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Post by MartinT on Nov 8, 2014 13:07:32 GMT
Although many of you may not have heard of him, it was Harry Pearson (HP in The Absolute Sound, his publication) who pretty much invented 'The High End' and set about listening to and reviewing equipment with a subjective ear rather than using measurements at a time when all the other American publications used measurements and barely listened to the equipment. He built up a fantastic system in his Sea Cliff home (including Infinity IRS speakers) and used it as a base against which to compare review equipment. He developed the modern language of subjective review and was responsible for turning around most of the press (or seeing them off, like High Fidelity magazine) into properly recognising that different components sound different.
Some of his past articles are really worth reading. At the time, they were revelatory.
Harry Pearson Obituary |
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 8, 2014 13:29:56 GMT
Didn't realise he started it
When I first looked I vaguely remember the mags talked about Watts RMS and how flashy the kit looked,
Sometime around Linn and Naim creation, or slightly earlier I thought it became about listening
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Post by MartinT on Nov 8, 2014 14:47:02 GMT
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 8, 2014 15:28:09 GMT
Thanks
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Post by MartinT on Nov 8, 2014 15:36:53 GMT
Harry Pearson RMAF Keynote Speech
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Post by MartinT on Nov 17, 2014 19:23:36 GMT
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Post by daytona600 on Nov 21, 2014 20:42:51 GMT
HP Super Disc List - Last ever update 17th Nov
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Classical
Arnold: English, Scottish, & Cornish Dances Lyrita SRCS-109
Gerhard: The Plague Decca Head 6
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess complete/Maazel Decca SET 609-11¯†
Herold/Lanchbery: La Fille Mal Gardée Decca SXL-2313¯
Hi-Fi a la Española Mercury SR-90144¯ (Also Classic)
Holst: The Planets/Mehta, LA London CS-6734¯
Prokofiev: Scythian Suite Mercury SR-90006¯ (Also Classic)
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 Mercury SR-90283¯
Respighi: Feste Romanae Decca SXL-6822
Ravel: La Valse/Paray Classic/Mercury SR-90313¯†‡
Stravinsky: The Firebird/Dorati Classic/Mercury SR-90226¯†‡
Widor: Symphony No. 6 Allegro Mercury SR-90169
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Popular
Bachrach: Casino Royale Colgems COSO-5005
Balaika Favorites Mercury SR-90310 (Also Classic)
Belafonte At Carnegie Hall Classic Records LSC-6006
Ellington: For Duke M & K Realtime 101
Ralph Hunter Choir: The Wild, Wild West RCA LSP-l968¯†
Music for Bang, Ba-room and Harp RCA LSP-1866
Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon EMI Harvest SHVL-804
The Sheffield Track Record Sheffield Lab-20¯‡
Don Shirley: Water Boy Columbia CS-9196¯†
The Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall, 1963 Vanguard VSD-2150¯
SPECIAL MERIT: Classical
Alain: Organ Works (complete) Erato EDO-250/2
Antill: Corroboree (Australian) EMI OASD-7603
Anderson: Music of Leroy Anderson (Vol. II) Mercury SR-90043
Arnold: Guitar Concerto/Bream RCA LSC-2487¯
Arnold: Overtures Reference Recordings RR-48‡
Arnold: Peterloo Overture: Symphony No. 5 EMI ASD-2878
Bach-Elgar: Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor EMI ASD-2970
Bach-Stokowski: Symphonic Transcriptions Chandos ABRD-1055
Balbastre: Harpsichord Works Afka SK-298
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1934¯†‡
Bartok: Strings, Percussion, Celesta/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2374¯†‡
Bax: Symphony No. 6 Musical Heritage Soc MHS 1198†
Beethoven: Appassionata Sonata RCA/JVC RDC-4
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6/Walter Columbia MS-6012
