[adias]

iFi has this new GTO digital filter that supposedly reduces/eliminates impulse ringing. I hate it. It sound harsh to me.

 

[BraveNewWorld]

Since this thread has been a good source for music recommendations, I wonder if there are any fans of Prog Rock here? I've been a progressive music fan for decades; YES, ELP, Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, and Kansas; I'm a big fan of them all. But, I'm not too up on as much modern Prog. I've only heard a few newer bands; I.Q., Porcupine Tree (and Steven Wilson), Dream Theater and Anima Mundi. I like electronic, space music, New Age and fusion too. Any other bands that I should look out for?

Thanks.

Same here. For other Prog choices, consider Marillion and The Pineapple Thief. For Space music it is hard to beat Hearts of Space, originally an FM broadcast but now streaming as well.

 

[LobalWarming]

After what i have experienced in the last few days
(I can't mention enough how good the chain of Lyr+ + MMb2 (in NOS!) + HE-1000 Stealth sounds),
i agree with Stefan Wehmeier, Audio Optimum's chief developer, who says that the human ear doesn't hear aliasing effects, but the pre-ringing of the digital filter does.

Ummm... perhaps some human ears do not hear aliasing effects... there's a medical term for that.

In my decades working with ADC/DAC and DSP in the pro audio world, aliasing was clearly audible (and very annoying) in test sessions. While most digital filters can have detrimental sonic effects, choosing aliasing is not a great alternative, imo.

As with all things audio, context, content and compromises are a personal choice. For me, Schiit's tasty mega-bean-burrito filter is one of the best on the sonic menu.

 

[BraveNewWorld]

+100

+1000

 

[adias]

... For me, Schiit's tasty mega-bean-burrito filter is one of the best on the sonic menu.

I agree. Having listening experience with many iFi digital filters I think Michael Moffat beats them hands down.

 

[BowWazoo]

 

[BraveNewWorld]

Opeth: swedish band that started as progressive death metal and over the years mutated to a more "traditional" prog rock in their last albums. The key element that gave Opeth the reputation of being the "best" metal band ever for so many people is the exquisite blend of brutal sound with extremely melodic/beautiful/melancholic passages. If you're not used to growling (singing to sound like a monster) I'd suggest to give it a try to a couple of their heaviest albums (Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Deliverance), if you listen to them a couple of times, there is a fair chance it will click and then you'll appreciate how fantastic musicians they are. Three examples of those albums...







By the way, Steven Wilson produced Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Damnation. So, if he's involved, you know it will be pretty damn good.

If at the end of the day the heaviest aspect of Opeth it's not your cup of tea, you have plenty of other alternatives in their catalog. Albums like Heritage, Pale Communion Sorceress and In Cauda Venenum have no growls. Also, when they were at the peak of their most heaviest sound they released Damnation, which was a surprise cause it's a very mellow (with a sinister vibe) album that earned them a lot of applause.













Liquid Tension Experiment: You mentioned Dream Theater, well... in case you don't know, back in the day they had a sorta parallel project called Liquid Tension Experiment, it's basically Dream Theater without vocals, and with the legendary Tony Levin on bass instead of John Myung. The sound it's like Dream Theater on steroids which it's pretty bizarre considering DT sounds a lot like they already are on steroids xD







Riverside: These guys are from Poland. Progressive Metal but more melodic and less over the top, compared to Dream Theater. That allows them to make extremely catching tunes with kick ass guitar riffs (they also have very beautiful ballads).









By the way, Mariusz Duda, Riverside singer and bass player has a project called Lunatic Soul, it's progressive too, but with some electronic/ambient elements, it's pretty good IMO.







I also forgot to mention that Kevin Moore, the first Dream Theater keyboard player, started a project called Chroma Key after he left DT. It's a weird mix of progressive with avant-garde and a touch of electronic. Regardless of the genre, I love it and I applaud him for taking a totally different musical direction.





Haken: These guys are from England and also fall under the progressive metal umbrella. While they have some growls here and there, overall the vocals are clean and super melodic (the same can be said about the music, very catchy).







Animals as Leaders: This is a band formed by Tosin Abasi, one of the most impressive guitar players that have appeared in the last 15 years or so. The guy plays 8-string guitars so you can already imagine his sound is HEAVY. At the beginning the band consisted of himself only, so he chose to use a software for the drums which gives the first album a kinda electronic vibe that I personally love.







Plini: This is a young fella from Australia, one of best guitar players that I've had the pleasure to discover in the last years. He has a great amount of skills but also he never stops being melodic, he knows exactly when to press the gas pedal and shred without tiring the listener ear. His music is kinda hard to classify cause there's a progressive element in it, but at the same time is nothing like all the other examples that I've put here. Plini himself defines it as Happy Prog.







OSI: What the hell OSI means? Office of Strategic Influence, another project from former DT keyboard player Kevin Moore and Jim Matheos (Fates Warning). This is great prog rock with some electronic elements, very refreshing sound to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qd8-v4VWVc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CufGvFqAR3c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRuSoU_Pw4o

Planet X: A fantastic progressive band founded by Derek Sherinian (another ex-DT keyboard player) and Virgil Donati, who is to me, pretty much the only drummer that deserves to be called "mutant".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ3hUySljVY

This video is a proof of how amazing Donati is (oh yeah, Doug Shreeve is ridiculous too)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4aEz_nr8p8

On the Virg: Another Donati project...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL_oMf3YvRk

Donati also has a very strong fusion background (on his own and collabs), sadly, since it's not a popular music, it's hard to find links to put here, anyways, some examples...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMHwzFOfNb8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6_fQIqLdls

Regards!

I must confess my goal was to break the internet. I guess I failed.

Agree with sampling Opeth (both old and new). Another Prog metal option I don't think has been mentioned is Karnivool from Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwcokbfKNg0

 

[AstronomerXI]

Since this thread has been a good source for music recommendations, I wonder if there are any fans of Prog Rock here? I've been a progressive music fan for decades; YES, ELP, Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, and Kansas; I'm a big fan of them all. But, I'm not too up on as much modern Prog. I've only heard a few newer bands; I.Q., Porcupine Tree (and Steven Wilson), Dream Theater and Anima Mundi. I like electronic, space music, New Age and fusion too. Any other bands that I should look out for?

Thanks.

You have to check out music-map.com if you haven't already. I'm interested to know your thoughts once you've had some time with it.

 

[ImagesbyMurray]

+1000

+10000

 

[JohnnyCanuck]

+1000

+10000

+10 New Points


JC

 

[LobalWarming]

+10 New Points


JC

...and the inflationary spiral continues

 

[corndog71]

+10000

Accurate.

 

[jonathan c]

(I wish that I hadn't turned it up to eleven as often as I did back when I was young and dumb... )

I need to say that, in my experience, not every ported loudspeaker "chuffs". The B&W 804s do not make funny port noises, in any volume regime that I've run them in.
Now that I have a pair of RELs, I do find that the 804s "sound better" with the port plugs in place. YMMV, of course.

your music may vanish?…..

 

[dhcarquinez]

You have to check out music-map.com if you haven't already. I'm interested to know your thoughts once you've had some time with it.

Interesting! I tried a few artists/bands and it seemed OK to very good, but putting in Gentle Giant really nailed the bands I like, which means I'm very interested in the few I don't already know:

 

[AstronomerXI]

Interesting! I tried a few artists/bands and it seemed OK to very good, but putting in Gentle Giant really nailed the bands I like, which means I'm very interested in the few I don't already know:

...and if you click on any of the bands in the map, you get another map with the one you clicked on as the prime. I just discovered this tool today and wow!