CD Reviews

[Sarong1]

Some of you that are familiar with FIM (First Impression Music) label will already know that they are reputable for their first class recording. And for those of you who are budget tight and yet want to have the best of both worlds (i.e. value for money and value for your ears), I am recommending this particular CD, which by the way is LIMITED EDITION and a die-die must have in your CD case.

 

First of all, it is a XRCD 24, which means, Extended Resolution CD and in 24 Bits, so you can think for yourself how much of data has been predumped into these CD. Next, this CD is a compilation of tracks from their FIM and LIM (Lasting Impression Music, a subsidiary of FIM).

 

Die-die must listen track.

 

Track 1 - Carmen Habanera Fantasia (The depth and staging of this Carmen piece has dumbfolded me, you don't have to sit in the centre to realise how fantastic the depth is)

 

Track 6 - Alone I Ascend To The West Chamber (This is a a instrumental piece from one of Teresa Teng's songs, the piano, double bass and harmonica staging is superb, die-die must try)

 

Track 10 - J K Drum Improvisation (Those that are familiar with LIM's Drum and Track Record should be familiar with this some 30 years old drum piece which till now is still renowned for its superb drum play, a must have to spice up your woofers and tweeters)

 

The other tracks are equally good but the above three is my favourite, now what's yours gonna be? Hmm?

 

Having said so much, where can you get this CD, simple, 3rd floor of Adelphi and priced at $40+. For your info, I have gotten the last piece as of 11 Sep and you may want to reserve yours when the next shipments come. Enjoy...

[Kaiserdome]

Very nice CDs u are recommending bro...will make a trip down to Roxy and Adelphi

 

Question: Which reference CDs do u recommend? I'm planning to do some DIY tuning

[Sarong1]

IMHO, I do have reference CD but it wasn't compiled the way I liked it. What I did was, to have all the solid tracks from various CDs I have been collecting and get them compiled into one reference CD (you can name it your own Reference CD even) to warm up, test and perhaps tune the system. Below is one example of how I compile my own CD and how I line them up within a CD itself, in order.

 

Track 1 and 2 Warm Up tracks - Violin and piano tracks playing full sets of each individual notes, let it run and repeat for several minutes everytime I start the system before I move on to the next track.

 

Track 3 - 5 Individual instruments tracks - Percussion, cymbals, saxophone to tone up the woofer cone and tweeters.

 

Track 6 - 10 Vocal tracks - Purely Female and Male tracks, for eg, Chie Ayado, Zhao Peng alikes etc with not much of dynamics within.

 

Track 11 - 15 Classical and jazz tracks - from simple ones to dynamic ones, for eg Henry Mancini's Pink Panther track to full orchestra tracks

 

Track 16 and 17 Drums track - From some of my drums collection, latest being the J K's improvisation.

 

Track 18 an 19 Chinese drum track - Dynamic, full sound stage and imaging, depth type of tracks which I will also do a review next time round.

 

Track 20....End with - any audiophile pieces which you like, just like cooling down after IPPT...

 

You may perhaps want to focus a bit more on reputable record labels of course, FIM and LIm being one of those, Telarc, Hong Kong's TIS label, ABC records, Tuya etc.

 

Of course, compiling all into one CD would effectively down the bits (some of mine is 32 Bits, 24 Bits and 20 bits CD) into normal 16 bits tracks but should be good enough for a start unless you have programs to make it at least 20 bits.

[Wesel]

Currently listening to this CD. Feel the instruments is quite smoothing. Singer sing like "bo lat". IMO, the CD quality is good, and can get it at gamaphone OUB for $15++. . Just my 2 cents.

[Bosebani]

Nice disc, "You kong la sit sit"

 

Like the 2nd track where there's a live atmosphere of door closing, popping champaign, etc

 

Also track 9 by original singer Luo ta you, also very nice

 

Overall, as you said, very good recording with very familiar tracks

[Kaiserdome]

Wow thanks for the info bro!

[Sarong1]

Agree with you that the "Chen Guo" is kinda refreshing and interesting.

 

If you understand cantonese, you should also get yourself a copy of "Chen Guo"'s 2nd vol which features Sam Hui renowned tracks. She has been invited to perform in Sam Hui's concert recently.

 

I first sampled this in gramophone without giving too much hope. But what caught my attention was the way the sound engineer has weaved in chinese instruments before the start of each track. This convince me that this is the CD I want in my case. Be in for some good bashing for your system as it can also be very demanding and dynamic. Quality is good, my friend used it to tune his car...surprised??? I believe NDV also selling at that price, listen to believe...

[Sarong1]

You are most welcome, hope my msg has give you some ideas though...

[Wesel]

I like track 3 personally, can hear the sub driving hard. Hehe... Actually, I like the clapping, the flute and the low bass going up and down, especially the ending when all come to a stop. It create some sort of feeling that the bass is still echoing or is it because I play it too loud ?

 

What really surprise me was the recording, wasn't expecting this much from this CD. Really feel this CD is value for $$$

[Wesel]

Thanks for the recommendation. Will try to look for disc 2 next month, though I don't quite understand cantonese. I personally like the instruments in vol 1.

 

I used it to benchmark my car audio as well, so this is where I realise where the weakness of my setup and the important of sound proofing the doors.

 

Anyway, I am looking for this old CD. Know anywhere I can get ?

