The best sounding Record.

[AudioFi]

Regardless of the kind of music, in your opinion what is the best sounding record ever?
Criteria: (Clarity, Resolution, Tone fidelity, Mic Quality, dynamic range, quiet background, sound dimension and spatial orientation of sounds etc.)

[bigblue]

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto –*Midnight Sugar

[AudioFi]

Al DI Meola "Across The Universe"

[PHC1]

From an "audiophile" criteria, there are plenty. What would be the criteria to crown a record "the best"? Would be difficult if not impossible to narrow it down to only one.

Chesky records, Tacet, Analogue Productions, Mapleshade Records, ORG, Verve, Blue Note Tone Poet Audiophile Series, Reference Recordings, the list goes on. Surely there are plenty of "audiophile grade super albums".

If one is looking for that one record to showcase the system, it gets old after the 20th time.

[AudioFi]

Very true LOL. well... come on bud! just pick one, or your top three

[Kal Rubinson]

I've forgotten. It has been so long.

[PHC1]

To my ears, the best audiophile records are the high resolution variety that also happen to connect on an emotional level. The ones that actually have been recorded with sound quality in mind and on high resolution equipment. There are a few audiophile "boutiques" producing them such as Sound Liaison. Slim pickings but once in a while not only are they impressive sounding but very musical.


But the most "cliche" audiophile records over the years have been:

Stereophile Test CD 1,2,3 pick your favorite...
Stereophile "Records to Die For". There is a bunch for every year.
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms
The Eagles Hotel California
Jazz at the Pawnshop
Holy Cole Trio
Rebecca Pidgeon
Steely Dan Aja


Should I go on?






Pick your favorite

[PHC1]

Here is a good list of those records that would be considered audiophile grade. Any audiophile who has been into this hobby for some time would be familiar with most if not all of them.

https://blog.vinylgourmet.com/p/top-100.html

[AudioFi]

PHC1, Great selection of the classics. !

[AudioFi]

If you are interested in a few Hidden Gems of well recorded music :

Jazz
Tim Ray Trio "Windows"
Tim Ray Trio "Excursions and Adventures"
Al Di Meola "All your Life"

New Flamenco
Luis Villegas "spanish kiss"

POP
BJ Thomas "The living Room Sessions"
Alessia Cara "This Summer: Live off the floor"

Tango
Tango Attack "Live in Cieszin"

I have some more findings if you like them...