Besides the Infamous Norah Jones CD....

[Adz]

What other CD(s) rival it in sound quality. Please think hard before you answer since I haven't found anything that comes close.

Thanks,

[Burke Strickland]

"Quality" is defined by some as "meeting the customer's expectations". Please help us here. What are your expectations for CDs? What do you particularly like about the "infamous Norah Jones CD" (presumably "Come Away With Me" or is it some other title?)

Is it the balance between human voice and instruments, the "air" around instruments and "space" between performers, the arrangement of performers within the sound stage, the depth and breadth of the sound stage, the smoothness of the entire frequency range, the balance between bass and treble and the clear mid-range, the "you are there" presence, the immediacy of the percussion, or is it the "life-like" reproduction of her voice, which could be singing entries from the phone book and still keep us enthralled? :>)

Tell us a bit more about what you like about it and then perhaps we can brainstorm (aka "think hard") and come up with some other CDs you might find engaging.

Burke

[Kevin P]

Diana Krall, pretty much any of her CDs rate up there in sound quality.

[David Meek]

perhaps we can brainstorm (aka "think hard")

:rofl:

[Stoney]

Try any of "Tuck and Patti" CD's

http://www.tuckandpatti.com/

[Adz]

Diana Krall, pretty much any of her CDs rate up there in sound quality.

Great. I'll pick up a couple of her albums. I had been meaning to. If you think of any other CDs (I should have said earlier not multi-channel) that rival it, let me know!
Thanks Kevin,

P.S. Tuck and Patti, huh? Ok.

[Andrew Pratt]

The CD that still FLOORS me is Rebecca Pidgeon's The Raven.

http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/rpidgeon.htm

Most Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler CD's are exceptional as well.

[NeutralMAN]

Hi all,

I love the Norah Jones CDs, the sound quality is pretty up there.... but...

I have recently noticed that on some songs, there seems to be a "Peaking" problem. That is, when recorded the max sounds are too loud, causing some disortion when Norah hits the loud parts of the tracks.

For example in "come away with me" track 10, whenever she goes loud, the final peak seems to distort.

Now I'm not sure if it's my gear, a problem with my setup, or something else.

Has anyone else noticed this type of distortion with here cds. I have tested other CDs (fourplay, etc) and do not notice any form of peaking distortion. To further things, when listening to most chart CDs, there is lots of this peaking distortion present.

Any thoughts??

NeutralMAN

[George Bellefontaine]

The CD that still FLOORS me is Rebecca Pidgeon's The Raven.

I just learned something today. I've seen Rebecca in some of her husband's films, but for the life of me, I didn't know she was a vocalist and had all these albums out. I've got to see if I can find them.

Re: peaking on Norah's COME AWAY WITH ME track 10. I haven't noticed this on my system. I also agree with others here about the high quality of the Diana Krall cds.

[Kevin P]

I seem to recall hearing some distortion on the Norah CD, but I just listened to track 10 and didn't notice any. Track 11 on the other hand seems to have some distortion (around 2:35 when she hits a higher/louder note). I'll have to listen to the entire CD again.

[NeutralMAN]

Thanks guys, I'll probably should have been more descriptive. I'll have a listen, and get back to you with some track/ times.

I also noticed that the newer cd, feels like home, also exhibits some distortion.

Will get back to all.

I'm just trying to figure out if I have a problem with my system, or it's the cds.

NeutralMAN

[David Meek]

I think your systems are fine. It's her voice. :

[NeutralMAN]

OK david now you have confused me , so there :smackbutt: :B :B

Anyway, Sorry I got it wrong before, it's not track 10 but 11. So Kevin, you are correct, this one seems to contain most of the distortion in her cd. I have picked it up at:
- 1:54
- 1:57
- 2:10
- 2:36
- 2:42

Now I'm assuming that It's the CD not a component in my system. Can others confirm??

