THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.

[gammi]

Thank you everyone, so many great suggestions for me to use as a springboard to go deeper. Feel free to keep em coming. There's never really been any method to my classical music discovery, basically I'd just search for the typical composers and click around until I hear a recording I like and then try to favorite but the info here will help me focus in a bit.

Also I suppose I'll take this moment to suggest some piano compositions from a friend of mine who passed recently...

 

[szore]

Thank you everyone, so many great suggestions for me to use as a springboard to go deeper. Feel free to keep em coming. There's never really been any method to my classical music discovery, basically I'd just search for the typical composers and click around until I hear a recording I like and then try to favorite but the info here will help me focus in a bit.

Also I suppose I'll take this moment to suggest some piano compositions from a friend of mine who passed recently...

 

[Luckyleo]

I'd like to get into classical/orchestral music more but it's always so intimidating because there are 100 different recordings of the same piece. What would you guys say are some of the all time great classical albums that someone should build off of? Any best venues I should keep in mind? Any best labels that generally have good recording quality?

I would suggest focusing on particular composers and when you find a piece(s) you like you can start exploring different releases and you can judge for yourself. Mozart and Hayden are a great entry point. Bach can be great for the right listeners.

Just my opinion. Many ways to achieve what you are looking for. Enjoy the journey.

 

[Frankie D]

I'd like to get into classical/orchestral music more but it's always so intimidating because there are 100 different recordings of the same piece. What would you guys say are some of the all time great classical albums that someone should build off of? Any best venues I should keep in mind? Any best labels that generally have good recording quality?

Here are a few I prefer. I hope you like them.

One of my favorites of Holst: The Planets. I like all the tracks especially Jupiter.

How about some American Classical with some jazz written by Gershwin. On this album Lincoln Mayorga performed them as they were originally performed. Fascinating Rhythm is a favorite as is Rhapsody in Blue:

Scheherazade from Living Stereo is a classic as previously mentioned. Many love the whole Living Stereo Catalogue, especially on vinyl.

How about an opera. Turandot written by Puccini and the tenor is Pavarotti. The recording is not good, but the performance is stellar. Only listen to Act 2 “In Questa Reggia” through “Nessun Dorma” ( possibly the greatest of all tenor arias ever written ). In the aria “In Questa Reggia” the Princess Tuandot explains her past and that Straniero ( Calaf ) must answer 3 riddles to be able to marry her. If he fails he dies. The Riddles follow. Calaf answers them, then gives the princess one last chance. If she can find out his name by morning, she does not have to marry him. He then sings Nessun Dorma ( No One Sleeps The Night) as the Princess has all her troops roaming all over to find out his name. Don’t bother with the rest. Puccini died and never finished it himself.

Copland’s Fanfare For The Common Man performed by ELP ( 1970’s progressive rock band ) from their Works Album. Only this one tune is by Copland. Piano Concerto #1 is pretty good as well, written by Keith Emerson ( keyboardist of the group). I actually saw this album performed live by ELP. They brought the London Symphony Orchestra with them on tour.

This should get you started. Enjoy!

 

[tutetibiimperes]

The talk about orchestral and adjacent works made me realize I hadn’t listened to one of my favorite Bernstein works in a while. So tonight is a good night for Candide.

 

[buidoimiennui]

Neat!

Phil is a friend of mine and also a huge A-T fan. Furthermore, he's very creative and has made several fun mods using A & AD series shells - glad to see more ideas come to life.

Initially I failed using the small 40mm bio-cellulose driver. but then I looked for a 50mm replacement, it was like a mole.

 

[gammi]

I would suggest focusing on particular composers and when you find a piece(s) you like you can start exploring different releases and you can judge for yourself. Mozart and Hayden are a great entry point. Bach can be great for the right listeners.

Just my opinion. Many ways to achieve what you are looking for. Enjoy the journey.

This is what I usually do but it takes forever considering just searching for "Mozart Requiem" for example brings up about 50 albums
Hence the desire for a little guidance down the right lane.

 

[LoryWiv]

Thank you everyone, so many great suggestions for me to use as a springboard to go deeper. Feel free to keep em coming. There's never really been any method to my classical music discovery, basically I'd just search for the typical composers and click around until I hear a recording I like and then try to favorite but the info here will help me focus in a bit.

Also I suppose I'll take this moment to suggest some piano compositions from a friend of mine who passed recently...

