Top superior sound quality 5.1 recordings in your catalogue

**Gladiator1634** · 07-09-2013

I've been comparing the audio sound quality of my 5.1 disc and have come to the conclusion that these in no particular order stand out considerably more than many of the others

King Crimson Lizard
Lee Ritenour 6 string theory
Graham Nash. Songs for beginners
Pink Floyd Dark side of the moon
Talking heads Speaking in tongues....especially the alt. version of "Burning down the house"
Grateful dead American beauty...mainly "Sugar magnolia"
Steely Dan Goucho

They kind of come across as if they were initially made for multi channel. This also comes with much disappointment as I really wanted to be excited about the Genesis albums in 5.1 especially the Gabriel era but they really don't compare to these. I wish all 5.1 recordings could equal the ones listed.

**trurl** · 07-09-2013

Toy Matinee in DTS is really nice.

**davis** · 07-10-2013

What's the least a person can spend on a quality 5.1 speaker system? I have one but only paid about $130 for it. I have the Doors 5.1 discs and they sound like shit on this system.

**Nearfest2** · 07-10-2013

King Crimson, "Larks Tongues in Aspic"
Steven Wilson, "The Raven That Refused to Sing"
Pink Floyd, "Wish You Were Here"
Steely Dan, "Gaucho"
Donald Fagen, "The Nightfly"
Rush, "2112"

I would give my left nut for "Animals" in 5.1.

**Jubal** · 07-10-2013

Originally Posted by davis

What's the least a person can spend on a quality 5.1 speaker system? I have one but only paid about $130 for it. I have the Doors 5.1 discs and they sound like shit on this system.

I guess you found out the amount of quality from a 130.00 sound system.
Don't even bother on a 5.1 system if you can't afford about $1,200.00 or more.

**Jubal** · 07-10-2013

Top 10 5.1 recordings in terms of sound quality:
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Porcupine Tree - deadwing
Beatles - Love
Donald Fagen 5.1 Box
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd - Pulse
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells 2003
Yes - Symphonic Live
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (DVD-Audio)

**trurl** · 07-10-2013

Originally Posted by Jubal

Don't even bother on a 5.1 system if you can't afford about $1,200.00 or more.

Well, I don't know about that... I have a 7.1 Yamaha receiver that I got for about $250 a few years ago and some low end Polks I got open box at Best Buy for maybe $500 more and it flat rocks. You for sure have to put something into it, but if you shop smart you can do pretty well...

**arj** · 07-11-2013

All my Porcupine Tree
Avalon - Roxy Music
Toy Matinee

**Jimmy Giant** · 07-11-2013

Yes, some good calls here. One of my favorites is Moody Blues Days of Future Passed. I'm blown away how good this sounds given it's age. I can think of quite a few good ones (below).
I bought a Canton 5.1 set about 15 years ago when I worked for a Canton dealer. I paid about $2500 cost at the time. Best investment ever.

Toy Matinee
Alan Parsons - On Air
RPWL - Stock
PT - In Absentia
PF - Wish You Were Here
Beatles - Love
Hiromi - Time Control
Bonnie Raitt - Road Tested
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Sting - Brand New Day
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Peter Gabriel - Up
Helmet of Gnats
Eagles - Hotel California
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

**Rufus** · 07-13-2013

ELP -BSS
Alice Cooper -Billion $ Babies
Yes ~Fragile

**Jubal** · 07-13-2013

I'll add one I just received this week. The 40th Anniversary Edition of Lark's Tongue In Aspic is absolutely stunning.

**Gladiator1634** · 07-16-2013

Some nice ones listed here that I don't have and would like to pick up but the prices are outrageous. For example Sting-Brand new day on Amazon is about $90 new. Alan Parson-On Air $50 new. Anyone have a place to shop for these that would be a little cheaper?

**davis** · 07-16-2013

Originally Posted by Jubal

I guess you found out the amount of quality from a 130.00 sound system.
Don't even bother on a 5.1 system if you can't afford about $1,200.00 or more.

So basically, when I get to where I have 1 or 2K to spend on a speaker system, I go to Best Buy and ask for assistance on 5.1 systems. the system we have sounds really good with stereo/mono recordings. Maybe I can save up and get a quality 5.1 system for my 60th birthday.

**Nearfest2** · 07-16-2013

eBay is a great place to look for 5.1 discs. Also, don't be afraid of the "Vendors also selling" section of Amazon. I got some great used deals there.

**Gladiator1634** · 07-16-2013

Originally Posted by Coldfire Nexus

eBay is a great place to look for 5.1 discs. Also, don't be afraid of the "Vendors also selling" section of Amazon. I got some great used deals there.

Thanks appreciate it!

**Jimmy Giant** · 07-16-2013

Well, since most people in the US think MP3 is an acceptable sound, there's not a big market for DTS/SACD/DVD-A here. In Japan and Europe, there still is a market, so anything produced is likely to be an import.
Here's a couple other online places you can try, but yes, it seems some of the prices have gone much higher. I'm glad I started snapping them up when I did.

Acoustic Sounds
Import CDs
CD Universe
CD Japan
Amazon UK
HMV Japan
Music Direct

I hardly think you can buy any quality speaker system at a big box store. They'll never do the music justice. This is a prime case of you get what you pay for. I would challenge any set of speakers under $2k to be worth a shit. What's the point of spending all this money on high quality recordings if you don't have a system that can properly reproduce it? While that may sound pretentious, it's simply logic. There's so much more joy in hearing this material as good as it can sound.

**rcarlberg** · 07-16-2013

Originally Posted by Jimmy Giant

I hardly think you can buy any quality speaker system at a big box store. They'll never do the music justice. This is a prime case of you get what you pay for. I would challenge any set of speakers under $2k to be worth a shit. What's the point of spending all this money on high quality recordings if you don't have a system that can properly reproduce it?

Two words: Head. Phones.