Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo So what are ya listening to tonight?

Listening to Eric Clapton's new Christmas album. Really nice arrangements. One of the better holiday albums.

Thanks for that. So far it sounds great!

I've been listening to the Swagger and Crossroad Blues playlists on Spotify the last 4 hours.

If you want to give your system a great workout, listen to the masterfully recorded Hit the Road Jack by Renee Olstead. I surmise there are 20dB peaks in this one. It shuts down my Pioneer/M5 and external amp at -20dB gain. Up to that gain, it sounds marvelous. I haven't tried on my Onk/M100 yet. It's recordings like this that make me yearn for more power.

Through the Onk/m100/800, I'm peaking at 160W and it still sounds great. I've pushed it to 210 briefly and don't dare to go more because I worry about the Onk. That's a $700 Onk!

Throughout the recording industry, it amazes me how different recording levels manifest themselves from one album or artist to the next.

For example my recent 'Clapton' CDs require about 25 Db on my receiver for nice full sound around 90 Db peaks, whereas 'Sade' tracks need at least 30 Db or more to achieve the same volume.

Quite annoying if your receiver does not have a remote control. Even worse if multiple discs (5 disc tray) are played in 'shuffle mode' where the tracks come out at very different volume levels...

TAM

I think that's why auto volume leveling was invented but that limits dynamics. I think it was invented to maintain harmonious relationships between couples.

Really getting a kick out of "The Dead South". Addictibly different. Love 'em.

So far today I’ve listened to Miles Davis “Kind of Blue”, Dave Brubeck “Time Out” , picked up these so called HD mastered re- releases last weekend. Originally released in 1959. These CDs sound much better than my decades old vinyl. And finally a new artist, at least for me, Jennifer Warnes “The Hunter”. This last one is not my normal go to music but it is a well recorded/produced album.

cheers,
Jeff

All those are excellent choices. I've been listening to the Vinyl Jazz station on iHeartRadio in 2.2 with the M3s while attempting to comprehend A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe by Roger Penrose.

This is in my living room. The M3 tweeters are 8 inches above my head. This presents the iHeartRadio soundstage properly and you'd never know you are listening to two speakers because they acoustically disappear. I find with internet radio, the soundstage is too low with the tweeters at ear level. Not so with other sources.

BTW, the M3s sound wonderful with the Vinyl Jazz station. I prefer them over the M5s in this case. Although I love them paired with my twin mono Pioneer, the M3v4 would also sound wonderful with a tube amp. Phil, I wholeheartedly recommend that pairing. Remember the v4 is not like any of the previous versions.

For this early afternoon a bit of a change of pace. The live G3 show. Satriani, Vai and one of my favorites, Eric Johnson (nice recording of Manhattan). Recorded at four different locations over the course of a couple of months in 1996. Lots of shredding, mostly Vie and Satriani and Johnson to a limited extent. But I like my guitars loud and proud so this album hits the right elements for me. Not the best of recordings but it’ll do.
Cheers,
Jeff