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9/Solti, Chicago Decca GBB-121/2
Berg: Lulu & Wozzeck (suites) Mercury SR-90278
Berlioz: Requiem/Fremaux, et. al. EMI SLS-982
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique/Munch, BSO Classic/RCA LSC-1900¯†‡
Bizet: Carmen (Suite)/Gibson Classic/RCA LSC-2449¯†‡
Bliss: Music for Strings Lyrita SRCS-33¯
Bloch: Concerto Grosso No. 1 Mercury SR-90223¯
Borodin: Symphony No. 2 London CS-6126
Brahms: Alto Rhapsody/Walter Columbia MS-6488
Brian: Symphony No. 9 EMI ASD-3486
Britten: Four Sea Interludes EMI ASD-3154
Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas Decca Ace-of-Dmds GOS-558-9
Busoni: Piano Concerto EMI ASD-2336/7
Cage: Third Construction Classic/New World NW-319¯†
Chabrier: Espana!/Argenta Speakers Corn/Decca SXL-2020¯†‡
Copland: Appalachian Spring Can. Broadcast SM-5000
Copland: Rodeo Mercury SR-90172
Crumb: Makrokosmos I Nonesuch H-71293
Crumb: Music for a Summer Eve: Makrokosmos III Nonesuch H-71311
Debussy: Iberia Mercury SR-90010
Debussy: Iberia/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2222¯†‡
Debussy: Sonata for Violin & Piano Wilson W-8722
Delius: North Country Sketches EMI ASD-3139¯
Dorati: Symphony Mercury SR-90248
Durufle: Requiem Epic BC-1256
Dvorak: Cello Concerto/Starker Mercury SR-90303¯
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8/Walter CBS/Sony 20 AC 1822
Elgar: Caratacus EMI SLS-998¯†
Elgar: Coronation Ode EMI ASD 3345
Elgar: Engima Variations/Mehta, LA London CS-6816
Elgar: Symphony No. 2 EMI ASD-3266
Elgar: The Kingdom EMI SAN 244-5
Finzi: Dies Natalis World Record Club SCM-50¯
Finzi: Intimations of Immortality Lyrita SRCS-75
Franck: Pieces Heroique Mercury SR-90168
Gerhard: Symphony No. 4 Argo ZRG-701
Gershwin: An American in Paris RCA LSC-2367¯
Gershwin: Collected Works Vox Box QSVBX-5132
Gould: Latin American Symphonette Vanguard SRV-275 SD†‡ (Also Analogue Productions)
Grainger: Country Gardens Mercury SR-90219 (Also Mercury Wing SRW-18060)
Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy Mercury SR-90173
Grieg: Peer Gynt/Fjeldstad Speakers Corn/Decca SXL-2012¯†‡
Grieg: Piano Concerto/Lupu, Previn London CS-6840
Grieg: Piano Concerto/Rubinstein, Wallenstein RCA LSC-2566
Hanson: Symphony No. 2 Mercury SR-90192
Hanson: The Composer & His Orchestra Mercury SR-90175¯
Holst: The Planets/Previn, LSO EMI ASD-3002
Honneger: Pacific 231 EMI ASD-2989
Howells: Hymnus Paradisi EMI ASD-2600
Kabalevsky: The Comedians Classic/RCA LSC-2398†
Khachaturian: Gayaneh & Spartacus Decca SXL-6000
Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2 London CS-6323
Kod·ly: H·ry J·nos (Suite) Mercury SR-90132¯
Leigh: Concertino/Harpsichord & Strings Lyrita SRCS-126¯
Lizst: Mephisto Waltz/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2341¯†‡
Lloyd: Symphony No. 5 Lyrita SRCS-124
Maconchy: Symphony Dble String Orchestra Lyrita SRCS-116
Mahler: Symphony No. 1/Slatkin Telarc DG-10066
Mahler: Symphony No. 3/Mehta London CSA-2249
Massenet: Le Cid EMI TWO-350 (Also ESD-7040)
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Nights Dream EMI ASD-3377
Messiaen: La Trans de Notre Sgnr. Jesus Christ Decca Head 1 & 2
Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony EMI SLS-5117
Moeran: Symphony EMI ASD-2913
Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos (K. 365) Nonesuch H-71028
Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2201†‡
Offenbach: Gaote Parisienne/Fiedler, BSO Classic/RCA LSC-1817¯†‡
Orff: Carmina Burana/Stokowski, Houston Capitol SPAR-8470¯
Partch: The Delusion of the Fury Columbia M2-30576
Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore Archiv 198166
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije (Suite)/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150¯†‡
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2/Frager Classic/RCA LSC-2465
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3/Janis Mercury SR-90300†
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet/Maazel Decca SXL-6620-2
