RCA Living Stereo - Charles Munch Saint-Saens Symphony No 3 Organ -

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  • čas přidán 18. 01. 2023
  • I have three copies of RCA Living Stereo LSC-2341, The Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 "Organ" I discuss in this video - the original 1S pressing, and the Classic Record and Analogue Productions reissue. Released in 1958 as a "Stereo Spectacular", it's always been a favorite of audiophiles and music lovers. I come to an interesting conclusion after hearing these three pressings.
    Analogue Productions LP is available from Acoustic Sounds
    If you would like to support The Pressing Matters, you can donate through a service called Buy Me A Coffee. There is a link below to my page.
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    Click the link and go to Wishlist, or make a simple donation on the main page. Thank you so much!
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    Reference System
    -Basis 1400 Turntable
    -Rega RB300 Tone Arm
    -Hana SL MC Cartridge
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    -ModWright PH 9.0 Tube Phono Preamplifier
    -Odyssey Stratos Amplifier
    -Magnepan MMG Loudspeaker
    _Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Loudspeaker
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    _Ursa Major Record Cleaning Brush
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    _DS Audio ST-50 Stylus Cleaner
    _Disc Doctor Record Brushes
    ~-~~-~~~-~~-~
    Please watch: "RCA Living Stereo - Analogue Productions Resurrects A Legendary Label"
    • Golden Age Classical R...
    ~-~~-~~~-~~-~
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Komentáře • 81

  • @sidesup8286
    @sidesup8286 Před rokem +7

    I remember back decades ago. I used to go into this record store, looking mainly for early stereo records; audiophile titles mainly. I was in this guys used record store maybe 10 times, walking out without buying anything after my long searches each time. It seems like he had everything but what I was looking for. He was a fifty-ish portly gentlemen who was very jovial with his customers. I don't believe I ever said a word to him. Then one day I finally found a record worth buying. It was a late Living Stereo, I think it was called Favorite Dances And Marches. It had a red cover with a Japanese warrior with sword leaping in the air, with both legs in mid-air. As I was walking out of the store, I realized his puzzlement was solved, about why I came in all those times and did all my long searches without buying anything. As I opened the door to exit the store, I heard him say to his partner "He was looking for Japanese Samurai records."

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +4

      OMG that made me laugh. One of your best stories! Reminds me of my hunting for obscure Living Stereos. I found them more in thrift stores than record stores.

    • @sidesup8286
      @sidesup8286 Před rokem +2

      @@ThePressingMatters The record stores had them put away; because there were rumours they were valuable. They weren't knowledgeable enough to know if Fiddle Faddle or Victory At Sea were as valuable as Iberia or Faust/ Carmen. One day I'll tell the story of Pastor Steve. He was always in the Sunday paper under Radio/TV/Stereo, trying to sell audio & upgrade. Those people in the back pews deserved good sound too.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      @@sidesup8286 i Cant wait to hear about that. Collecting Living Stereo was so much fun. I grabbed lots of the obscure pop records in the LSP series. I'll cover some of these one day.

    • @sidesup8286
      @sidesup8286 Před rokem +2

      @@ThePressingMatters I got Belafonte At Carnegie Hall On RCA reel tape. Real nice. Even the lp deserved it's place on the TAS Super Disc List. I once found a Japanese pressing of that, but when I took it up to the counter, the lady said her husband told her to take that one out, and she forgot. Oh well. Some of the rarest reel tapes are from the 1980s when they were fading out pre-recorded reel to reels. Reels like Yes albums and The Police albums.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +2

      @@sidesup8286 i still have a box of reels, mostly prerecorded Living Stereo classical but I have the Belafonte at Carnegie, and other pop titles like Chet Atkins on RCA. Tape deck needs an overhaul.

