I am not sure there is a thread on what Sonos is truly about - the music, so this might be an interesting thread. I have left out classical because that deserves a thread of its own and modern pop because it all sounds the same to me.
I have Phil Keaggy strumming Solitude from his Acoustic Sketches album right now in the bedroom on a play 1 pair and sounding very good indeed.
Recently heard and equally good music and mastering:
1. Michel Petrucciani and NHOP
2. Beyond the Missouri Sky - Metheny and Haden
3. Chiaroscuro - Fresu and Towner
4. Jan Johannsen - Jazz pa Svenska
5. The Astounding Eyes of Rita - Anouar Brahem
6. Last Dance/Jasmine - Jarrett and Haden
7. Saturday Morning - Ahmad Jamal
8. Melos - Paolo Fresu
All but the last are ITunes 256kbps purchases, the last a lossless CD rip.
Very little lost in translation for the lossy thing and Sonos convenience.
Any recommendations on similar music that uses the silence between the notes effectively?
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I plead guilty to the Diana Krall route:-) And some tracks from her Live in Paris DVD from 2000 still are a good watch with Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton very much present as well. Visually and audibly.
Ah ... Gregory Porter ... hmm. There is a conversation to be had about modern singers repeating classic songbook stuff - especially when the originals / classics are readily available. And I don't think GP adds much to the interpretations. Having said that, it's really good that we have a contemporary singer, with a very expressive voice, issuing (other) material that keeps quality crooning alive.
I’m all for the Michael Bubles and Diana Kralls. They introduce millions of folks to the great songs and lyrics of Johnny Mercer, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, et al. A portion of their fans will go on to discover the jazz greats.
I found the album on Amazon,thanks; it brought to mind the many Euro Jazz albums I listen to when in a reflective mood, like Marcin Wasilewksi/Tord Gustavsen/Andreas Dreier. But it does not work so well for me when I am in the mood to listen to the "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" styles of music.
Or like what's on just now - Buddy Guy rocking on Damn Right I Got The Blues. Or Magic Slim strutting his magic:-).
Or like what's on just now - Buddy Guy rocking on Damn Right I Got The Blues. Or Magic Slim strutting his magic:-).
The Phronesis album to try is Alive. This small combo is captivating live.
I hang on to the 66 pre as it has stacks of analogue inputs and 2 tape loops (ideal for the connect when the Mojo is off).
I hang on to the 66 pre as it has stacks of analogue inputs and 2 tape loops (ideal for the connect when the Mojo is off).
I like Porter's Be Good the most, from all his work. As to post modern jazz, I don't much care for even Ornette Coleman's post modern musings/slashings from the mid sixties, so Phronesis may be too much! I will give it a whirl though, very easy to do that these days.
Back in 2003 I had sent my Quad 99 CDP to Rob for repairing a defective CD tray mechanism which for any player would be considered flimsy, let alone when seen by Quad standards. He was kind enough to also upgrade for free the DSP algorithms in it to effectively make it the CDP2, but he won't remember me, I would think. I had contacted him in 2014 for advice on recapping the 909 but I sold it before making any moves in that direction, so nothing heavy moved back and forth.
The 99 pre is only worth considering for its additional features like more inputs with variable input sensitivities along with the phono stage usable for both MM and MC with a selection toggle depending on what cartridge was in use. As far as sound goes, it just hews to the classic Quad thinking of being transparent, no more.
Back in 2003 I had sent my Quad 99 CDP to Rob for repairing a defective CD tray mechanism which for any player would be considered flimsy, let alone when seen by Quad standards. He was kind enough to also upgrade for free the DSP algorithms in it to effectively make it the CDP2, but he won't remember me, I would think. I had contacted him in 2014 for advice on recapping the 909 but I sold it before making any moves in that direction, so nothing heavy moved back and forth.
The 99 pre is only worth considering for its additional features like more inputs with variable input sensitivities along with the phono stage usable for both MM and MC with a selection toggle depending on what cartridge was in use. As far as sound goes, it just hews to the classic Quad thinking of being transparent, no more.
