I get that the word "audiophile" gets a bad rap but.. This thread is for posting music you love that is mixed, mastered and pressed well (also subjective). All mediums from vinyl to web

I'll start the ball rolling, I find these releases to be great examples of exceptional mix/master/pressing

Disclaimer: I am no audio expert by any definition of the word, I'm just a fan of music. I'm just going by what I hear and doing my best to articulate it. It should go without saying but just so I don't have to insert it too much... IMO IMO IMO IMO IMO

This list is just for music that I like to listen to, hence why I didn't add Random Access Memories or Aja because I barely ever play em even though they are well engineered, especially Aja holy f***

Billie Holiday - Songs for Distingué Lovers (1957)

2001 - Classic Records - MG VS-6021 - ripped by cripsi

Apparently something amazing in the world of audio engineering happened in the spring of 1957, you've got a bunch of albums from this year showcase new hights of sound quality; Sonny Rollin's "Way Out West", Charles Mingus' "Tijuana Moods", Art Pepper's "Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section" being highlights, imo.

This Billie Holiday album is my favorite out of the bunch, It may be my favorite engineered album and the 2001 classic records reissue sounds fantastic. Some may like the SACD more but I prefer the soundstage the LP brings. So much definition, all the instruments sit just right, I was so blown away the first time I heard it and almost in disbelief at the year it was recorded.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)

I suggest comparing all these and then choosing:
Stereo: Original 6-eye Stereo - 1AJ/AG - ripped by felixstrange
Stereo: 4-Track Reel-To-Reel (probably the best reference for natural EQ)
Stereo: 1983 CBS 35DP 62 CD
Stereo: UHQR LP
Mono: 2013 HDTracks
Mono: 6-eye WLP - ripped by SuperFuzz

I'm recommending a few for this because there are different sounds for different uses and because It's one of those albums I listen to the most, when I wake up, when I want to chill out at night, if i'm cooking in the evening and want the perfect music to pair with a pinot noir. I usually go for the original 6-eye stereo for headphone listening though when I've been going to the mono for Flamenco Sketches at times, I find it easier to tune in and mellow into that way.

Some run a little fast on Side A, all original pressings do due to the tape machine running a little slow. I've fixed this issue though so it's not an issue for me. I tend to prefer the original mix over other mixes, I'm not a fan of the MFSL. Many would say the bass is too big on the MFSL but after hearing the 4-Track I believe that what the master tapes are like and that they tamed it for vinyl. I'm currently trying to find out the best way to EQ the UHQR in a restorative sense.

Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

2018 - MFSL One Step - UD1S-2-004 - ripped by Dr. Robert

I wasn't going to add this because there is a dark and a muddy or compressed sound at times, like for example the title track. But i'ma chalk that up to effect and not let the many shining moments go unmentioned. The vocals on this just sound so airy and beautiful, that reverb adds such a richness and doesn't drown all the magic out in place of a wall of sound. Even though the mix is very spacious, it still manages to pack a punch and sounds full, EQ sounds balanced through all this. The Only Living Boy In New York is a real goosebump grower

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um (1959)

2012 - ORG 45rpm - ripped by crispi

The music is top notch and it's very well engineered, I might've gone for a mix a bit more forward facing but this is still a fantastic sound. I'd also recommend the mono if you're playing through speakers, it has a sort of fullness that the stereo lacks. Through headphones the stereo is king imo. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat is one of my favorite tracks oats.

I've gotten a needledrop of the MFSL One Step pressing which I thought would be amazing like all the other MFSL One Steps I've heard but it sounds brightened and to the point where it's just not pleasurable in comparison to the ORG45. I've read the same issue from some people who own physical copies. This is such a let down, If they hadn't have f***ed with the EQ it would no doubt sound better than the ORG.

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

2003 - Capitol Records ‎- 5.1 Mix (Stereo Downmixed)
2012 - MFSL SACD (I haven't heard the LP)
1972 - US Mono - ripped by Mike525 (I haven't compared it to many others)

The vocals have so much more definition and presence on this downmix, the instruments sound a lot more discernable also. It really alows the music to open up further and encompass you. The original mix also has its respectable charm and differences, as well as the mono which is why I've also recommended those.

Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird (Suite, 1919 Version) (1978)

Original German Pressing - ripped by Rockmaninov

I've heard SACDs of this but they sounded flat in comparison, even straight from the beginning I can hear more depth in the LP. I've heard an original US pressing and I prefer this original German pressing. The music and performance is nothing less than phenominal, Stravinsky & CSO's complete version from 1959 is also brilliant, High Definition Tape Transfers released a version of it which sounds great though I haven't been able to compare it to any vinyl or SACD. This 1919 Suite offers a condensed shot, It's my preferred Firebird.

