gregr@tekig1.UUCP (08/10/83)
SUBJECTIVE OPINION FOLLOWS: Several writers have asked about or reported on TELARC CD's. For whats its worth I'll comment on the four I have so far. I think its very relevent to note that I also have the same selections on Telarc digital/analog discs. Please observe I make no claims about the performances but only on the sound quality/recording quality. 1. Pictures at an Exhibition , Moussorgsky, Cleveland Orchestra 2. The Rite of Spring , Stravinsky, Cleveland Orchestra 3. Symphony No. 3 "Organ" , Saint Saens, Philadelphia Orchestra 4. "Cleveland Symphonic Winds" , Selections by Holst, Handel, Bach First a generality, as everyone must know by now, Telarc uses a minimal miking technique for each of their recordings. They also use the Schoeps microphones and no compression or signal processing to "enhance" the sound. These micro- phones are far flatter in response than many typical studio microphones and therefore don't create a shrill, objectionable coloration as do many others. As explained in a recent high fi rag poor microphones and poor microphone techniques which could get by with the lower fidelty analog recordings simply can't be tolerated with CD's. Anyway the point is these are recorded as they should be. The sound quality on these discs is amazing. Although their conventionally pressed counterparts have been received by most as exceptional (myself included) I believe they pale by comparison with the CD versions. Specifically, the inner detail, the ability to clearly discern individual instruments in complex passages is vastly improved. The base is much cleaner, better controlled, and seems to blend with the other instruments far better than before. (I realize this sounds a little audiophile like but I'm trying to avoid such descriptive phrases as 'grey velvet' and so forth.) The long finale on "Pictures" is much clearer than before, and the finale on the "Organ Symphony" is astonishing (and this isn't my favorite performance - whoops!). I can hear no degradation in the fidelity of the higher frequency spectrum from the conventional discs. The nitpicks - The "Rite of Spring" has some faint human noises in the background that I really never paid attention to on the conventional disc. I had to play both simultaneously to pick them out of the record grundge on the conventional, but indeed they are there. Organ noises on the "Organ" may surprise some as they were obscurred by the older pressings. Also the "remote" location in this recording adds to extraneous background noises. Finally, I realize fully that I didn't reveal my record playing equipment (cartridge, arm, etc) above but that was by design. While I think most would accept the quality of my components I didn't want to start a debate focusing on real or imaginary defects in them. My purpose here is to suggest that if you have a CD player already than these are the discs you have been waiting for. If you are considering a CD system, or are a skeptic, then I strongly suggest that you not make up your mind until you have heard the Telarcs. Now if I can find someone to sell my CBS CD's.