With time passing, I realize that I’m more and more attracted to well recorded/produced records and hi-fi in general.
It’s not that I have a $$$ setup*, but with small adjustments (ie. speaker position, room treatment, …) and well spent money you can have a enjoyable system that sounds really good and still be affordable.
So, each time I make a change to my hi-fi setup, I listen to the same track: “Oblivion”, by Nina Nastasia. I’m not sure why this one in particular as it’s not my favorite track of this artist, but I guess it’s because it comes from the first “well produced” album I stumbled upon after a decade of listening to over-compressed metal & rock albums (thanks to the Loudness War…). Steve Albini recorded this one and it shows the guy loves the bass.
So, to other hi-fi nerds on this forum: what are your favorite tracks/albums with a great production value? Bonus point if they have a juicy bass tone!
You could try some of these (the real tracks, not the YT videos, of course )
Good production and some low bass notes (with octaver); really testing your bass speakers
Production-wise not the best, but Michael Brecker takes that EWI through all six octaves, from the almost no longer audible to some shattering lows (I am exaggerating a tiny bit); good range of frequencies there
Super production - so “in your face” and yet transparent; especially the sax - you basically feel like your head is inside the bell
I was in an Uber hifi store years ago and was listening to those old magnaplanar speakers. They put this on and I nearly bought those stupid big things on the spot. Thankfully I really didn’t have the room.
Second…
Heart Greatest Hits
Surprisingly, one of the best sounding albums there is.