Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

715.0. "Finally...and an apology" by DONNER::STEWART () Fri Apr 10 1987 13:26

Well I've finally gotten my hands on a CD player.  What a lot of fun.  
And convenient?  Since I have had such good luck with Technics turntables
in the past I decided I would go with the SL-P100.  Also, it was on
sale for $177 and that seemed like a very reasonable price.

So now I've got this thing home and only one disk to play on it.  The
new Oingo Boingo, Boi-ngo.  Being a fan I thought it would be fitting
to buy this CD as the first.  It would have been a vinyl choice anyway.
Even though I think it is their best effort yet the recording did not
give me a good idea of the *real* value of a CD player.

I checked the time.  Yeah, Independent Records is open.  So I run down 
there hoping to find a good classical recording.  The classical selections 
are thin and picked over.  Fortunately, there is a Brahms piece, Serenade #1.  
I take it home.  It's okay but so far, I'm not blown away.  Even though the
recording is fully digital the sound is not much better than new vinyl.
The performance is a little sloppy but passable as a 'pops' kind of thing.

I'm still not discouraged.  So, back to the record store.  This time it's 
Joan Armatrading's Walk Under Ladders.  I have never owned the vinyl for 
this.  Okay, things are picking up.  This sound is so clear.  But then I'm 
comparing it against a rather worn cassette.

Also, on the same trip was a John Williams (the guitarist) recording
of concertos by Bach, Handel and Marcello.  Now, I start to get the idea.
The dynamic range is, well, DYNAMIC.  The overall sound is very crisp.
Soft (piano) passages are very clear with no noticeable noise.  The 
performance is excellent.  Accessing sections of music is a breeze.  
Programming for transfer to tape is really simple.  I'm impressed.

Three days down the line and I make yet another trip to the record store.  
This time a Telarc recording of Choral Masterpieces.  *Now*, I know why I 
bought this player.  The clarity of the recording, the obvious lack of
noise due to friction from the stylus and no more compression to fit the
loudest forte's onto vinyl.  Though the performance is not a great one it 
is very good.  The choir is sometimes a little ragged at the edges but 
overall it's okay.  The orchestra is solid and doesn't overpower the choir.  
But what really makes this recording is it's overall clarity, power and range.  
Not to mention the selections, with the exception of the Halleluia Chorus
from the Messy Meshiah.  For some reason my tolerance of that piece is real
low.  It warms my heart to know that the fate that has overcome my vinyl 
recording of the Brahms German Requiem will not likewise happen with this 
recording.  And, 59 MINUTES on ONE disk.  Well, All Right!

I think you all get the point.  Anyway, I would like to apologize to
everyone if at times I came on too strong regarding CDs and Vinyl.  I am 
quite happy to have my CD player, finally, but I also value my vinyl and 
am quite proud of my collection.  I know that I will also be very happy 
with my collection of CDs but need to find a way to pay less for those 
suckers.

=ken

    Ken, check out the independant annex. It is across the street from
    the platte ave store. I have found some very good deals there.
    Bought the brothers in arms CD there for $9.98 used sounds/plays
    fine.
    
    -j