 

我和疆尸有个约会 II

[Sfk7]

guess this goes out to everyone,

 

how do u know whether a particular CD is of superior / better recording to b audiophile? i mean if i were to shop at sembawang music or even gramophone if its not under the audiophile section then it wont b a good recording?

 

of cos can always buy at adelphi n places lidat...

 

sorry noob here lar.

[Sarong1]

Perhaps allow me to share some of my pointers here. Generally, we have the tendency to buy CDs without looking for the additional info on the CD covers. Beside looking for CDs under the audiophile section, people has always been looking out merely at how many bits the CD was remastered etc. These info is of course important.

 

Now, without opening up the wrapper of the CD, the info on the CD cover is the only source that give you signs of a good recording, should you then stay contented with it and risk your money on it? Insist on sampling the CD before you buy, some CDs claimed 24bits/96KHz recording but are all craps...be cautious though. Long enough, you will be accustomed to reading the info and you will have a mental library of what are better CDs and what nots.

 

What I suggest, is to first find out good and reputable recording labels, be it through friends or from own experience. One way is to check with the shop owner or assistant, the other is to listen to the record over their in-house speaker system, normally they have decent a/v system. You should be able to distinguish the difference in recording almost instantly because it will sound different from those commecially pressed.

 

Sembawang does carry certain good labels recently especially after having brought in stocks from China or even HK. Some of these are from TUYA, ABC Records, Rainforest Studio (RFS), they also kept old records from Chesky, some limited numbers of Telarc amongst others...Visit more shops, get acquainted with the shop owners, be friends with them, you will be surprised they have got good CDs that are only reserved for faithful customers.

 

Enjoy scouting and audiophiling.

[Bosebani]

Some NORMAL cds do produce nice recordings and nice tracks, and can be used to be test disc. One of them i know is, Faye Wong "Tian Kong"

[SilverG9]

Agree with you that the "Chen Guo" is kinda refreshing and interesting.

 

If you understand cantonese, you should also get yourself a copy of "Chen Guo"'s 2nd vol which features Sam Hui renowned tracks. She has been invited to perform in Sam Hui's concert recently.

 

I first sampled this in gramophone without giving too much hope. But what caught my attention was the way the sound engineer has weaved in chinese instruments before the start of each track. This convince me that this is the CD I want in my case. Be in for some good bashing for your system as it can also be very demanding and dynamic. Quality is good, my friend used it to tune his car...surprised??? I believe NDV also selling at that price, listen to believe...

 

Second that, bought Chen Guo Vol 2 at New Disc Village. I enjoy almost all the songs.

 

i also like the "Greatest Basso of Zhao Peng Vol 1" and "Close To You by Susan Wong".

[Sarong1]

OK folks, this is yet another recommendation for you avid audiophile, time to save some money to get this worthy CD in your CD pocket. I just love FIM (former known as Golden String and Co), let's take a look at this particular CD which also features our very own Jacintha (yes, Dick Lee's wife) and J. Monterio (S'porean pianist).

 

Title: Audiophile Reference IV (FIM) (I rate 5/5) By the way, the picture below is the SACD version, the HDCD is another picture which I dun have to upload.

 

Total 16 tracks in all. a good mixture of jazz, chinese instruments (yang qing), classics etc.

 

My favourite tracks, almost all of it...BUT, must-try are the followings

 

Track 1 La Vezina Catina (ATRXRCD 01) - Opening is fantastic, the female vocal's staging is high, instruments are accurately reproduced.

 

Track 5 Georgia on My Mind (FIMXRCD 018) - Bass string, piano and a Japanese jazz auntie. Pay attention to the bass string opening.

 

Track 11 Yang City Variations (FIMXRCD 019) - This particular piece made me drool, you can tell the finger works of this piece at the beginning 1 min or so, the artist is like performing right in front of you.

 

Track 16 Canon in D (FIMCD 017) - I love this track, a very common classics gentle and soothing. You want to test your system's sound staging, imaging, depth, separation, clarity and the liviness to test, this is the track. Quite a long track, be patient, you can DEFINITELY hear the diff.

 

Go Adelphi 4th floor, should be cheaper, price is about $45, expensive? Worth it MAN!

Edited September 16, 2005 by Sarong1

[Naimster]

Interesting topic...something close to my heart.

 

My music tastes quite wide and varied and it changes depending on mood of the day. Last week it was Keane's Hope And Fears Lead singer Tom Chaplin's mellow but uplifting vocals simply makes my day. My fav song from the album has gotta be BedShaped. I much prefer them to Coldplay but of course Radiohead is in a different league.

 

This week it's Beuna Vista Social Club self titled album in remembrance of the late Ibrahim Ferrer and Ruben Gonzalez. Cuban jazz at it's glorious best. A showcase of the retired legends in the Cuban music scene unknown in the rest of the world until the release of this wonderful album. From the music, I can feel that the musicians seemed to have known each other for a lifetime. The musicianship is simply effortless.

 

Stay tune for next week.

[Spikedoll]

my favourite CD is the RW disc which I use to burn songs in my office ...burn whatever songs I wish to hear so can listen while driving..den whenever I get bored of the songs..I will burn again...hehehehehe

[Sarong1]

Wonderful, looking forward to your good recommendations too...I will be interested in the "Ruben Gonzalez".