  • @rc2257
    @rc2257 Před rokem +4

    This is my FAVORITE performance of one of my favorite classical pieces. I have only the AP 33 but it is stunning. Sounds like I lucked out and got a very quiet copy, so sorry you did not.
    I agree, this is one you really need to focus on, in the quietest room possible.
    I feel super fortunate that I can afford a system that does justice to this stunning recording.
    Mercury Living Presence is another label that made audiophile recordings of important classical performances in the late 1950s & early 1960s I'm guessing you're familiar, but just in case:
    They used three mics, extremely expensive ones, and made efforts to minimize the signal path. For each recording session, they experimented extensively with the placement of the mics and the musicians in the room. The result is breathtaking. Even the CDs sound wonderful. Two specific titles I'd recommend are:
    Stravinsky The Firebird - London Symph Orch - Antal Dorati (rec. 1960)
    Compositions by Ravel and Ivert - Detroit Symphony Orch - Paul Paray (rec. 1962, I think -- in a high school auditorium in Detroit!! )
    The Firebird I have on Speakers Corner and it's very nice, not quite but close to AP standards. I can't recall the details of my copies of Ravel/Ivert; one is garbage, the other is not up to Speakers Corner standards but very listenable. Disclaimer: I've done minimal searching for great copies of these terrific MLP recordings.
    Thanks again for another terrific video. I learn something (and sometimes a LOT of things) from every one of them!
    Best,
    Ron C.
    Kenosha WI

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      I love the Mercury recordings and I have many originals, and the two you mention I have in Classic 33 and 45s. Great records. I May do a video on Dorati Firebird soon. Thanks for the great comment!

  • @user-tv3bu9jd3v
    @user-tv3bu9jd3v Před 8 měsíci +1

    If you like a silent background for this work I recommend the JVC CD version which minimizes the distortions and opens up the Aeolian Skinner organ entrance in the last movement considerably. The tremendous finale is so much cleaner and clearer as well.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před 8 měsíci

      I'm seriously considering adding CD back into my system for these kinds of reasons.

  • @dgross2009
    @dgross2009 Před rokem +3

    Thank you for the historical information on how this was recorded. Fascinating how much production went into these 50's recordings.
    The low end (from the organ?) on this recording really makes use of my Klipsch sub.
    I pulled my AP copy to see if I had the surface noise issue and it's there but not too intrusive. Collectors criticize MOFI but I find their releases have much less noise than AP releases.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Thank you for your comment, Donald. This is a fascinating production, and the result truly is a spectacular! I've since changed cartridges and it's much better as far as surface noise but for sure there are quieter records being produced. Still, a great one!

  • @JOcasio1977
    @JOcasio1977 Před rokem +2

    Ive been collecting living stereo titles via goodwill and have found some amazing titles..not the cleanest but true historical artifacts im glad to obtain..keep doing these lsp titles please!!!

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      That's exactly how I amassed my Living Stereo collection. Through thrift stores, yard sales, garage sales etc. I never paid more than a few dollars for any of them! I was able to get doubles and even triples of some. That was so much fun. And now I have them all for these comparisons as well as all the Classics 33 and 45. Im really enjoying doing these so no worries, I'm going to cover as many as I can. It seems there is an audience for it. Glad you enjoy them. You've encouraged me to continue!

  • @djjoeykmusic
    @djjoeykmusic Před rokem +2

    Bravo
    Well done. Great video
    Thank you Scott

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      My pleasure, I love doing the classical reviews. Glad you like them!

  • @mr.classicalmusic5607
    @mr.classicalmusic5607 Před 11 měsíci

    I have this LP and the Hi-Res download. Both are wonderful! This is also on SACD...which I don't have. I enjoy your reviews of the Living Stereo LP's.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před 11 měsíci +1

      Thank you so much! I do have the SACD too but I've never heard it! Need to get a player soon.
      I have a big shootout coming up! Reiner Pines of Rome is in the pipeline. Original, Chesky, Classic, Classic 45, Analogue Productions 33, and whatever else I can find! Thanks for supporting the series!

  • @miamisunray
    @miamisunray Před rokem +1

    Yes, great music. Was introduced to this in Music college...nice review..

  • @pinkyndebrain4578
    @pinkyndebrain4578 Před rokem +1

    This LP is the only one worth having on my opinion. It is my favorite work.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Do you mean of this work or from this Analogue Productions series?