Interestingly enough, this was cut with at 16bit & 50kHz as opposed to 44.1khz. Surely it'd sound better if it were higher res but this still beats the CDs for me and it sounds very impressive. Telarc has some really heralded releases, not all are golden though, I've heard their 2019 "A Spectacular Sound Experience" LP and it was just super bright and very lackluster.

Tom Waits - Mule Variations (1999)

Original EU Pressing - ripped by aksman

Some might be wondering WTF is this doing on the list, this ain't "Hi-Fi", these is field recordins from a broken down barn where Waits is accompanied by roosters, barkin' down crap microphones. An old bard pulling the heartstrings of a delapidated upright piano stuffed of hay and cobwebs. Swaggering down the lowside of a sun scorched road with a bottle of texas medicine in one hand, a bus ticket he found in the gutter in the other and a badly concealed pistol stuck out his overalls.

It's the effect this mix and master goes for and it aces it imo! You have parts that are lo-fi but then layered with hi-fi parts, and all of this sounds mix and mastered just right, the right amount of gloomy detail, highs that add a sweet counterbalance to the lowdown lows and gritty mids.

Various Artists - Test Record 1 (Depth of image) (1977)

Original Swedish Pressing - ripped by Rockmaninov

It might seem like cheating to add test records but some of the best sounding tracks I've ever heard is on this, and I regularly listen to some of the tracks. A lot of the test SACDs I've heard sounded too flat and bright, though maybe I was just unlicky with my choice of Opus3 SACD.

D'Angelo - Voodoo (2000)

24/96 WEB release

Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club (1997)

2015 - World Circuit ‎– WCV050 - ripped by aksman

Santana - Abraxas (1970)

MFSL One Step - ripped by pbthal

Common - Like Water for Chocolate (2000)

Original CD

Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucía - Friday Night in San Francisco (1981)

Hi-Q Records reissue - ripped by pbthal

Bobby Hutcherson - Montara (1975)

2019 - VMP AAA - ripped by mantis

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977)

Reel-To-Reel WST 3010-C - ripped by TD71 (via nptoz on rutracker)
I had come to appreciate the 2011 45rpm over the original and the '85 Target CD just because of that extra detail in the highs and extra low end made it all sound more realistic to me, probably one of the few cases where a smiley face EQ (i'm guessing it was EQd) is a prefered version.

This R2R has the best of both worlds, everything sounds SUPER clear as well as not sounding EQd, lacking balance or lacking that low-mid texture. It's goin in OP

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this is a great site if you're researching audio hardware
audiosciencereview.com/forum

here's a handy page for headphone recommendations, he posts very in depth reviews and measurements of them also
diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/recommended-ones

daft punk RAM

ayyyy I started the "best mixed/mastered albums" thread on ktt1

here's my list combined with some suggestions from that thread albumoftheyear.org/user/dankulo/list/6561/extremely-well-masteredengineered-albums

Fam! I remember you, i had just copy and pasted some of my picks from that thread onto this thread

let's go ahead and start this off with, no. Mike Dean is NOT one of the best engineers. And yes, TDE releases are a little over rated engineering wise.

start this thread off with the hot takes

anything that ends in phile gets a bad wrap

mike dean press key synth sound play

Random Access Memories is still #1 for me

Within hip hop:

The Cool
Carter 3
2014 FHD
TPAB
Take Care

I agree, Mike Dean just sucks as a mixing engineer, Andrew Dawson is better

audiophile life is serious

you check out that original pressing of Kind of Blue yet?
man i wish I could post links to this s*** in the thread

can't remember if I did or not. what's the pressing name/year?

Yeah I just have the 2001 SACD still of Kind of Blue

in

damn we close lolol

My biggest folder is Gucci Mane at 6.7GB LOL

OG pressing so it's 1959 columbia 6-eye stereo. I got the original mono Promo too which is on the same level. If you want digital try the 1983 CD, it uses the original mix and is all done tube

− 1959 - Columbia / CS 8163 / Original US LP / Vinyl

is this the one you're talking about?

depends on who ripped it, there one i heard upped by ChinaCat which sounds pretty bad

wait r u on redacted yeh?

this one is ripped by felixstrange

yep that's the one

i uploaded it too

holy s*** I should have noticed the same avy LMAO