fritz@hpfclp.UUCP (fritz) (05/28/85)
I have picked up a few copies of Digital Audio, the Wayne Green CD rag.
For the most part I am not impressed; the equipment reviews are little
more than ads, and there is far too much of the "pristine, perfect,
unsullied, crystalline, laser-pure digital sound" type of hype.
However, they DO have one thing that could be valuable: CD reviews.
Each issue reviews on the order of 10 each of pop, jazz, and classical
CD's, with ratings of the performance and sound quality. The reviewers
seem to be a very mixed bag; for all I know they could be subscribers
who wanted to see their name in print.
My question: has anybody bought CD's on the recommendation of the
reviews in Digital Audio, and if so, were you satisfied? If these
reviews are legit, it would be worth the price of a subscription.
(I can't try it out myself because I don't have a CD player [yet].
But I intend to remedy that in a week or two!)
Gary Fritz
Hewlett Packard
Ft Collins, CO
{ihnp4,hplabs}!hpfcla!fritzgreg@olivee.UUCP (Greg Paley) (06/05/85)
I have not found Digital Audio's CD reviews (of classical material at least) particularly helpful. I find them musically superficial and find that their "thermometer" rating system results in inconsistent and confusing comparative ratings. Unfortunately, I don't know of a publication that I feel I can trust and recommend. Therefore, considering the price of CD's, my purchases tend to be based on either known performers (i.e., ones whom I've heard and liked live) or recordings I've been able to hear beforehand (generally from friends). - Greg Paley
abc@brl-sem.ARPA (Brint Cooper ) (06/07/85)
I find the classical CD reviews in OVATION magazine done quite objectively and professionally. They have not disappointed me. Brint
did@ucla-cs.UUCP (06/08/85)
> My question: has anybody bought CD's on the recommendation of the > reviews in Digital Audio, and if so, were you satisfied? If these > reviews are legit, it would be worth the price of a subscription. Digital Audio reviewed Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" on the Philips label (411 123-2) giving it a perfect score on performance and sound quality, adding "run, don't walk...". I agree with the performance rating, but would not go farther than classifying the sound quality as "good". I also own many of the other CDs they review that fall under a similar category. They tend to dole out 10+10 ratings too freely (especially with respect to sound quality) which I feel should be reserved for those extra-special performances/recordings, so I now take them less seriously. Dave Arpa: did@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA Uucp: {ucbvax || ihnp4 || trwspp} !ucla-cs!did Spudnet: did@russet.spud
dave@rocksvax.UUCP (06/13/85)
/***** rocksvax:net.audio / ucla-cs!did / 12:22 am Jun 13, 1985*/
<Digital Audio reviewed Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" on the Philips
<label (411 123-2) giving it a perfect score on performance and sound
<quality, adding "run, don't walk...". I agree with the performance
<rating, but would not go farther than classifying the sound quality as
<"good".
I agree, in fact I was a bit disappointed, thought the Telarc version
was much better, but I don't know if they rated that one. Besides
I liked the Telarc performance better.
Dave
arpa: Sewhuk.HENR@Xerox.ARPA
uucp: {allegra,ihnp4,rochester,amd,sunybcs}!rocksvax!dave