Yes - I'm aware that the 66 was, in some people's eyes, not Quad's best - but sounds good to me. Rob is still there, of course. I may see him next week as the 909 needs a service; I'll ask if he recalls your heavy parcels from exotic places.
Ah ... Gregory Porter ... hmm. There is a conversation to be had about modern singers repeating classic songbook stuff - especially when the originals / classics are readily available. And I don't think GP adds much to the interpretations. Having said that, it's really good that we have a contemporary singer, with a very expressive voice, issuing (other) material that keeps quality crooning alive. A recent tv series by GP covered 'crooners' and included David Bowie. Yes / no? Perhaps he hit licensing issues over the material he could cover?
Going to see Darius Brubeck at The Stables (Johnny Dankworth / Cleo Laine place) towards the end of June (https://stables.org/event/darius-brubeck-quartet): let's hope they get the PA right - some good stuff can be really screwed up by poor miking over-amplification (but not stuff through a 909). Live - versus - recorded: there's another topic.
Allen Toussaint now playing - took a little while searching with the CR100 scroll wheel (grrr). If you're less keen on avante garde / post modern jazz then I guess Phronesis may not be for you - Yes / no again?
Ah ... Gregory Porter ... hmm. There is a conversation to be had about modern singers repeating classic songbook stuff - especially when the originals / classics are readily available. And I don't think GP adds much to the interpretations. Having said that, it's really good that we have a contemporary singer, with a very expressive voice, issuing (other) material that keeps quality crooning alive. A recent tv series by GP covered 'crooners' and included David Bowie. Yes / no? Perhaps he hit licensing issues over the material he could cover?
Going to see Darius Brubeck at The Stables (Johnny Dankworth / Cleo Laine place) towards the end of June (https://stables.org/event/darius-brubeck-quartet): let's hope they get the PA right - some good stuff can be really screwed up by poor miking over-amplification (but not stuff through a 909). Live - versus - recorded: there's another topic.
Allen Toussaint now playing - took a little while searching with the CR100 scroll wheel (grrr). If you're less keen on avante garde / post modern jazz then I guess Phronesis may not be for you - Yes / no again?
You might want to check out a used 99 pre if/when you can find one; more for its additional features than anything else. I know that from my audiophile decade of wild extravagances, the 99/909 buy was the wisest one by far. I let it go reluctantly only because I did not need those features any more and the cost of sending that heavy kit to Quad UK for service, the only place I would entrust with those components, was also too high along with the customs duty hassles when getting repaired/serviced kit back into India. But I remember being shocked to have the same person from Quad UK service answering my emails in 2014, as had done so in 2003. Not at all common these days, but very nice to see. Rob Flain, if memory serves.
Lol. That rare bird here, a cricket fan! Leg side balls are more often called wide these days, as you must know, so why spend energy chasing them down if a free run has accrued any way?:-)
As to recommendations, I have started another thread here once I discovered that genre - Blues. You might find some good stuff there too. I don't have much to add to the Jazz side because most of what I like from that side is from artistes that are long gone. I don't much care for the avant garde jazz of today.
A couple of recent jazz finds are the late Allen Toussaint's album The Bright Mississippi and the very much alive Gregory Porter's Nat King Cole and Me.
As to recommendations, I have started another thread here once I discovered that genre - Blues. You might find some good stuff there too. I don't have much to add to the Jazz side because most of what I like from that side is from artistes that are long gone. I don't much care for the avant garde jazz of today.
A couple of recent jazz finds are the late Allen Toussaint's album The Bright Mississippi and the very much alive Gregory Porter's Nat King Cole and Me.
And Kumar lets that one go down the leg side...
Most of our listening (through the seriously-built and supported 909 - lessons for Sonos here) is 16/44 from Qobuz - a French streamer and, therefore, good for jazz. The 66 pre is near 30 yrs old and the 909 (bought second hand) nearer 10. All components very content with originally loaded soft / firmware (66 + remote).
