Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxn.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxn!jho From: jho@ihuxn.UUCP (Yosi Hoshen) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: Denon recordings Message-ID: <637@ihuxn.UUCP> Date: Thu, 26-Apr-84 13:19:11 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxn.637 Posted: Thu Apr 26 13:19:11 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 27-Apr-84 05:06:58 EST References: <203@whuxj.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 91 Bill Mitchell complained about the sound quality on Denon's LP featuring Jean-Pierre Rampal. (Please post the catalog number of this record, or other info so that the rest of us will not get a rotten egg). I have not listened to this record, but your conclusions do not surprise me. As you recall, my excitement was mostly restricted to Smetana Quartet performance of Beethoven and Mozart String Chamber music. I have been a classical music fanatic since the age of 11, yet, Beethoven's Late string quartets were inaccessible to me. They were just too difficult for me to appreciate. The new Denon Smetana performances of these quartets, really opened my eyes (ears). I now thoroughly enjoy these masterworks. I can only attribute my rediscovery of this great music to the superb performance of the Smetana Ensemble with the clarity of the new CD medium. Let me point out two Denon CDs which I think are pleasant, but definitely not great. These are Mozart clarinet quintet (catalog # C37-7038) and Mozart's Oboe quartet and quintet (C37-7034). In both recording the woodwind instrument is too closely microphoned, thus, creating imbalance between the strings and the woodwind. Also, the Philarmonia Quartet Berlin, the performer on these CDs, is not of the same caliber as the Smetana Quartet. Telarc which can be described as the leader in digital recording, I think has at least one bad apple, namely, the CD 80040 Malcom Frager Plays Chopain. I feel this CD is sonically deficiant. It seems to me that they made two mistakes. (1) close microphoning, (2) using the Bosendorfer Imperial Grand Piano. I feel that the Bosendorfer is inappropriate. Its base notes are too strong, obscuring the musical quality of the piece. I would prefer the Steinway for piano digital recordings. (An example of a good piano sound on a CD is Gilels plays Beethoven's Moonlight and other sonatas on DGG.) Bill implied that Nonesuch is Using the Soundstream system. Are you sure? I have a Nonesuch CD carrying Schubert's Octet. The information with the CD specifies that they are using the JVC Digital System. I like the performance on this CD, by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. The sound on this CD is another story. There is no clarity in the individual sound of the instruments. It seems to me that the microphones are at fault on this recording. RCA seems to be using the Soundstream system, and with good results. I have their Handel's Messiah which has a very good sound and performance. Bill says: >Denon uses a lower sampling rate (44.1 KHz) >for their master tapes than do those companies (like Telarc) that use >the Soundstream system (50 KHz) and this might make a difference. The sampling rates on all CDs are 44.1 KHz. Telarc, which uses 50 KHz, has to reduce their data rate to 44.1 KHz. I assume they are using some kind of numerical interpolating scheme (linear or cubic, I presume). Let us get into some technical details concerning the Denon digital recordings. I have a Denon catalog describing their digital system. Denon made their first digital recording in 1972. However, only in 1974 they have issued significant number of digital LPs. They used their DN-023R recording system. In 1977 Denon introduced their DN-034R digital recording system. They don't give technical info on both systems, but I suspect that these are 14 bit systems (correct me if I am wrong). Let me point out that that some of my Beethoven String Quartet recording are dated 1976, 1977 and 1978. They must have been using the above systems with great results. In 1979 Denon came with their DN-035R, a 4 channel system using 16 bit encoding. Their is a lot of technical info on this system. The sampling rate is 47.25 (It can also use sampling rate of 48 and 44.1). They use 4 channel recording for classical music. Their mixing editing etc. all the way to the production of a CD is digital (the same philosophy as Telarc). For non-classical music they do 32 channel pcm recording. The mixing of the 32 channels is analog. A final note. Listening to music is very subjective. Yet, I feel that any information we provide to each other is valuable, as CDs are expensive. If any one has information on disc quality, sound, performance, etc., please post or send mail. -- Yosi Hoshen Bell Laboratories Naperville, Illinois (312)-979-7321 Mail: ihnp4!ihuxn!jho