  • @rufus_the_cat
    @rufus_the_cat Před rokem +3

    I spoke about this record in my poetry on plastic contest entry. Getting to see this piece in San Diego was amazing because the theater was originally the Fox Theater, a grand old, silent movie palace. The pipes are built into the walls and the building shakes when those incredible bass notes play. I will say that even live, you never have quiet conditions. The symphony performances are primarily attended by seniors who are constantly coughing are blowing their noses during the quiet passages. We have to accept that noise is a part of life😂. Of course your record should be well made, especially when paying the price for the AP pressing. I’m wondering how low the hertz can go on vinyl, can vinyl reproduce the same frequencies that digital can? I live in an apartment so my sub is in storage but I would like to try it out someday.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      Hi, and welcome back! You certainly have a point there about noisy patrons! Coughing and unwrapping candies etc. It's maddening! Somehow it's easier to overlook in concerts. That experience of hearing this at that particular theater must have been amazing. I can't wait to get a chance to hear it myself in concert. Thanks so much for checking this video out! Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see me cover. I'd be happy to oblige if possible.

  • @jasonhoffer9017
    @jasonhoffer9017 Před rokem +3

    I agree that cd is the best way to go when it comes to classical for a multitudeofreasons. The other thing that I would say that you touched upon in this video is how much a symphony like this can highlight holes in someone's system. I personally have never heard this recording on a high-end stereo that can play the beautiful details of the quiet passages and the booms of the climaxes equally. I'm not saying that they don't exist, but I would think that you would need $100,000 system or something. Just my opinion though... another great video Scott

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      Im getting a bit spoiled, Jason, with the live performances of classical. I agree most systems just can't reproduce classical works with the natural dynamics and impact it requires. Throw in vintage tape, and analog playback eccentricities and it leaves a lot to be desired. I am going to look into CD/SACD though for orchestral music. As you said multiple reasons, one being hearing while movements or symphonies without breaks. I don't know what I was thinking with classical on 45 disc!

  • @varsityathlete9927
    @varsityathlete9927 Před rokem +1

    Does anyone here have a copy or know of a scan of the RCA book written in the 90s (I think) author was called Valin, it was called the 'RCA Bible'. It's all about these RCA Living Stereo records, I've looked for years to find a copy. Nice to see a video on this series. I have quiet a few now, getting that Valin book is my dream to really build the collection. Anyway. hoping someone would scan it.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      I'm in the same boat, and have never been able to get a reprint of this. I'd love to get my hands on it too. Anyone have it?

    • @varsityathlete9927
      @varsityathlete9927 Před rokem +1

      @@ThePressingMatters s scan must be out there, its a spiral bound book. if you do another video on RCA Living Stereo, mention it. Maybe we get lucky.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      @@varsityathlete9927 That's a great idea, I'll do that on the next one!

  • @jfm0830
    @jfm0830 Před rokem +1

    Thanks!
    I enjoy your content and your journey through this great hobby of ours. Here is a little something to help you on the purchase of the Sugar Cube or that tube gear you are looking at..

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Thank you so much for your comment and support for the channel. That is awesome. I love the wealth of information flowing from you on the Sugar Cube. It really is a game changer. I am sort of on the same path that you've been on, starting to map out my "final" system in a thoughtful, careful way. Your experience certainly has helped me envision what I have to do and the Sugar Cube will be a part of it based on all your observations and my audition of it. I can't wait! Thanks again, I really am grateful for the donation and encouragement.

  • @davidchan8108
    @davidchan8108 Před rokem +1

    Thanks! Please do more classical titles, especially RCA Living Stereo titles. Another piece that commands quiet background is Ravel’s G major piano concerto, 2nd movement. I ended up playing CDs sometimes!

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Hi David, I will be doing the highlights of the catalog at the very least. I love doing these Living Stereo titles, and may even go for a deeper dive since I do have the majority of them. Glad you are enjoying them. New one went up today, if you haven't watched it yet. Reiner Concerto for Orchestra!