I have also listend to feels like home, and noticed most of the first half of the CD sounds a bit distorted too.

Using CDs you would think there is no distortion, but hey, what can we do??

Thank you,

NeutralMAN
(p.s. There is a big "N" on my chest, when my shirt is ripped off in a phone booth :B )

[Cowanrg]

to tell you the truth, i never really cared too much for the norah jones cd (recording quality and "music").

diana krall stuff is great, mark isham stuff is very nice, anything put out by burmester or audioquest makes a great reference disc, and many many others depending on your genre that grabs you.

[aud19]

to tell you the truth, i never really cared too much for the norah jones cd (recording quality and "music").

diana krall stuff is great, mark isham stuff is very nice, anything put out by burmester or audioquest makes a great reference disc, and many many others depending on your genre that grabs you.

See now Diana Krall's "music" bores me to tears! :rofl: (She's even a "local" girl) Though there's a couple songs of hers that remind me of Joni Mitchell and the recording quality is top notch

[JonMarsh]

What other CD(s) rival it in sound quality. Please think hard before you answer since I haven't found anything that comes close.

Thanks,

Try the SACD hybrid version, also with a down converted CD layer. Better than the CD, IMO. On both layers.

~Jon

[Lex]

Before Norah, for me it was Sahah McLaughlan, but NOT Mirrorball, that one the quality stinks imo. Fumbling Towards Escacy has a few tracks I like for reference.

[David Meek]

Yeah, Sarah McLaughlan is excellent listening. I greatly prefer her over both Norah and Diana (except for the above mentioned Mirrorball).

[Andrew Pratt]

Sarah Brightmans's discs's are typically well recorded as well (at least La Luna and Eden are)

[Pieter]

I have a CD with some reference recordings of bird chirps and nature sounds.

It may not be great music, but then again, neither is the output of the songsters mentioned above.

[theMaximus]

Sarah McLaughlan's "Surfacing" album has excellent recording quality IMO.

[Burke Strickland]

If you want excellent recording quality (it meets MY expectations) as well as superb vocal performances, any album by Patricia Barber fills the bill. "Modern Cool" or "Cafe Blue" are good ones to get started with.

Burke

[Lex]

Sarah has a sweet voice, no doubt about that. Or DID anyway. I have not heard anything from her in a while now.

I find her voice equally soothing as Nora's, but different. Diana's voice, doesn't typically fit in the same comparison. She's excellent just the same, but in a different way, IMO.

Who do I pick over who? Fortunately, I don't pick the grammys, so I don't have to pick, I just enjoy them all as I play them. I'll admit, I probably burned out on Sarah after a while and welcomed new ways to take my musical pleasures, which for me at the time were Diana Krall and then Nora. I'm not always a fan of Nora's song selection, but always a fan of her voice.

David, I think Mirrorball must have been recorded at a busy intersection in NY, lol.

[Pieter]

How about Andreas Vollenweider's "Trilogy"?

It even seems to be improving with the passage of time. Duh! I forgot to take my recent system upgrades into account.

[aud19]

Before Norah, for me it was Sahah McLaughlan, but NOT Mirrorball, that one the quality stinks imo. Fumbling Towards Escacy has a few tracks I like for reference.

Another local girl :B Must be something in the water here :lol: Isn't Norah Jones Canadian as well (I believe from back east though...)?

[George Bellefontaine]

Sarah lives and has her own studio in Vancouver, but she is a Nova Scotia girl by birth, and a purty one at that.

[Adz]

Try the SACD hybrid version, also with a down converted CD layer. Better than the CD, IMO. On both layers.

~Jon

Yep, I have both and agree with your assessment.

[Adz]

to tell you the truth, i never really cared too much for the norah jones cd (recording quality and "music").

diana krall stuff is great,

Now that's a first. I switch back and forth between Krall and Jones a lot and find the Come Away with Me CD to be of the highest reference quality in my collection and her voice to be much more captivating. But maybe I have the wrong Diana Krall CD - which one is the best?