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6/Weller Decca SXL-6777¯
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1/Ricci/Ansermet Decca/Eclipse ECS-746
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2/Heifetz RCA LSC-2314
Rachmaninoff: The Romantic Rachmaninoff Readers Digest RDA-29
Rachmaninoff: Paganini Variations/Rubinstein Classic/RCA LSC-2430
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 1 Classic/RCA LSC-2541†
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances Athena Productions ALSW-1001†
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 EMI ASD-3137
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 EMI ASD-2889
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 (British) RCA LSB-4090
Rachmaninoff: The Bells EMI ASD-3284
Rachmaninoff-Respighi: 5 Etudes Tableaux EMI ASD-3013¯
Ravel: Concerto in G Major Linn Recut 01
Ravel: Daphnis & Chloe/Ansermet Decca SXL-6204¯
Ravel: Daphnis & Chloe/Munch, BSO Chesky RC-30
Ravel: Collected Works Vox Box QSVBX-5133 (Also Ref. Mastercuts RM-1004†‡)
Rawsthorne: Piano Concerto No. 1 Lyrita SRCS-101
Respighi: Ancient Dances and Airs/Lute Mercury SR-90199¯
Respighi: Brazilian Impressions Mercury SR-90153
Respighi: Pines of Rome/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2436¯†‡
Reubke: The 94th Psalm Orion ORS-78282
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2446¯†‡
Rodrigo: Concierto Andaluz Mercury SR-90488¯
Rodrigo: Concierto Aranjuez/Yepes, Argenta London CS-6046¯
The Royal Ballet Gala Performances Classic/RCA LSC-6065¯†‡
Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals EMI ASD-299¯
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2/Rubinstein LSC-2234¯†‡
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3/Dupre Mercury SR-90012
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3/Fremaux EMI TWO-404¯
Schmitt: Psalm 47 EMI ASD-2892
Schubert: Death and the Maiden Quartet/Juilliard RCA LSC-2378¯
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 EMI ASD-2924
Shostakovitch: Symphony No. 1/Martinon Classic/RCA LSC-2322† ‡
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 EMI ASD SLS-897
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8/Previn EMI ASD-2917
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 Alto/ASD-3911¯†‡ (Also EMI)
Sibelius: En Saga EMI ASD-2486¯
Sibelius: Four Legends EMI ASD-3092
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2/Paray, Detroit Mercury SR-90204¯
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5/Gibson RCA LSC-2405 (Also Decca SPA-122)
Sibelius: The Tempest EMI ASD-2961¯
Sibelius: Violin Concerto/Heifetz, Reiner, CSO RCA LSC-2435
J. Strauss: Waltzes/Reiner, CSO RCA LSC-2500¯
R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1806¯†
Stravinsky: Ballets/Ansermet London CSA-2308
Stravinsky: Ebony Concerto Reference Recordings RR-55¯†
Stravinsky: Firebird (Suite)/Stokowski, Berlin Capitol SP-8407
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps/Solti, CSO Decca SXL-6691
Stravinsky: Petrouchka (solo piano) Wilson W-8313¯
Stravinsky: Petrouchka/Ansermet London CS-6009
Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150†
Sullivan-Mackerras: Pineapple Poll EMI CSD-1399 (Also ESD-7028)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4/Monteux, BSO RCA LSC-2369
Tchaikovksy: Manfred/Previn Alto/EMI ASD-3018¯†‡
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker/Previn, LSO EMI SLS-832
Thomson: The Plow That Broke The Plain Analogue/Vanguard AP001†
Toch: Symphony No. 5 Capitol SP-8364†
Vaughan Williams: Choral Music EMI SLS-5082
Vaughan Williams: Job EMI ASD-2673
Vaughan Williams: Sancta Civitas EMI ASD-2422
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies EMI SLS-822
Vivaldi: Lute Concertos & Trios Hungarton SLPX-11978¯
Wagner for Band Mercury SR-90276
Walton: Crown Imperial/Fennell, Eastman Mercury SR-90197
Grace Williams: Fantasy/Welsh Nursery Tunes EMI ASD-3006¯