  • @sidesup8286
    @sidesup8286 Před rokem +2

    I knew a guy who worked in a record store that sold new records. They had a big classical section during the early stereo era. He bought brand new Living Stereo lps within minutes of them being put out in the bins. He said they were never quiet records. They had surface noise on the very first play. The RCA SACD's are improvements over the regular Living Stereo cds in some ways, resolution a bit and openness a bit, but for me of the ones I've tried, in one way they sound like they don't have what the regular Living Stereo cds have, and that is vivid tone colors. Of the RCA SACD's I've tried it seems like something in their recording chain was holding back tone colors. I have a struggle whether to play the regular one or the SACD. In the SACD literature, they give info on what they actually used in the recording chain. They say they used Siltech brand cables. They are too expensive for me to own, so I have no idea how they sound, they get good reviews, but cables are always a potential culprit. I can't tell you how many cables I've wasted money on after buying them and realizing they are tonally lacking in vividness of tone color. To me that's too important The Saint Saens with Paul Paray and Marcel Dupre on the organ, is the one I used to listen to. Have never compared the Munch. I think Paray was at least a good an interpreter of French music as Munch. The Mercury cd was coupled with a very nice bonus piece; the Paray Mass, which is nice. However, for me, the best performance of Saint Saens Symphony 3 was a PBS live broadcast with Charles Dutoit conducting the Montreal Symphony. Having heard the music many times before, the music suddenly "clicked" for me. The live broadcast only exists in memory now, for those who didn't record it off the air, like I did...20 or so years ago. That's the one I play.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      I have the Paray but only the original pressing. It's good but the CD I think was better. I no longer have it. (Hint: Never get rid of any music in any format, you'll almost certainly regret it!) It is a great reading as well, I had forgotten about it and should have mentioned it. I've a dozen or so different interpretations / recordings of this.

    • @sidesup8286
      @sidesup8286 Před rokem +1

      @@ThePressingMatters I think this (the Munch) is the very first LSC I ever played. There was an article by Frank Doris, (I believe) in an old 1980s TAS which spurred my interest in looking for these records. Interested in them for their value as I had not started listening to classical music yet. My knowledge on them at the time being was incomplete. I was picking up Dynagrooves too. I was going all over the place to find them; looking for greener pastures to locate these collectors items worth money. I started tape recording them and monitoring as I recorded. I started liking classical music. I wasn't sure what the big deal was about them for sound quality though, until I played a copy of Venice. Then I found Power Of The Orchestra. Wow. I think the Mercury cds and SACDs have quite a bit better sound overall than RCA's series of cd & SACD releases, but which are certainly worth getting also.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      @@sidesup8286 Good times, I remember those articles and it also sparked my curiosity. Then the TAS list carried around everywhere - always searching everywhere for a box of records to flip through trying to find them. I used to devour those issues - it was an event for me when they appeared on the newsstand.

    • @sidesup8286
      @sidesup8286 Před rokem +1

      @@ThePressingMatters I miss a lot of those writers from TAS, Stereophile & Audio. Enid Lumley who had tweak articles, HP of course, Cordesman, Bert Whyte, J. Gordon Holt. They were something to look forward to. Then at some point I realized, "I can't afford any gear in these magazines." And what's the use of reading the equipment reviews anymore. Of stuff you can't afford. You can't bring new people into the hobby reviewing 15K equipment. When people used to upgrade they'd go hundreds more, not thousands more. When it got to the point where equipment was obviously just being priced for humongous profits, instead of having more to do with what it costs to make it, many people started saying the hell with it, and started looking at the high end with wary skepticism. That's where it is today I think. Not just an innocently looked at hobby like in the 1970s. Craziness and crazy prices have infiltrated it. It's a manic society much more so, and dog eat dog. Dog eat dog prices have narrowed the ranks of audio consumers considerably. Masses of people don't look at it the same way anymore; and never will again.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      @@sidesup8286 I pretty much lost interest in both Stereophile and TAS when the Digest format was dropped

  • @daniannaci3258
    @daniannaci3258 Před rokem +1

    Hi Scott! I watched your video on the AT 33 MC cartridge just before I viewed your Saint Saens Organ Symphony review. Were you still using the Hana SL cartridge when you reviewed the Saint Saens? In retrospect, do you think the Hana cartridge influenced your impressions of increased groove noise on these pressings?

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Hi Dan, I'm glad you asked that, and the answer is yes. I've since played all of them and that accentuated noise floor is reigned in with the AT. Of course you hear tape hiss a bit but that's ok! I don't mind that at all. Although I mention how much better they sound in the latest video, I'm doing a new Living Stereo video with 5 titles and make it clear that they are quiet and sound wonderful. I also had returned the Janis Ian 45 for a higher than normal noise floor, and got a new one. It sounds better now, which is no surprise. They probably sent the same one back LOL. Isn't this the best hobby :-)