Please keep the recommendations coming - currently listening to the Louis / Duke album on 2 Play 1s in my study. Horses for courses...
Most of our listening (through the seriously-built and supported 909 - lessons for Sonos here) is 16/44 from Qobuz - a French streamer and, therefore, good for jazz. The 66 pre is near 30 yrs old and the 909 (bought second hand) nearer 10. All components very content with originally loaded soft / firmware (66 + remote).
Please keep the recommendations coming - currently listening to the Louis / Duke album on 2 Play 1s in my study. Horses for courses...
The only trouble with the Dot fronted set up is that it easily lets my five year old granddaughter march into my room whenever she is with us and command: Alexa Play Pop Music, overriding what's playing and she also knows how to get rid of the red ringed mute position on the Dot if necessary; but this is a minor glitch!
I have to confess to a bit of baiting here ...
Keep the recommendations coming - and get that wonderful 909 back!
Nahh...not going to bugger up this thread with responses to the baiting:D, this one is reserved for what it is all about - the music.
These days, much of my listening is to the same Jazz and Blues as before, but via Amazon Music where I can initiate the playing of playlists I have created there, purely by voice via a Dot wired to the line in of my Connect Amp. And of course change volume and stop/start - but it is the initiation of music by voice command that leaves the local NAS, where this cannot be done, in even lesser use than before. Very convenient and very slick with no diminution in perceived sound quality through a decent pair of KEFs. I find that I don't use Alexa for any of its other features - none of the shopping lists or tell me about the weather outside nonsense. But being able to easily and fully voice control my desktop music set up makes the Dot investment a no brainer. I am now waiting for the price of the Echo Spot to drop so I can also then see the artwork that will conveniently let me know what's playing at a glance.
Of course, there is no 24/96 on Amazon;)
The 909 was/is wonderful, absolutely bomb proof and built to last for decades. But I don't need it anymore, and to not have it working as a heat radiator even in standby in an Indian summer is a bonus. The Connect Amp does sound quality that is just as good and can go as loud as I need it to, while doing the auto start thing very slickly every time I utter a voice command.
As to improvement of moving kit around, I know someone who discovered he had a HiFi set up only when he moved his kit to another room that offered better placement possibilities and acoustics. So your play 5 experience is no surprise.
Kumar
I have to confess to a bit of baiting here ... but not withstanding all the theories and proofs linked elsewhere, I find the smallish batch of hi-res stuff I have (mostly 24/96 but some 24/192 or 24/88) sounds brilliant. Of course, the appropriate so-called double blind listening tests may prove no audible difference - and the physics may underpin this view - but I just find the tracks immensely enjoyable and, somehow, presenting as more vibrant, real and muscular (and all the usual subjective adjectives...). And this despite the original masters probably being tapes at 15 or 30 ips. Even if it is only in my mind: who cares? Many 16/44s can sound brilliant too but a direct comparison can show (to me) there is more (struggling for the right words here) 'air' around the instruments, longer decay on transients and more vibrancy to things that - er - are vibrating (such as bass strings). I'm no 'golden ears' (half a lifetime operating aeroplanes has ensured that) but I do appreciate good, liquid (sorry) mid-range. And the exact SPL matching argument can be eliminated simply by playing the 16/44 version at slightly higher volume than the hi-res and still finding the recording wanting.
As an aside, we took our Play 5 (original) outside yesterday evening - wow: that improved the sound, the speaker being freed from the crummy environment on the kitchen worktop (where it sets off a resonance under the wall cupboards above - even though we pull it right forward). Horses for courses, then.
Hi-res above judged through tablet to Chord Mojo into Quad 66 / 909 and KEF Reference Model 3.2; 16/44 passes through ZP80 digital out before the Mojo. And I concur the comments made elsewhere about the ZP80 bass being a little overblown and lacking in detail: the Mojo reveals that weakness by comparison. It's not just 'bits-is-bits': the circuitry after the DAC also plays its part, I imagine
Keep the recommendations coming - and get that wonderful 909 back!
