To prove to them why I am nuts about audio, I play them a few short selection of some of my favorites recordings...... and generally they at least agree that they never heard such good recordings before.....
I think this recording is not perfect, TACET were still working on their recording techniques. But on track 10 (start of the 4th concerto) the balance between the 2 solo flute and violin is fantastic. Similarly on track 13th (start of the 5th concerto) the same glorious balance is seen between harpsicord,violin and flute.
This is another amazing TACET recording, just astounding. I typically start around track 21-22 close to the last few movements of the Carnival. Again amazing clarity, presence and instrument acoustic signature.
Great sound take and balance between solist, orchestra and choir. Amazing dynamic range. I typically play from track 40 (Why do the nations so furiously....) to the Hallelujah on track 44). There is amazing dynamics in the Hallelujah with start so soft you think the volume is too low, but wait just 20 seconds and the volume will be very high! (This recording as one big weakness, the bass cannot utter any understandable English). This is also a good example of how much can be stored on a DVD-A. The whole messiah fits at 96Khz/24 bits.
This is my best sounding orchestral recording. Again amazing dynamic range, presence and instrument imaging. Very "russian" approach perfect for the excess of this symphony. Of course I Typically start off with the beautiful clarinet solo in the middle of the movement (terminating by the descending notes of a bass clarinet on the threshold of audibility) followed by the orchestral crash garanteed to make my guests jump out of their seats....
NAXOS recordings are excellent and relatively cheap, they have one weakness, the LFE channel is disproportinally loud. So there is a need to adjust subwoofer to a much lower level. This is the recording I use to demo the superiority of Electrostatic speakers. In track seven (The conciliator, from the Suite from Ballet Bolt) there is an amazing xylophone solo, so well positioned in space, and with a lot of impact on each stroke on the hardwood bars.
I love this recording for Ton Koopman virtuoso playing, and the acoustic rendition of a church. This is played on a (proper) Baroque organ, so there is not any earth shattering 20HZ pedal. But a great recoding, I play the first track Tocatta and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 (there is some discussion in musical circle if this piece was really by Bach, I do hope so!)
I do not know how a 1973 recording was re-mixed in multi-channel in such a spectacular way.. Everything sounds so fresh on this SACD. I use track 4 (time), the various clocks are surrounding you, then there the tam tam, bass guitar, etc. Also a good demo disc for subwoofer.
I initially bought this recording on CD. But I could not resist buying the SACD version. Good decision, the dynamic range is so much better. This is a great recording to demo the transparency of Electrostatic speakers. In particular I have a weakness for track 11 Giacomelli Merope were the soloist duet with a recorder.