RE: OK, I'll try harder.

Posted by bald2 (A) on December 4, 2014 at 11:01:11

In Reply to: OK, I'll try harder. posted by rbolaw on December 3, 2014 at 21:06:08:

My understanding is that many jazz and classical recordings from the mid 50 by small companies were cut in mono as a result of costs, marketing and related logistical factors. Some engineers, like Rudy Van Gelder (who recorded jazz for Prestige AND many classical LPs for Vox etc...) were set up with mono equipment and did location recording. In addition, I'm guessing that many if not most consumers didn't jump on the stereo bandwagon right away and had hifi setups with one speaker, one mono integrated amp and a turntable wired for mono, with a mono cartridge. Pretty expensive back them to buy whole new sets of equipment to accommodate newfangled technolgy. Moreover, mono stuff can sound better than stereo, especially early jazz and small group classical recordings (ie... the great Blue Note and Westminster classical LPs), just as good master tape still beats most other formats the majority of the time, all things being equal, provided that the hardware is working properly and the stars are aligned just so:)

Having been an audio enthusiast for 30+ years, my experience-- for what it's worth-- is that each generation and change in both recordings and hardward brings advancements AND setbacks. To wit, triode tubes can sound more unto the real thing than pentodes, and again with modern, state of the art solid state. Likewise the best early horns, high efficiency drivers and early electrostatic speakers-- despite their size and technical limitations-- are quite remarkable and satisfying.

It seems to me that the same is true for pressings of recordings. While SACDs and high rez digital can sound marvelous, each generation of stereo LPs and tapes is usually inferior to the originals (whereas the reverse is usually the norm for CD). First pressing Deccas, Blue Notes, RCAs, Mercurys, Westminsters and Everests (among others) are usually better sounding than later pressings, and the market reflects this.

Harry

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Oh, NO! Monteux! - Ivan303 12:29:39 12/03/14 (31)

Unfortunately, a lot af my favorite Monteux RCAs won't be included here - vinyl phanatic 08:12:40 12/04/14 (4)

There's one that's included... - Russell 18:20:58 12/04/14 (3)

RE: There's one that's included... - Ivan303 20:26:57 12/04/14 (2)

That's one Monteux recording I DO have! - Chris from Lafayette 00:39:22 12/05/14 (1)

That one and the Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 ... - Ivan303 06:53:36 12/05/14 (0)

I ordered my copy already... - Russell 16:57:48 12/03/14 (2)

Please let us know after you receive it... - Ivan303 09:57:52 12/07/14 (1)

RE: Please let us know after you receive it... - Russell 23:28:40 12/09/14 (0)

Love his Beethoven 4th and Siegfried Idyll - andy evans 16:15:31 12/03/14 (4)

RE: Love his Beethoven 4th and Siegfried Idyll - pbarach 16:25:43 12/03/14 (3)

Oddly, the stuff in the box set doesn't seem to be that great... - Ivan303 16:33:26 12/03/14 (2)

RE: Oddly, the stuff in the box set doesn't seem to be that great... - Russell 17:08:53 12/03/14 (1)

Russell - I agree about the original cover art - Chris from Lafayette 17:29:48 12/03/14 (0)

Was never too wowed by Monteux, but I remember that "Orfeo ed Euridice" - Chris from Lafayette 13:57:41 12/03/14 (17)

A fantastic Fantastique - rbolaw 15:11:51 12/03/14 (16)

Rite of Spring - Chris from Lafayette 17:15:58 12/03/14 (2)

RE: Rite of Spring - rbolaw 20:52:57 12/03/14 (0)

RE: "This has to be some student orchestra...." - Ivan303 19:05:35 12/03/14 (0)

You're behind the times. - Rick W 16:50:49 12/03/14 (12)

OK, I'll try harder. - rbolaw 21:06:08 12/03/14 (11)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - bald2 11:01:11 12/04/14 (1)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - Utley1 18:38:13 12/04/14 (0)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - Rick W 22:20:15 12/03/14 (8)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - David Smith 20:02:11 12/06/14 (2)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - bald2 07:15:00 12/15/14 (0)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - bald2 08:31:20 12/14/14 (0)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - rbolaw 07:52:37 12/04/14 (4)

"Found" a record I didn't remember I had, Scherchen - mwhitmore 11:07:42 12/05/14 (0)

I'm much more tolerant of bad jazz recordings than bad symphonic recordings. - Rick W 09:31:10 12/04/14 (1)

classical mono - rbolaw 11:20:11 12/04/14 (0)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - Travis 08:48:37 12/04/14 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - bald2 11:01:11 12/04/14 (1)

RE: OK, I'll try harder. - Utley1 18:38:13 12/04/14 (0)

RE: OK, I'll try harder.

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