Brown Sound
Senior Member
NOS Rachmaninoff! We'll see how she does with Sergei's concertos. 
What are you listening to?
- Thread starter d6jg
- Start date
Brown Sound
Senior Member
Hope all went well at your 'fight' or was it more of a 'rumble' with a lot of prancing and finger snappin'?
Yes, dongle DACs have come a long way, but they are not really my bag. I do have two that are classified as portable, but one is a v1 DragonFly and they are not powerable from a phone like the v2's. My other one is my trusty iFi Nano iDSD, which is also a v1 but with the proper interface cable, it is powerable from my phone for when the battery runs out, but a bit clunky, indeed. I do have a Sony NW-A55 DAP with a 512GB micro SD card installed, which I love for portable use. It is probably my last DAP, I'm really not into the newer Android based DAPs nor the newer Android based DAC/streamers, for that matter. If I wanted to use an Android interface for my portable, I would just use my phone. But progress rumbles along, right?
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Guest1
Guest
It was short and shameful. So I do not want to go in details. Cancelling the usual drinking contest afterwards was easy therefore. Fußball, basketball and F1 delivers enough stuff for remaining on the couch.
Regarding Yuja Wang of course I have a comment.
Sorry to write this but it is absolutely not my Rachmaninov
This young lady is unopposed able to solve each and every technical challenge on the Steinway. But diving in Rachmaninoff's soul and really understanding his music? Knowing the score and mastering the technical problems are likely enough for Vivaldi but not for a composer of Rachmaninov's biography. For her this remain showpieces only. Good sounding, well recorded, scratching no surface. A pretty face and long legs are still promotional.
I would suggest for this composer in this order from "in heaven" to "still brilliant":
Horowitz
Ashkenazy
Ogden
Trifonov
Rubinstein
Glemser
No female artist, strange? Or not, even Martha did only average? Sure, sometimes I am strict and vicious. But it happens only for things where my heart is
If it comes to dongles still the minimal size is important for me for this special usage. My favorites are from FiiO (or Jade in places). The KA1 and the KA3. Cheap, small, effective. The 3 has the little benefit of the Pentaconn and performs excellent even with big cans.
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Brown Sound
Senior Member
Well, I'm glad no one was seriously injured, physically anywayIt was short and shameful. So I do not want to go in details. Cancelling the usual drinking contest afterwards was easy to cancel therefore. Fußball, basketball and F1 delivers enough stuff for remaining on the couch.
Regarding Yuja Wang of course I have a comment.
Sorry to write this but it is absolutely not my Rachmaninov
This young lady is unopposed able to solve each and every technical challenge on the Steinway. But diving in Rachmaninoff's soul and really understanding his music? Knowing the score and mastering the technical problems are likely enough for Vivaldi but not for a composer of Rachmaninov's biography. For her this remain showpieces only. Good sounding, well recorded, scratching no surface. A pretty face and long legs are still promotional.
I would suggest for this composer in this order from "in heaven" to "still brilliant":
Horowitz
Ashkenazy
Ogden
Trifonov
Rubinstein
Glemser
No female artist, strange? Or not, even Martha did only average? Sure, sometimes I am strict and vicious. But it happens only for things where my heart is
If it comes to dongles still the minimal size is important for me for this special usage. My favorites are from FiiO (or Jade in places). The KA1 and the KA3. Cheap, small, effective. The 3 has the little benefit of the Pentaconn and performs excellent even with big cans.
.Indeed, Ms. Wang is definitely playing the right notes but the heart and soul of these pieces are missing, imho. I much prefer my versions of Sergei doing them, himself. Not as clean sonically but definitely has more feeling.
If my Sony DAP does ever go South, I may look at getting a dongle DAC for a phone, but it's a pretty big IF. The Sony plays hi-res and dsd, sounds great with some wired IEMs, but I use it more for the car. Terrestrial radio is absolutely terrible here now, so I just roll my own, so to speak. I will use my phone, if I forget the DAP. To each their own, right? Why should I drive in silence, because current radio programming sucks
. Gotta have tunes!!
Brantome
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2022
- Messages
- 6,842
The “playing the right notes” phrase always reminds me of the UK classic Morecombe&Wise Christmas Show from 1971 with Andre Previn where Eric Morecombe grabs Andre Previn by the lapels and says “I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.”
