Classical Music Lover

[Dusty Chalk]

Could you mention some specific recordings? Some that sound right, and some that have this distortion of which you speak?

[Bingo]

Could you mention some specific recordings? Some that sound right, and some that have this distortion of which you speak?

Dusty Chalk - I will have to record the CDs on which I do hear this anomaly and perhaps make a note of the ones that do not have this extraneous sound. But before I do, I'd like to say that unless you are a Classical Music Listener, such as symphonies, concertos or ballet music rendered by large orchestras, you probably would never hear this. On most popular music, rock 'n roll or rap or Jazz in small groups, I don't think the anomaly presents itself at all. So let me know if you listen to classical...because with consistently loud music the signal to noise ratio would rule out the possibility of hearing this. Let me know and I will make an effort to pick out some classical CDs that have this sound and some that don't. If you by chance ever listened to a London CD of Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Symphonic) (417 509-2 London Label.) That would be a good example of a CD that does NOT have this anomaly. I will try to get one that does very soon. Nolan

[JohnMichael]

I almost hate to bring this up due to the usual reactions but here goes. If I understand what you are describing I used to experience this same problem and after a speaker and interconnect cable change the problem lessened. Large choral groups sound larger due to ghosting type reflections and violins more strident with some cables. I would be interested in what cables are in your system.

Another source of noise and again people have differing opinions is with the components being grounded. I use an aftermarket power cord with my integrated amp that has a removeable ground pin. I removed the ground pin and the reduction in noise was dramatic. My other components do not have three way plugs so they are not grounded. Now that I am not picking up noise from the ground the sound has improved especially in the high frequencies. I also have much less listener fatigue.

[Dusty Chalk]

But before I do, I'd like to say that unless you are a Classical Music Listener, such as symphonies, concertos or ballet music rendered by large orchestras, you probably would never hear this. On most popular music, rock 'n roll or rap or Jazz in small groups, I don't think the anomaly presents itself at all.

I actually listen to quite a bit of classical music. I tend to like the bigger orchestral stuff like Dvorak's 9th, Holst's Planets, Mussorgsky's Pictures (as orchestrated by Ravel), but do listen to the occasional chamber music and such, such as Schubert's Piano Trio in E flat. You have any Hillary Hahn? She's my current favourite violinist by a long shot -- really puts herself into everything she does. If her name's on it, I'll get it -- even if it's a composer I don't usually listen to. I just got finished listening to the entire Mahler Symphony and Orchestral Song cycle by Bernstein. I have multiple versions of most of the above mentioned works, so if you have any of those that exhibit or not the problem, please do tell, because though I may not have a really refined speaker system right now that's working, I have a really refined headphone system, and access to even more refined headphones systems through friends.

I know I don't look like your stereotypical classical music lover, but I really am, and I've been listening to even more of it lately. I wanted to know because I can rule out the recording if there's one that we both have in common.

[Bingo]

I actually listen to quite a bit of classical music. I tend to like the bigger orchestral stuff like Dvorak's 9th, Holst's Planets, Mussorgsky's Pictures (as orchestrated by Ravel), but do listen to the occasional chamber music and such, such as Schubert's Piano Trio in E flat. You have any Hillary Hahn? She's my current favourite violinist by a long shot -- really puts herself into everything she does. If her name's on it, I'll get it -- even if it's a composer I don't usually listen to. I just got finished listening to the entire Mahler Symphony and Orchestral Song cycle by Bernstein. I have multiple versions of most of the above mentioned works, so if you have any of those that exhibit or not the problem, please do tell, because though I may not have a really refined speaker system right now that's working, I have a really refined headphone system, and access to even more refined headphones systems through friends.

I know I don't look like your stereotypical classical music lover, but I really am, and I've been listening to even more of it lately. I wanted to know because I can rule out the recording if there's one that we both have in common.

Dusty Chalk - Glad you spoke up! I am familiar with all of the Classical works that you listen to. Through the years I heard most all of what you list on Vinyl - before the CD was popular. I'm quite a fan of Mahler, a composer you recently listened to.... but yes, in this kind of music the aberration that I describe so imperfectly does occur sometimes - but before I list a particular recording that has it I want to try once more to clarify what I have been referring to.... The sound is 'in' the music, but it is not 'identifiable' clearly as a violin, but I believe it is 'supposed' to be a violin or another very high register instrument - perhaps a flute, but not an oboe. The sound should actually be a part of the orchestra, but trying to identify it as a particular instrument, as you can see now, is difficult. On a Telarc CD entitled "Rodgers and Hamerstein Songbook Orchestra" you can hear this sound frequently. I suggest if you can get hold of the album that you go to track 8 (The Sound of Music) where I believe the sound is more frequent...anyway, it does occur all through this album and is less obvious in some tracks and more in others. Thanks again, Dusty, for your input...I appreciate it very much! Let me know if you get to hear the Telarc CD.

Hearing impaired Bingo