  • @leon9021
    @leon9021 Před rokem +2

    Dynamics and surface noise can be quite the problem for classical on vinyl, so it may indeed be a good idea try the statistically superior digital formats.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      Hi Leon, yes it's an issue and I'm thinking about it a lot. I was on a thread in SHF in which surface noise was being discussed and it got me to tweak the setup some more. I double checked my cartridge geometry, since it's a Shibata and a slightly off setup could be a contributing factor. All looked correct, and it's set for Baerwald. I read on the instructions for the Dr. Feikart protractor that Stevenson developed his alignment theory in the "60's to help specifically with classical records that often had crescendos at the end of sides. Something I may try in the future though I don't like fiddling with cartridges. I have to become comfortable with it though! I did lower the VTA and am getting better results with the Hana. A much smoother response. Also the Modwright phono pre has adjustments that can help there too, loading, gain and a mono switch. Fun stuff lol

    • @leon9021
      @leon9021 Před rokem

      @@ThePressingMatters Yeah Stevenson is a better alignment for classical music especially for their tendencies to have crescendos at the end of sides.
      But its really a tiny change and I just stick with what works best on average.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      @@leon9021 Do you use any additional isolation devices in your system?

    • @leon9021
      @leon9021 Před rokem

      @@ThePressingMatters No Im not sure that really does a lot but Ive looked at iso acoustic feet before.

  • @jfm0830
    @jfm0830 Před rokem +1

    I have the AP33 version of this pressing and your review was interesting for me. I have an EAT Jo No. 8 MC cartridge and one of the characteristics I like about it is a very, very quiet cartridge in terms of picking up record noise/groove noise. I also have the new Klaudio Ultrasonic cleaner that AP distributes, which renders good pressings silent with black backgrounds from my listening position. Complimenting that is the Sweet Vinyl Sugar Cube SC-2 Mini click and pop remover which removes most all of the clicks and pops from VG+ or better records. I am used to most of my records sounding as quiet as other sources on my system. Last month I upgraded my system to create my dream / retirement system consisting of a Parasound JC3+ phono preamp, a JC 2 BP preamp and JC5 power amp. I also upgraded my interconnect cables and power cables to audiphile cables which cost almost as much as the gear. Audio nirvana for me,
    There is a relevant point to al this, trust me. The Klaudio and Sugar Cube were already getting me dead quiet vinyl. The 3 new Parasound pieces are said to be some of the quietest pieces of gear in their price category. I have been going through my library and playing some of my favorite and best sounding records. This Charles Munch recording on the AP 33 rpm version was already in the "to be played" queue. Upon seeing your review, I moved it to the head of the line.
    My copy of the record had dead quiet black backgrounds at a listening level of 75-80 db (C weighted-typical) with peaks of about 90-95 db. Cranking this record to a listening level of 85-90 db with peaks of 100-105 db revealed noise in the quiet passages as you described. The interesting thing was the noise I heard was on the original recording itself. When I cued the record up it was dead quiet in the lead in groove and the hiss began only when the actual recording started. Knowing that I was able to ignore it, since I knew there was not much that could be done to the hiss without altering the recording. The dynamics were stunning!! I am surprised some of the turntables back in the day could even track this recording. It was a good test for my dual sub-woofers which I seem to have well tuned for my listening room. I was listening in the fully reclined position in my HT recliner. On some of the organ notes the bass seemed to travel up through my body from feet to shoulders. This startled my wife who didn't know this was even possible.
    Thank you for your great review of this amazing LP. I also have the AP33 pressings of Scheherazade and the Power of the Orchestra which you reviewed and I plan to listen to both of those shortly. I also plan to listen to the Fritz Reiner - Also Sprach Zarathustra AP33 Living Stereo recording which is also very highly thought of.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Great comment, thanks you! Yes there is a layer of tape noise that's quite prominent, more so than many Living Stereos of that time. I have no issue with that, I'd rather hear the tape hiss rather than an attempt to reduce it. Mine had an additional whoosh going on throughout which I'd just too much all together. I've been very curious about the Sugarcube. It sound like a dream come true, and I'd love to try it out. The purist in me says somehow it's not right, but if it increases your enjoyment without negatively affecting the sound, well, why not? I have a large collection and could see the benefit of a device like that. Are you happy with it? Care to elaborate on it?