I have to confess to a bit of baiting here ... but not withstanding all the theories and proofs linked elsewhere, I find the smallish batch of hi-res stuff I have (mostly 24/96 but some 24/192 or 24/88) sounds brilliant. Of course, the appropriate so-called double blind listening tests may prove no audible difference - and the physics may underpin this view - but I just find the tracks immensely enjoyable and, somehow, presenting as more vibrant, real and muscular (and all the usual subjective adjectives...). And this despite the original masters probably being tapes at 15 or 30 ips. Even if it is only in my mind: who cares? Many 16/44s can sound brilliant too but a direct comparison can show (to me) there is more (struggling for the right words here) 'air' around the instruments, longer decay on transients and more vibrancy to things that - er - are vibrating (such as bass strings). I'm no 'golden ears' (half a lifetime operating aeroplanes has ensured that) but I do appreciate good, liquid (sorry) mid-range. And the exact SPL matching argument can be eliminated simply by playing the 16/44 version at slightly higher volume than the hi-res and still finding the recording wanting.
As an aside, we took our Play 5 (original) outside yesterday evening - wow: that improved the sound, the speaker being freed from the crummy environment on the kitchen worktop (where it sets off a resonance under the wall cupboards above - even though we pull it right forward). Horses for courses, then.
Hi-res above judged through tablet to Chord Mojo into Quad 66 / 909 and KEF Reference Model 3.2; 16/44 passes through ZP80 digital out before the Mojo. And I concur the comments made elsewhere about the ZP80 bass being a little overblown and lacking in detail: the Mojo reveals that weakness by comparison. It's not just 'bits-is-bits': the circuitry after the DAC also plays its part, I imagine
Keep the recommendations coming - and get that wonderful 909 back!
You are welcome, Brian. Why would 24/96 be better?! Unless it has been made from an even better mastering which is doubtful, given the small market for such music these days.
The remaster brings the sound quality right up to date, without suffering the over production present in the last of the Armstrong albums. Sublime music. Armstrong has never been in better voice and Ellington is solid in support as is the rest of the band. Does anyone know who else is on the horns?
This is a very fine recommendation - thanks Kumar. Now if only I can find it in 24/96...
Swingin' hard with Shirley Scott at the organ keyboard!
Stéphane Grappelli started out in the 30s in Paris with Django and The Quintet of the Hot Club of France. The Gypsy Jazz style they invented has never really gone out of style. Grappelli was in great demand again throughout the 70s and beyond. He cut albums with just about anyone of significance in the jazz world. One of my dozen or so Grappelli LPs, on a classic ELAC turntable, with the Sonos Connect:Amp driving my QUAD ESL-63s.
A little music for Cinco de Mayo.
Ali Akbar Khan is a nice turn for this thread; I prefer the sarod that he plays over the better known sitar for its sweeter sound. Another sarod great is Amjad Ali Khan: if you can find him playing Raga Durga, it is a must listen. 30 minutes or so of musical heaven building up slowly to its climax.
Userlevel 7
+22
Hey where were you when all mine kept messing up 20 years ago. I'm horrible at Soldering! Horrible I say!
Of course the thing looks bullet proof but I always had trouble with old receivers and the buttons/switches getting staticy etc. and messing things up.
That's the easiest thing to fix. DeOxit spray, and they're good for another 10 years. The main power caps on this rarest of rare Kennys were leaky, $100 just for 4 replacements. Need to know how to troubeshoot, desolder and solder in this hobby, or it gets expensive. Can keep these classics running for many years,
Userlevel 7
+22
Nice picture again Chicks. Man that Kenwood has a lot of knobs and switches.
Of course the thing looks bullet proof but I always had trouble with old receivers and the buttons/switches getting staticy etc. and messing things up.
Of course the thing looks bullet proof but I always had trouble with old receivers and the buttons/switches getting staticy etc. and messing things up.
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