(see about a minute and a half into this YouTube video
)
Guess if you’re not from the UK or of that vintage, this may go over your head…
(see about a minute and a half into this YouTube video
Guess if you’re not from the UK or of that vintage, this may go over your head…
Brown Sound
Senior Member
I have not seen that one, for sure!The “playing the right notes” phrase always reminds me of the UK classic Morecombe&Wise Christmas Show from 1971 with Andre Previn where Eric Morecombe grabs Andre Previn by the lapels and says “I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.”
(see about a minute and a half into this YouTube video)
Guess if you’re not from the UK or of that vintage, this may go over your head…
Brown Sound
Senior Member
Now for something smooooth, Mister Redding please take it home. 
Great choice, great recording. I put this album in my library just yesterday
Nicely chilled and no ads. This and Radio Paradise is my go to background music choice. URL is https://streams.radio.co/se1a320b47/listen
I’ll listen to this album and for sure i’ll let you know my impressionsMy alternative suggestion for a modern, actual state-of-the-art sounding record of this two battle horses for piano key lions
Would like to read your judgement, @Maurizio
View attachment 2407
About the young pianist of Rachmaninoff Album, it didn't seem so bad to me, but…may be i was distracted by her long legs. @Wiimer teaches
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Guest1
Guest
I’ll listen to this album and for sure i’ll let you know my impressions
About the young pianist of Rachmaninoff Album, it didn't seem so bad to me, but…may be i was distracted by her long legs. @Wiimer teaches
Really didn't wrote "bad". But.....a big paw is needed for such octaves, no long legs
G
Guest1
Guest
I am no user of (internet)radio, but this was a nice reminder of William Orbit (born as William Wainright if I remember that correctly)
Really didn't wrote "bad". But.....a big paw is needed for such octaves, no long legs
I think Radio Paradise is something special and a great way to hear new music you might never find. With 4 channels and a lovely online community/attitude I'm hoping it survives the commercialisation and shallowness increasingly influencing our world.I am no user of (internet)radio, but this was a nice reminder of William Orbit (born as William Wainright if I remember that correctly)
..... plus they broadcast in flac hires too, so always sounds good.
Brantome
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2022
- Messages
- 6,842
Totally agree - I’ve listened to RP for a good few years now, and it’s a good place to pick up on music, both old and new (although tbh probably more of the latter). It seems to be able to survive thru listener donations, so long may that continue.
G
Guest1
Guest
Waving the Saltire on an early Monday morning. Good start in the new week for @ all of you!
As promised, I listened to the album and....I have to agree with you.My alternative suggestion for a modern, actual state-of-the-art sounding record of this two battle horses for piano key lions
Would like to read your judgement, @Maurizio
View attachment 2407
The execution is much more emotional. More immersive.
The only tiny flaw, for me, is that the recording could have been better. It's a bit low volume. The recording of the long-legged lady seemed better to me. About execution there is no doubt that the Album you suggested wins. Thanks having suggested the album.
G
Guest1
Guest
Good morning, @Maurizio
no reason for a thank you, u may know my weisenheimer attitude
To be honest I did not notice this difference in volume. And, weisenheimer again, I like much more the solution via volume control. Often enough giving a "louder" impression is a trick from the releasing company or the streaming services I guess. Remember the loudness war. In streaming f.e. I always disable any volume normalization or how they call it.
For this standard repertoire so many different records are available, so pure fun. R. is another obsession of my many.
Did not mention it in my above listing. But of course, if one is willing to accept a not contemporary sound quality and a few cutbacks due to technical limitations @Brown Sound 's pick with the composer himself as interpret is the reference and likely the most authentic of all. If not the composer, who else?
no reason for a thank you, u may know my weisenheimer attitude
To be honest I did not notice this difference in volume. And, weisenheimer again, I like much more the solution via volume control. Often enough giving a "louder" impression is a trick from the releasing company or the streaming services I guess. Remember the loudness war. In streaming f.e. I always disable any volume normalization or how they call it.
For this standard repertoire so many different records are available, so pure fun. R. is another obsession of my many.
Did not mention it in my above listing. But of course, if one is willing to accept a not contemporary sound quality and a few cutbacks due to technical limitations @Brown Sound 's pick with the composer himself as interpret is the reference and likely the most authentic of all. If not the composer, who else?