    • @jfm0830
      @jfm0830 Před rokem +1

      @@ThePressingMatters When I first heard about the Sugar Cube in 2019 I was TOTALLY skeptical. Converting the analog signal to digital, removing clicks and pops and then converting back to analog - I first thought this was heresy! I looked into it a little bit more and I found Michael Fremmer had a few CZcams videos about it and he actually was quite positive about it. I decided the only way to know what the SC could do was to try it on my system. I received my SC-2 Mini in June of 2021. Let me cut to the chase: In my 50 years of buying HiFi gear, the Sugar Cube is the best money I have ever spent pursuing this hobby. Nothing comes close for me.
      The SC has a Bypass mode where it completely bypasses any of the internal electronics and feeds the signal straight through from inputs to the outputs. My original plan was to only use the SC on records that I new had clicks and pops and use Bypass for everything else. The Repair function has settings between 1 and 10 which sets the sensitivity of the SC to clicks and pops and how much it will do to repair them. I quickly found a level of 3 was all I needed to deal with the typical used records I buy. The SC can get a firmware update over the internet if you allow it to. It auto installs the firmware when the SC is inactive for several hours. It installs the new firmware, does a restart and puts itself in Bypass mode, which you must reset yourself. There is a smartphone app which you can use to turn Bypass off and set everything else the software can do. I found it also changes the repair strength to 5, which I guess is the default. When the product was new there were quite a few firmware upgrades. The fact you are suddenly hearing clicks and pop again is an easy sign you are in Bypass. There also front panel lights showing the mode you are in. At the start I knew enough to go out of Bypass mode, but at first I did not know the Repair mode was reset to 5 upon a restart. I found I never heard artifacts from the SC in action even at 5. When I found out, I did some experiments.
      I pulled out my best sounding audiophile pressings for testing. I spent around a week listening to them at various volume levels, including louder than normal levels. At repair levels between 1 and 6, I never could hear the SC in action, except for possibly once. On one LP, on an incredibly complex orchestral passage I thought maybe, just maybe the soundstage was compressed a small amount. Even this was not repeatable. With any kind of music the Sugar Cube can often be heard at the highest Repair levels. Sometimes I can hear it at Level 6 and typically at levels of 7 or above. The music starts sounding compressed and a bit unnatural. Since that time, I just leave the SC at its default level of 5 for all LPs, I never use Bypass. When I got my new Parasound gear which is far quieter and far more resolving, I ran some more tests. I expected I might have to use the Bypass mode for clean vinyl and only use the SC for used records with many clicks and pops. Once again nothing. The SC also has an interesting feature: The Monitor mode. In this mode you hear everything being removed by the SC including any musical information that might be removed at your current Repair setting. You also hear a VERY faint rendition of the entire record. This is intentional and serves as a frame of reference. There are certain types of music that can trick the Sugar Cube. This is music that is heavily synthesizer based, like EDM, which has sounds that by their nature sound like clicks and pops. This is not a problem for me, I don't listen to music like this. If I did have some LPs like this, I would simply Bypass the Sugar Cube for these records.
      Sweet Vinyl, the company the makes the Sugar Cube, is a small independent start up company. You can buy the product through the Sweet Vinyl store and a few high end stereo stores. The product is often sold out or out of stock. You can contact Sweet Vinyl through their web site and they can tell you the wait time before the next batch of a given model becomes available. The same thing happens at the retail stores, they may not even be shown on the list of products most of the time. Then suddenly they will get a small batch in which will quickly disappear. I got mine through the Sweet Vinyl web store and it was well worth the wait. Unless you have other needs, the SC-1 Mini is the model you would probably want. I am so spoiled listening to records via the SC. I rarely hear a click or pop anymore when listening to records. When I do, it is usually due to an overnight firmware upgrade and the unit has restarted and reset to Bypass mode. Hopefully that covers any preliminary questions you might have, but feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      @@jfm0830 Thank you so much for all the info and experience! I really want to try this out. I think it would reignite my listening sessions and move the focus from being on guard all the time for the next pop to just getting immersed in the music. I'm going to check out the website now.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      @@jfm0830 Music Direct has then in stock. I'm going to check the finance plan and return policy.

