Neil Young hates the sound of today's recordings

[Islander]

He has a point. He's very knowledgeable about recordings and takes great care with his own sound, which is easy to notice.

http://www.nme.com/news/neil-young/61583

[Fish]

First I have to agree about many recordings sucking, but I think it's been an issue for many decades.While I like Neil Young's music and some recordings are OK he was never a guy I use for reference sound.I'm talkin' Down by the River sounds like it was recorded in a snake pit.I do have a DVD from Red Rocks and the quality is really good.I have cd's from the same era that are fantastic recordings.

[Islander]

Check out Neil's later stuff. He redid lots of his earlier recordings as newer technology became available.

'Live at Massey Hall 1971' from just a few years back is one of the best recordings I've ever heard from anyone, especially the DVD.

[Utard]

I grew up listening Led Zepplin on vinyl as a teen.

On a crummy all in one turn table, cassette and radio unit.

It has been about 25 years since I have listened to any vinyl.

About a month ago I finally got around to getting a Led Zepplin box set.

When I first listened to them something sounded off from what I remembered.

I even thought that the cassettes sounded better from what I remembered.

I just figured it was my newer AVR and how it did what ever it did with sound.

That was through my RD-82II's.

So I decided to dig out my 20 year old Pioneer AVR figuring it might has less processing than the newer one.

And I hooked it up to my rears the RF-52 II's.

And still something did not sound right.

So I decided to to hook it up so the speaker A was on the 52's and the speaker B was on the one of my RW-12d's on the high input.

Still it did not really sound like what I remembered as a teen.

So I gave up thinking maybe this was how it really sounded. And that it was in my head.

Then I read a post about loudness. And I wondered about this.

So anyway to make a long story longer.

I remembered someone saying something about a Dire Straits Brothers in Arms SACD sounded amazing.

I said to myself a cd is a cd? Right?

So a few days ago I found one on Amazon for $23 and I figured I would get it.

Well it just arrived today and all I can say is WOW. This is how music should sound.

I guess I have spent so many years listening to music on crappy systems I never realized the change over the years.

Now I am not sure if I really want to buy any music that is not on a SACD? Now I am ruined.

[Islander]

I haven't heard any SACDs, but I can say that to my ears, DVDs sound way better than CDs.

[oldenough]

I have a lot of Neil Young recordings, and would say his recordings are generally above average, and I have yet to hear one that I would call bad....

[mustang guy]

I grew up listening Led Zepplin on vinyl as a teen. On a crummy all in one turn table, cassette and radio unit. It has been about 25 years since I have listened to any vinyl. About a month ago I finally got around to getting a Led Zepplin box set. When I first listened to them something sounded off from what I remembered. I even thought that the cassettes sounded better from what I remembered. I just figured it was my newer AVR and how it did what ever it did with sound. That was through my RD-82II's. So I decided to dig out my 20 year old Pioneer AVR figuring it might has less processing than the newer one. And I hooked it up to my rears the RF-52 II's. And still something did not sound right. So I decided to to hook it up so the speaker A was on the 52's and the speaker B was on the one of my RW-12d's on the high input. Still it did not really sound like what I remembered as a teen. So I gave up thinking maybe this was how it really sounded. And that it was in my head. Then I read a post about loudness. And I wondered about this. So anyway to make a long story longer. I remembered someone saying something about a Dire Straits Brothers in Arms SACD sounded amazing. I said to myself a cd is a cd? Right? So a few days ago I found one on Amazon for $23 and I figured I would get it. Well it just arrived today and all I can say is WOW. This is how music should sound. I guess I have spent so many years listening to music on crappy systems I never realized the change over the years. Now I am not sure if I really want to buy any music that is not on a SACD? Now I am ruined.

I think you are right. Some of the remastered vinyl just doesn't punch. I have a few examples of records that I paid a lot for that I can't stand to listen to. There are a couple of SACD's I don't like the sound of also.

The bottom line is this, the person or people who are doing the remastering are responsible for how good or bad a remastered label sounds. IMO, there are some real do-do's being allowed to bastardize songs. A while back labels started re-releasing mono lp's. I think this is a good step. On an LP there can be a HUGE difference in a mono and stereo press of the same song.

IMO, the best seperation listening should be from SACD's and DVD-A's, and the best LP listening from mono pressings.

[Quiet_Hollow]

Sound isn't getting worse, it's just getting easier to broadcast angst about it.

Neil is barking up the wrong tree. How about getting rid of commercials, so I can actually listen to whatever crappy music is out there for a change? [:^)]

[Gilbert]

He has a point. He's very knowledgeable about recordings and takes great care with his own sound, which is easy to notice.

http://www.nme.com/news/neil-young/61583

This isn't exactly new news, Neil's been an eccentric about recorded audio quality since his early days. He's got a gifted ear and not many artist, that I'm aware, have consistently produced the quality recordings he has.

I enjoy very much listening to his music, especially when it's kick-back and relax time.