibelius Violin Concerto Christian Ferras/Karajan DG 419 871-2 Will try to recomend some piano works as you play piano but I have to admit piano not my area. Actually looking at Glenn Gould stuff lately but have not buy any. Is he good?

If u like String Quartet grab everything by Emerson Quartet of DG label. But if you are getting their Batok and Shostakovich make sure you can take the music (not the performance, Emerson is very good).

BTW, if you like piano u can grab everything by Pollini, Brendel and Argerich. I felt that their interpretations always have sparks! As for Anne Sophie Mutter, her playing style has grown from conventional to today where she is very dynamic. I would say she is very good but her recent interpretations can be so stretch and dynamic that old school classical fans may not be able to take it.

Hi! cmk, pardon me I forgot had talked to u before in the lounge on the Pentatone SACDs. Ok, so have to recommend more challenging stuff for you already. Give me some time to get those catalogue number for you. BTW, I guess u should have some versions of the New World Sym already, right? Is so u may not need the get the one I recommended. Are u Anne Sophie fan? She, by now, IMO is a fantastic and wonderful voilinist of our time, and getting prettier some more (or the DG photographers have done a wonderful job). I quite admire her that she managed to push through with 2 very young kids when her husband died (fairly young then). No wonder at a point of time she was wearing black in her CD cover photo. Now she is married to Andre Pelvin, a surprise to me actually. Have u try her violin recording on contemporary Classics? If u can take those 'melodiless' thing do try her recordings, to me is fantastic and those are actually her works that brought my attention back to her again, after I was kind of disappointed on her Beethoven with Karajan when she was about 18.But now listen again her that version of Beethoven was quite well recorded, with Karajan, IMO a very good accompany conductor for soloist, and in that recording her violin sounded very airy. Since u need specific details, I will slowly dig out my Classical collections and give u the CD title and cat number. I used to play violin so I am more into violin pieces than piano. My favourate voilinists are: Anne Sophie, Heifetz, Ferras, Arthur Grumiaux, David Oistrakh, Isaac Stern, Nathan Mustein, Takako Nishizaki (specifically for her butterfly lover). Actually Vanessa Mae is very good after listening to her Beethoven (I have about 80+ versions of Beethoven) but she is not into serious classics so do not have her recordings. Pianists my favourates are: Pollini, Ashkenazy, Argerich, Alfred Brendel, Emil Gilels, Sviatoslav Ritcher, Wilhem Keff. Worth to mention are also my favourate cellists: Jacqueline Du Pre, Janos Starker, Mstislav Rostropovich, Pierre Fournier, not really a fan of Yo-yo Ma but he is definitely very good. Cheers!

Hi! cmk, you can try Mozart. His music are always happy and cheerful and very listenable for beginers. However looking at what you already have I think you are far from beginer already; for example Beethoven Sonatas IMO not easy to digest for people dun like or new to Classical music. Mozart: try his serenade, esp night music. Beethoven: Symphony no 3, 5, 6 and 9. No 6 is really a nice piece and easy to listen. Try 1960s or 1970s versions by Karajan. No. 9 is very long and is what originally determined the recording capacity of CD with chorus join in the last movement. Very touching last movement! Violin concerto in D Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.6, the Karajan version is real good. Piano concerto no 1. Violin concerto no1. Dvorak Symphony no. 9 'New World' the version by Konsdrashin Mussorgsky Picture at an exhibition (orchestra version arranged by Ravel) and I can give you a long list of composers and music so maybe when you are done with what I have suggested let me know and I will suggest some more lah! Personally I would prefer artists from DG or Decca label. I like DG artists but Decca recordings are very good.

If u have a SACD player then go for the SACD version.

Not bad looking lah! But of course not for young boys!!LOL If u have SACD player go for the SACD version.

Hi! Selling for a friend. Naim Nait 5 integrated amp 1 pair 3.5m speaker cables 3 pairs 1m DIN/RCA interconnects Bought as a set and use for 6 months only only sell as a set for $1750 slightly negotiable If interested please SMS Hwang at 94527982. Thanks for reading

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I bought it for US$120. Add another S$50 for shipping to Singapore, but Headroom service was real good that I got my cable just 2 days after! (I actually ordered the Cardas first but waited for months as no stock until I gave up) BTW my listening taste quite different: I like details and focus and are willing to trade off airyness and depth. Just imagine Kimber silver streak and Slitech, though also silver cable, only managed to stay for 1 track on my system. Some how I do not like too smooth the highs, that is why I dun quite like the HD650 until I put in the Clou Red. So much so that I dare not try the Cardas as I have seen so far many who prefer Cardas do not like Clou.

Hi! I am using the Clou Red but on my system set up it is very clear that the Clou is much better than the stock, probably because of my listening preference. In fact after trying the Obhlbach (but still running in) I do not feel that it has marked improvement. IMHO, YMMV etc etc

Sennheiser HD600/HD650 are wonderful for Classical music. The rest I cannot comment. Happy shopping!

WTS AKG K501 in good condition usage: low Headphone age: almost a year selling price: $ 165 firm prefer to deal at Boon Lay MRT during office hours or at Woodlands MRT after office hours. Audition at Woodlands welcome. Serious buyer SMS me at 97890627. PM me for questions. Thanks for reading.

WTS Beyer Dynamics DT 880, good working condition and good appearance Usage: low headphone age: less than a year selling price: $280 firm prefer to deal at Boon Lay MRT during office hours or Woodlands MRT after office hours. audition at Woodlands welcome. Serious buyer SMS me at 97890627. PM me for questions. Thanks for reading.

I used to order CDs/DVDs from towerrecords.com USA. So far only shipping, no import tax, but amount I ordered was less than US$250.

A very interesting audiophile CD to recommend: The Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall 1963 Vanguard Records As you can see it was a life recording done at the famous US Carnegie Hall in the year 1963. You can even see the mikes used on the CD cover. The recordings were really good and easily put many modern recording to shame! Particularly like track 2 Rambling Boy and track 9 Guantanamera. Rambling boy was sung by a male singer with later on echos from the audience. Ona good system you can feel the existance of the hall when the audience sang. Guantanamera was a interesting recordings with the whole group singing. BTW the Weavers is a group of 7 male and female singers. The music I would say is folk songs and oldies. Incidentally our very local Audiophile company Chiang Huat was involved in the remastering of the recordings into CDs. I felt that the recordings were very forward and not sure if I can say the recordings make my HD600 sounds like Grados! I believe there is only a gold CD version. So far no XRCD or SACD version. Thanks for reading.

Would like to recommend this CD/SACD: Cantate Domino Basically Christmas music/songs recorded in Stockholm under the label proprius. Very good recording with strong feeling of ambient, typical of proprius label. Probably recorded around 1976. Some church organ musics and some singings accompanied by organs. I particularly like track 11 'Julsang'. Most of the songs are not sung in English though. In fact I think there is only 1 track sung in English 'White Christmas'. This CD is particularly good for testing speaker system, where for a proper and good set up you can feel that you are in a church listening to the choir singing. The music is serious, like you are in the church. Calm but not really relaxing, IMHO. There is a gold CD version and a SACD dual layer version. Not sure is there a normal CD version. I would recommend to get the SACD version. There is no XRCD version so far. Thanks for reading.