    • @jfm0830
      @jfm0830 Před rokem

      @@ThePressingMatters You are most welcome. Thanks for all your contributions to the VC. OMG I hear you. That is why I immediately got out of vinyl when the first CD players came out. With a few exceptions, the pressing quality in the 70's was abysmal. Ticks and pops took me completely out of the moment I used to remember where the bad pops were and I would begin dreading then as they were coming up. When I got back to vinyl in 2017 I still remembered where all these clicks and pops were.

  • @Ross1966
    @Ross1966 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I wonder how the mono lp sounds?

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před 4 měsíci +1

      I may have it and if I do I'll listen to it. I collected monos too once I realized they could be just as good and sometimes better than the stereo. But for years I passed on them. What I have is on my vault, uncategorized, so it might take some time to unearth any monos that also were released in the stereo era.

  • @totrsm
    @totrsm Před rokem +2

    Antonio Papano’s version is amazing.

  • @spodvoll
    @spodvoll Před rokem

    How would you compare the sonics with the Paray / Detroit performance on Mercury Living Presence?

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      That's an interesting question. I did listen to the Paray quite a while ago. Actually the Fremaux on EMI-Klavier has the most up to date sonics of the three and is recorded in a great sounding hall. I'll give the Paray a listen tonight and get back to you. I never tire of the Saint Saens. I have Methta's version too which might be good.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem

      Listening now, my copy of the Paray is a bit noisy and is a later 10S 10S pressing. So I'm not hearing it as pure as the new AP of the Munch which is dead quiet. It is still a beauty, but to my ears the string section of the Detroit Symphony does not have the finesse of the Boston Symphony. The Ford Auditorium is no match for the Boston Symphony Hall. I think if a perfect pressing could be obtained for the Paray (maybe the Speakers Corner) it could be on par with the Living Stereo. It's a very beautiful interpretation and the organ parts are handled well. It also has one of the great organists, Marcel Dupre. If you love this piece, you're going to want the Mercury too. This might be one that's best heard on the CD or SACD. I have the 4 track reel of this and no machine currently to play it on.

    • @spodvoll
      @spodvoll Před rokem

      @@ThePressingMatters I do have the CD of both, hence my curiosity about comparing the LPs. Thanks!

  • @michaellord9745
    @michaellord9745 Před rokem +2

    Have it on CD. A quality performance to be sure and the digital remastering for CD is a success but the performance has been eclipsed: Dutoit/Hurford/Montreal on Decca, Barenboim/Litaize/Chicago S.O. on DG, Levine/Preston/Berlin P.O. on DG, and my personal favorite, Ozawa/Lefebvre/Orchestre National de France on EMI all have surpassed it.
    P.S. Always thought CD/SACD and classical music was the perfect marriage. I have a few token classical releases on vinyl - A.P.'s Royal Ballet being one of them - but I'm staying with the CD/SACD format for my classical collection which has ballooned to over 4500 titles over 30+ years time.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před rokem +1

      Thanks for the recommendations Micheal. I admit I'm not familiar with the more modern recordings of this work. I agree, classical on vinyl is not the best way to hear the music. I'll be looking into a new disc player soon just for this reason. No matter how clean the vinyl, you can never get the clean background it deserves.

  • @ahartfie
    @ahartfie Před 2 měsíci +1

    I have both the AP LP and the SACD reissue. The LP is great for what it is, but the SACD has all 3 audio tracks as they were recorded. It is stupendous on my average surround system. You’ll never want to listen to the LP again after hearing the SACD.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před 2 měsíci +1

      I actually have the BMG SACD but have no SACD player (yet) to play it on. I bought that whole series when it was out. I'm not at all surprised it's a better representation of the recording. Do you hear it in 3 channel playback?

    • @ahartfie
      @ahartfie Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@ThePressingMatters Yes, you get left, center, and right. I’m listening to it right now on my 2013 Sony Blu-ray player. 🥰🥰

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před 2 měsíci +1

      @ahartfie Awesome, I hope some day I can hear these 3 channel SACDs in this way. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with them!

    • @ahartfie
      @ahartfie Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@ThePressingMatters What kind of player are you hoping to get? My Sony was super cheap, like $100. I bought it for Blu-rays so finding it could play SACDs too was pure lagniappe.

    • @ThePressingMatters
      @ThePressingMatters  Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@ahartfie I have only looked briefly, most players were beyond my budget. $100 sounds about right! Can you send a link to the model you got?