Now I do not have an extensive CD collection (only about 200 or so) but I have lately been trying to pick and choose ones that sound great since I already have all of my favorites/classic Rock/Pop CDs.

[EAmin]

Now that's a first. I switch back and forth between Krall and Jones a lot and find the Come Away with Me CD to be of the highest reference quality in my collection and her voice to be much more captivating. But maybe I have the wrong Diana Krall CD - which one is the best?

Now I do not have an extensive CD collection (only about 200 or so) but I have lately been trying to pick and choose ones that sound great since I already have all of my favorites/classic Rock/Pop CDs.

I like Krall if I were to choose between the two. I like the Look of Love CD. Diana's voice is very smooth and easy to listen to --- instrumentals are far better. I don't feel the same with Norah Jones. "I remember you", "Dancing in the Dark" and "Look of Love" are my favorites --- but the whole CD is good.

[Lex]

Eamin, I also love Diana Krall's voice. It is so easy to listen to. But for purity, angelic quality, the nod goes to Sarah or Norah. But that does not mean I like Diana's music or voice less, it's just a different way, that's all.

Jason, I think half of Norah is pretty far away from Canada by origin, her Dad was the finest Citar' player from India.

[aud19]

I believe he became a Canadian though if I remember correctly Doug

[bigburner]

Ravi Shankar has another daughter - Anoushka - who also plays the sitar. They played together at the Concert for George on 29 November 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, a year after George Harrison's death. George was a student of Ravi's.

Concert For George is a beautiful DVD with an excellent sound track that features Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Jools Holland, Billy Preston and others.

The DVD also features George's son Dhani playing acoustic guitar. There's one scene on the DVD where Paul McCartney looks across at Tom Petty and they smile at each other, both amazed at how much Dhani looks like his dad. Quite moving.

[Adz]

Ravi Shankar has another daughter - Anoushka - who also plays the sitar. They played together at the Concert for George on 29 November 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, a year after George Harrison's death. George was a student of Ravi's.

Concert For George is a beautiful DVD with an excellent sound track that features Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Jools Holland, Billy Preston and others.

The DVD also features George's son Dhani playing acoustic guitar. There's one scene on the DVD where Paul McCartney looks across at Tom Petty and they smile at each other, both amazed at how much Dhani looks like his dad. Quite moving.

Hey bigburner (Nigel), thanks for the Concert for George tip! I have not heard that one yet but both the sound and picture review on WideScreen Review garnered closed to their highest ratings (see excerpt below) and there is a DTS track!!. ;x( I have been looking for a DVD Concert video that rivals the reference quality of Eric Clapton's One More Car One More Rider and this may just do that. So, I will pick up a copy and let you know. Thanks again.

* * * * *

From Feb 2004 edition of Widescreen Review Magazine:
DVD Picture:
"The anamorphically enhanced 1.78:1 DVD looks great! The color palette is rich and warm, with lots of browns, golds, and oranges on stage. Most camera angles offer incredibly sharp and detailed images, though there are a few that appear a bit soft under the stage lighting. Fleshtones are accurately rendered, and blacks are deep and solid. There is little in the way of pixelization, shimmering, or smearing to distract. A lovely picture! (Suzanne Hodges)"

Soundtrack:
"The 5.1 audio presentations are outstanding with the concert presentations, sounding simply pristine and state-of-the-art. The surround sound production is also a standout, with an involving, engaging soundfield across the front channels and abundant ambient content in the surrounds with good bass extension. The low-end for the presentations are certainly noteworthy and commendable. The vocals are spread amongst the front channels. The overall listening experience is simply delightful, and fans of George Harrison are sure to be absorbed into the excitement and reminiscence of the wonderful renditions of his songs. While the Dolby® Digital audio is very good in its own right, the DTS® Digital Surround™ version gets the nod for delivering with fuller bass content and a soundstage is more defined and coherent. (Perry Sun)"

[aud19]

I think I may have to look that one up on Best Buy! Thanks guys! :T

It seems it's only available in "Full Screen" 1.33:1 at Best Buy :roll:

[Adz]

Here ya' go, Jason.
Amazon.com has it at 16:9 (1.78:1).
Saaaweeet!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CEB4V/qid=1126466762/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-2999489-9271905?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

[bigburner]

I'm thrilled that you guys might buy that DVD. It's worth it.

