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 found their The Only Constant to be good too, thanks.
For a Sub capability check, a great album is Victor Wooten's A Show of Hands. Solo bass guitar album.
+8
By modern pop you mean? All the crap that involves dancing, auto tune, and limited to zero real musical talent?
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,
Three excellent recent additions: albums by John Taylor, Peter Erskine and Palle Danielsson - As it is, Time being, and, You never know.
ECM albums, so the usual good sound quality as well.
ECM albums, so the usual good sound quality as well.
Userlevel 7
+22
Hey where were you when all mine kept messing up 20 years ago. I'm horrible at Soldering! Horrible I say!
+8
Ambient jazz huh?? Sounds good but it's kind of boring..
Our tastes differ. Don't look up my recommendations in future.
A little music for Cinco de Mayo.
+8
Why not? I find in interesting. And btw this is an open forum if you don't want comments than maybe consider what you post. I'm sure if I posted that I was into Polka music that there might be a few folks that questioned my taste in music. If I didn't want to defend my love of Polka music then it would probably make sense not to mention it.
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.
Hi,
This thread is very useful, I found a lot of interesting music.
I came across a lot of new names and I've expanded my musical library.
I hope it will continue.
Thank you for all the suggestions.
This thread is very useful, I found a lot of interesting music.
I came across a lot of new names and I've expanded my musical library.
I hope it will continue.
Thank you for all the suggestions.
Swingin' hard with Shirley Scott at the organ keyboard!
Another new - to me - find that is worth a listen: Bela Fleck/Live Art.
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...
And if east west fusion is to taste, two more of Bela Fleck are also excellent:
Tabula Rasa
The Melody of Rhythm
As is Malian Kora guitar music from Toumani Diabate. I think I have referred to New Ancient Strings earlier, but the recent Mande Variations is also very good.
Tabula Rasa
The Melody of Rhythm
As is Malian Kora guitar music from Toumani Diabate. I think I have referred to New Ancient Strings earlier, but the recent Mande Variations is also very good.
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.
Userlevel 4
+8
Today I've been listening to Four80East on Spotify.
Melodic electro jazz with a great bass groove. Worth a listen.
Melodic electro jazz with a great bass groove. Worth a listen.
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!
Userlevel 2
@Kumar, based on your original list, off the top of my head, may I suggest:
Miles Davis; Kind of Blue
Stan Getz; Getz/Gilberto
John Coltrane; John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Keith Jarrett; Koln Concert
Oregon; Out of the Woods
Pat Metheny; Bright Size Life
Chet Baker; Best of Chet Baker Sings
David Axelrod; Song of Innocence
Kenny Burrell; Midnight Blue
Madredeus; Ainda
Brian Eno; Music for Airports
Bill Evans Trio; Waltz for Debby
Miles Davis; Kind of Blue
Stan Getz; Getz/Gilberto
John Coltrane; John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Keith Jarrett; Koln Concert
Oregon; Out of the Woods
Pat Metheny; Bright Size Life
Chet Baker; Best of Chet Baker Sings
David Axelrod; Song of Innocence
Kenny Burrell; Midnight Blue
Madredeus; Ainda
Brian Eno; Music for Airports
Bill Evans Trio; Waltz for Debby
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.
Miles Davis; Kind of Blue
Stan Getz; Getz/Gilberto
John Coltrane; John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Keith Jarrett; Koln Concert
Oregon; Out of the Woods
Pat Metheny; Bright Size Life
Chet Baker; Best of Chet Baker Sings
Kenny Burrell; Midnight Blue
Bill Evans Trio; Waltz for Debby
Thanks. I have had the above for many years now, and all are excellent and recommended to anyone that likes jazz styles and hasn't heard these. I had not mentioned them because they aren't "new".
I will look up the others.
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!
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...
More classics on these lines:
Miles Davis: Blue Miles
Joe Henderson: The State of the Tenor
Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus
Grant Green: Idle Moments
Herbie Hancock: A Jazz Collection
Bill Evans: Sunday Night at the Village Vanguard
Paul Desmond: Feeling Blue
Chet Baker: Paris Sessions
Art Pepper: Meets the Rhythm Section
Ben Webster: Soulville
Oscar Peterson: Night Train
Charles Mingus Live at Antibes
John Coltrane: My Favorite Things
Monk and Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie: Jazz at Massey Hall
And depending on which one is liked, there is a vast music trove of these Jazz giants to explore further. The one thing to look for is that there are versions that aren't mastered as well as others may be.
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.
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