GREAT suggestions from all. I find Bach on piano irresistible, and am listening to the Partitas BWV 825-830 right now, new recording by Tingshuo Yang. When 1st published as Bach's "Opus 1", they were "offered to music lovers in order to refresh their spirits". They do so for me every time.

 

[Whazzzup]

Ahhhh Bach

 

[fidgeraldo]

Ahhhh Bach

Ahhh, rekao je Bach dok je jeo grah i prdio u sav ma(c)h...

Cheers!

 

[AnyDave]

Here are a few I prefer. I hope you like them.

One of my favorites of Holst: The Planets. I like all the tracks especially Jupiter.

How about some American Classical with some jazz written by Gershwin. On this album Lincoln Mayorga performed them as they were originally performed. Fascinating Rhythm is a favorite as is Rhapsody in Blue:

Scheherazade from Living Stereo is a classic as previously mentioned. Many love the whole Living Stereo Catalogue, especially on vinyl.

How about an opera. Turandot written by Puccini and the tenor is Pavarotti. The recording is not good, but the performance is stellar. Only listen to Act 2 “In Questa Reggia” through “Nessun Dorma” ( possibly the greatest of all tenor arias ever written ). In the aria “In Questa Reggia” the Princess Tuandot explains her past and that Straniero ( Calif ) must answer 3 riddles to be able to marry her. If he fails he dies. The Riddles follow. Calif answers them, then gives the princess one last chance. If she can find out his name by morning, she does not have to marry him. He then sings Nessun Dorma ( No One Sleeps The Night) as the Princess has all her troops roaming all over to find out his name. Don’t bother with the rest. Puccini died and never finished it himself.

Copland’s Fanfare For The Common Man performed by ELP ( 1970’s progressive rock band ) from their Works Album. Only this one tune is by Copland. Piano Concerto #1 is pretty good as well, written by Keith Emerson ( keyboardist of the group). I actually saw this album performed live by ELP. They brought the London Symphony Orchestra with them on tour.

This should get you started. Enjoy!

I remember seeing Turandot at the Lyric Opera in Chicago back in the 90's. It was wonderful.

 

[TYATYA]

Yamaha monitor so great for price!!!

 

[Frankie D]

Ahhh, rekao je Bach dok je jeo grah i prdio u sav ma(c)h...

Cheers!

Translation? I could not translate it.

 

[fidgeraldo]

Translation? I could not translate it.

Hahaha, you can translate parts word by word, but the meaning will probably be missed.
It's a rhyme...and a funny saying I heard from my mother 45+ years ago, and she would say that if we were eating beans.
My wife today doesn't believe me that I didn't make it up because I do that for fun. She never heard that before...
Ok, it's related to Bach while eating beans and farting ...hahaha
So, when I saw that Ahhh...and Bach...the rest was obvious!

Cheers!

 

[DenverW]

So far 2024 has brought some big changes to my system!

I'd like to take a moment to just put down some thoughts as to why I made some changes (I was perfectly content with my system) and how I'm finding the results.

Earlier this year, I had both an office and home system. The office had a matrix mini i4 pro, along with the Bokeh and the Audio 64 Nios. A recent change in office space placed me in a different area where this system would no longer work, as I had reduced security as well as less time to listen while working. Office rig...eliminated, with only the Bokeh remaining.

My home system was PC - Merason Dac 1 - Ampsandsound Booster Box - DIY Aegis. I would use either a ZMF atrium closed or Caldera. The plan was potentially to add a solid state amp to this system, such as a Bliss or Mass Kobo. I was also considering moving one of my two ZMF headphones for a different TOTL headphone, purely for variety.

I decided that overall, for the biggest improvement to my overall system, I would upgrade my amp. Here are the changes:

Upgrade: the amp. Moved from the Aegis to the ampsandsound Nautilus. LOVE the Aegis, but the Nautilus is an upgrade.
Sidegrade: Moved out the ZMF Caldera and acquired a Hifiman Susvara. The main goal of this wasn't to find something 'better', but to find something excellent but different. I also appreciate that I'm not worried about damaging the wood.
Downgrade: the Merason Dac-1 moved to a Gustard R26. I justified this by needing the additional funds, and finding the smallest effect from the dac overall compared to the other major components. The Gustard is capable, so the change is small.

I feel covered until Canjam Socal. Time to build up some more funds. Overall, my goal was complete: to have additional variety in my system while also improving things overall.