My other two favourite DVDs released recently are Crossroads Guitar Festival, which I saw 6 months ago, and The Eagles - Farewell 1 Tour - Live From Melbourne, which I saw last Friday evening and acquired the following day.

[aud19]

Thanks Adz but I'll have to have a look at amazon.ca if Best Buy doesn't have it when they get back to my email. (I'm hoping Best Buy can get it though as I have a 10% discount coupon for BB )

Thanks again bigburner :T

[Stoney]

Adz;
Sent you a sample of some "Tuck and Patti" stuff. Tried to PM you, but your box is full. Let me know how it sounds on your setup.

[Adz]

Adz;
Sent you a sample of some "Tuck and Patti" stuff. Tried to PM you, but your box is full. Let me know how it sounds on your setup.

Will do. & Thanks, that is incredibly kind of you.
I cleaned out most of PM box tonight.

[Adz]

I'm thrilled that you guys might buy that DVD. It's worth it.

My other two favourite DVDs released recently are Crossroads Guitar Festival, which I saw 6 months ago, and The Eagles - Farewell 1 Tour - Live From Melbourne, which I saw last Friday evening and acquired the following day.

bb -
I have CrossRoads. It is very good, but Clapton's One More Car One More Rider is more than a notch better.

[Cyclesberuff]

I like Eva Cassiy "Live at Blues Alley"

[Adz]

OK david now you have confused me , so there :smackbutt: :B :B

Anyway, Sorry I got it wrong before, it's not track 10 but 11. So Kevin, you are correct, this one seems to contain most of the distortion in her cd. I have picked it up at:
- 1:54
- 1:57
- 2:10
- 2:36
- 2:42

Now I'm assuming that It's the CD not a component in my system. Can others confirm??

I have also listend to feels like home, and noticed most of the first half of the CD sounds a bit distorted too.

Using CDs you would think there is no distortion, but hey, what can we do??

Thank you,

NeutralMAN
(p.s. There is a big "N" on my chest, when my shirt is ripped off in a phone booth :B )

Sorry, just listened several times to Title 11 listening intently to the times you list. No distortion at all.

[Adz]

Adz;
Sent you a sample of some "Tuck and Patti" stuff. Tried to PM you, but your box is full. Let me know how it sounds on your setup.

Just got it in today. Played one song and would have to agree - right up there in reference quality sound. What grabbed me immediately was the clean smoothness of the instruments and the lively voice reproduction.

Plan to listen this weekend a lot. Thanks

[Stoney]

Adz;
Glad you received the CD OK. Hope you enjoy it! As I was short on time, I just copied their "Best Of" disk and tacked a couple more tracks on the end. If you find you enjoy it, go and buy one so I don't feel so bad about the copyright thing. My first disk was a copy also, I have since bought 3 others.
As far as "instruments" go, I think it is just Tuck on the guitar and Patti on vocals. I find the results pretty amazing.

[RobP]

What other CD(s) rival it in sound quality. Please think hard before you answer since I haven't found anything that comes close.

Thanks,

Until this evening I would have agreed with you Adz about the Norah Jones recording, that was until I purchased Sara K's "Play on Words" CD. This recording is probably one of the best that I have ever heard.
It was recorded by Chesky Records, they use a minimal approach to recording, trying to keep the signal as pure as possible. Her style is somewhat like Norah Jones. but a little more bluesy (is that a word?).
:T