Wiren: Serenade for Strings EMI ESD-7001
SPECIAL MERIT: Operas
Bizet: Carmen/Bernstein, et. al. Deutsche Gramm. 2709 043
Bizet: Carmen/Karajan RCA LDS-6164†
Britten: Noye's Fludde Argo ZK-1
Menotti: Amahl & the Night Visitors RCA LSC-2762
Mussorgsky: Boris Godonov Decca SET-514/7
Puccini: La Boheme/Karajan Decca SET-565/6
Puccini: Tosca RCA LDS-7022†
Puccini: Turandot/Mehta Decca SET 561-3
Verdi: Aida/Karajan London OSA-1313
Wagner: Das Rheingold London OSA-1309
Wagner: Gotterdammerung London OSA-1604
SPECIAL MERIT: Collections
André Previn's Music Night EMI ASD-3131
Ballet for Band Mercury SR-90256
Danses Ancienne de Hongrie Harmonia Mundi HM-1003
Evensong for Ash Wednesday Argo ZRG-5365
Festival/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2423¯†‡
For My True Love / Terri, Almeida Capitol SP-8461†
Kronos Quartet: In Formation Reference Recordings RR-9
La Fete de la Ane Harmonia Mundi HM-1036
Fiesta in Hi-Fi Mercury SR-90134
Magnum Opus Wilson W-8111
The Moscow Sessions Sheffield TLP-1000
Musique de la Grace Antique Harmonia Mundi HM-1015
Overtures Fantaises Mercury SR-90191
Percussion Music Nonesuch H-71291
The Power of the Orchestra/Leibowitz, RPO Chesky RC-30
Rhapsodies / Stowkowski Classic/RCA LSC-2471¯†‡
Sing We Noel: Christmas Music Nonesuch H-71354
La Spagna BIS 163/164
Vienna: 1908-1914 Mercury SR-90316
Witches Brew / Gibson, NSOL Classic/RCA LSC-2225†‡
SPECIAL MERIT: Informal
Chet Atkins in Hollywood RCA LSP-1993
Chet Atkins: Caribbean Guitar RCA LSP-2549
The Other Chet Atkins RCA LSP-2175
Joan Baez: Diamonds & Rust Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-238†‡
Joan Baez: Farewell Angelina Vanguard VSD 79200
Joan Baez: In Concert Vanguard VSD 2122
Belafonte at Carnegie Hall RCA LSO-6006
Belafonte Sings the Blues Classic/RCA LSP-1972†‡
Bob and Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular RCA LSP-1773 (Also Classic)
Dave Brubeck: Time Out Classic/Columbia CS-8192†‡
The Civil War (Vol. 1) Mercury LPSD-2-901
Judy Collins: Judith Elektra 6E-111
David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name Atlantic SD-7203
Dafos Reference Recordings RR-12
Jim Dawson: Songman Kama Sutra KSBS-2035
Davis: Kind of Blue Classic/Columbia CS-8163†‡ (Also Columbia CS-8163†)
Davis-Evans: Sketches of Spain Columbia CS-8271
Eagles: Desperado (British) Asylum SYL-9011
Eileen Farrell: Torch Songs Reference Recordings RR-34¯†‡
Electric Love Mercury Limelight LS-86072
Enya Atlantic 81842-1
Fresh Aire II American Gramaphone 359
Fresh Aire III American Gramaphone 365
Art Garfunkel: Breakaway CBS/Sony 25AP 1373
S. Goodman: Mallets, Melody & Mayhem Columbia CS-8333†
Ed Graham: Hot Stix M & K Realtime RT-106
Earl "Fatha"Hines: Fatha! M & K Realtime RT-105
Jarre: OxygËne Polydor 2473-10
Bruce Katz: Crescent Crawl Audioquest AQ-1012¯†‡
Klaatu EMI EST-11542
Kraftwerk: Autobahn Parlophone EJ24 00701
Gordon Lightfoot: Summer Side of Life Reprise MS-2037
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Natty Dread Island ILPS-9281
McBroom: Growing Up in Hollywood Town Sheffield Lab-13
Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah-Um Classic/Columbia CS 8171†‡ (Also Columbia CS-8171†)
Joni Mitchell: Blue Reprise MS-2038
Joni Mitchell: Court & Spark Asylum 7E-1007
Joni Mitchell: Wild Things Run Fast Geffen GHS-2019
Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle Warner Bros. 1727
Peter, Paul, & Mary Warner Bros. 1449
Pig's Eye Jazz (Vol. II) Insight Records Vol. 2
Pink Floyd: The Wall (Japanese) CBS/Sony 40AP 1750
Professor Johnson's Astounding Sound Show Reference Recordings RR-7¯‡
Reflections Reference Recordings RR-18¯‡
Renaissance: Novella Sire SA-2576
Rough Trade: Avoid Freud True North TN-43
Rough Trade: For Those Who Think Young True North TN-48
Rough Trade: Shaking The Foundations True North TN-50
Salt City Six: Dixieland Audiophile AP-80
Seals & Crofts: Greatest Hits Warner Bros. BS-2886
The Sheffield Drum Record Sheffield Lab-14¯
Star of Wonder Reference Recordings RR-21¯‡
Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman (British) Island ILPS-9135
Cat Stevens: Teaser & The Firecat Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-244†‡
The Strayaway Child Song of the Wood 7811
The Wilson Band Recordings Wilson W-8823/24¯†
Dionne Warwick: Soulful Scepter SPS-573
SPECIAL MERIT: Singles
Aha: Take Me On (British) Warner Brothers W-9006
China Crisis: in a Catholic Style (British) Virgin VS-765112
Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Relax (British) Virgin/ZTT-1ZZTAS1
Freez: I.O.U. Streetwise SWRL-2210
Bill Henderson: Send in the Clowns (45rpm)
Classic/Discovery JP-0779.12†
Greg Kihn: Jeopardy Beserkley 0-67932
Human League: Don't You Want Me (British) Virgin 466-12B
Propaganda: Machinery (British) Virgin/ZTT 12xZ TAS 12
Lionel Richie: All Night Long Motown 4514-MG
Gerry Woo: Help Yourself Polydor 887-529-1
Yaz: Don't Go Mute Yaz-001
Yello: Lost Again Elektra 966790
Yello & Shirley Bassey: The Rhythm Divine Mercury 888-746-1
SPECIAL MERIT: Film and Broadway Score
Bliss: Things To Come EMI ASD-3416¯
The Flight of the Condor BBC Records REB-440
Herrmann: Citizen Kane (British) RCA GL-43441
Herrmann: The Fantasy Film World Decca PFS-4309
Herrmann: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Filmmusic Collection FMC-4¯
Herrmann: The Three Worlds of Gulliver Decca PFS-4337
Homrich/Gascoigne: The Emerald Forest Varese Sarabande STV-81244
Horner: Glory Virgin 1-91329
Jarre: The Professionals Colgems COSO-5001
Mancini: Hatari! RCA LSC-2559
Moroder: Cat People Backstreet BSR-6107
Myrow/Seagrave: Phantasm Varese VC-81105
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible EMI SLS-5110
Rózsa: Ben Hur Decca PFS-4394
Rózsa: Quo Vadis Decca PFS-4430
Sondheim: Pacific Overtures RCA ARL-1-1367†
Sondheim: Sweeney Todd RCA CBL2-3379†
Tiomkin: Lost Horizons (British) RCA GL-43445
Tiomkin: The Thing (British) RCA RL-42005
Vangelis: Antartica (Japanese) Polydor 2MM-0290
† New entries on list
‡ Still in print
¯ Exceptionally natural and musical sound, as opposed to the merely hi-fi spectacular
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Post by MartinT on Nov 21, 2014 20:55:00 GMT
That's really useful, I was trying to find it on the net. Thanks.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 22, 2014 11:09:29 GMT
I've just found the list here and am tidying your list up a little, Scott. Thanks again. |
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Post by daytona600 on Nov 24, 2014 17:33:14 GMT
Some are as rare as hens teeth Martin now , but some really good stuff on the list
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Post by MartinT on Nov 24, 2014 19:41:30 GMT
I have the Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall on both vinyl boxed set and SACD. An epic quality recording and the vinyl sounds even better than the superb SACD. I think HP knew his good recordings and certainly had a system capable of resolving the differences.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 24, 2014 19:48:55 GMT
I remember having the 12" mix of Freeez's 'IOU' back in the day and people wetting themselves over the sound quality and fx they used in it ...
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Post by daytona600 on Nov 25, 2014 17:17:12 GMT
 Not heard the RCA version of belafonte carnegie only the new 200g analogue productions version , which is sublime must check out IOU on 12inch have a copy somewhere |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 25, 2014 19:15:49 GMT
Not heard the RCA version of belafonte carnegie only the new 200g analogue productions version , which is sublime Mine's an RCA set with "German Pressing" on the back cover. It's very quiet (quieter than the tape hiss) and sounds superb. |
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Post by daytona600 on Nov 26, 2014 15:12:49 GMT
must compare them one day martin , marco has a copy of the AP version
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