My New Hi-Fi and Yes

[Altres]

Cambridge Audio Azur 640a V2 Amp
Cambridge Audio Azur 640c V2 CD
Cambridge Audio Pacific interconnects
all bi-wired into balast standed Quad L11 speakers with high quality cable.

Listening through some Yes at the moment. Just listened to Close to the Edge and all four sides of Topographic. Currently listening to Machine Messiah, which sounds like a dream.

Going to listen to Going for the One next to see if it sounds better than usual. I always find it a bit high ended.

Brian

[InverYes]

Sounds nice!

Can't remember the last time I listened to a decent hi-fi. All my listening nowadays is in the car or on the PC.

What do your neighbours think about it? :1quiet:

[tardistraveler]

Wow - I've always dreamed of having an excellent sound system! At the moment, unfortunately, I'm reduced to car/computer speakers . . . the car's not TOO bad, but certainly not the quality you've got, Brian!

I have some decent components at home, but they're not hooked up at the moment - that WILL change in future . . . ;)

[Altres]

Sounds nice!

Can't remember the last time I listened to a decent hi-fi. All my listening nowadays is in the car or on the PC.

What do your neighbours think about it? :1quiet:
I haven't invited them around yet. ;)

I do know that my daughter was playing it through the night at her sleepover on saturday and they didn't notice. Heh.

BTW, it sounds incredible. The bass floats in the air without just buzzing the floor and voices just sound there in front of you. I listened to Come In From The Cold by Joni Mitchell and heard loads of little voices in there I'd never heard before. Wonderful.

Brian

[CybrKhatru]

Sounds great Brian! :D :D :D

[Fly By Light]

Cambridge Audio Azur 640a V2 Amp
Cambridge Audio Azur 640c V2 CD
Cambridge Audio Pacific interconnects
all bi-wired into balast standed Quad L11 speakers with high quality cable.

Listening through some Yes at the moment. Just listened to Close to the Edge and all four sides of Topographic. Currently listening to Machine Messiah, which sounds like a dream.

Going to listen to Going for the One next to see if it sounds better than usual. I always find it a bit high ended.

Brian

I bet it sounds amazing :-)!!! Congratulations on the hi end gear!!

Sadly, most Yes albums/CDs don't sound as great. The best one I've heard is the Gold Master Series of Fragile (which is really good). Does anyone know if there's a Japanese pressing of Going for the One?

~Krista

[Yes.2]

We should all be so blessed as to have Hi-fi systems. Hi-fi stereo gets on my nerves sometimes, though....

Sometimes I just want to hear lo-fi mono and nothing else will do.

[Fly By Light]

We should all be so blessed as to have Hi-fi systems. Hi-fi stereo gets on my nerves sometimes, though...

Why?

[tardistraveler]

Sometimes I just want to hear lo-fi mono and nothing else will do.


You should check out the remaster of Disraeli Gears - one disc is the MONO version, plus BBC sessions in mono . . . lol

[Yes.2]

Why?

Sometimes I just want to hear all the voices in the mix crushed. Sometimes all I want is a sliver of musical sound. In the background. Especially when I'm driving. Or like now....Yes is playing in the other room....While I'm thinking. It's not over bearing. It's not even on the tip of my mind.

I can think clearly without the music coloring my thoughts at all while still enjoying the beauty of the music.

[tardistraveler]

Sometimes I just want to hear all the voices in the mix crushed. Sometimes all I want is a sliver of musical sound. In the background. Especially when I'm driving. Or like now....Yes is playing in the other room....While I'm thinking. It's not over bearing. It's not even on the tip of my mind.

I can think clearly without the music coloring my thoughts at all while still enjoying the beauty of the music.


That's what I do here at work . . . I keep music on all the time, because I don't think as clearly without it, but if it were too loud it would be a distraction - I'd just want to kick back and LISTEN, instead of work . . . ;)

[CybrKhatru]

It's weird....sometimes I want to hear everything envelop me on a great sound system...and sometimes I want to hear the radio out of an old, beat-up Zenith mono speaker. Depends on mood. Funny how that is...! ;)


Some Yes recordings are really amazing though... that Gold Fragile is awesome. Luckily the 1994 remaster is the same.

The other Yes albums that IMO sound exquisite are The Yes Album and 90125...the original Atlantic/Atco CDs.

[Fly By Light]

Sometimes I just want to hear all the voices in the mix crushed. Sometimes all I want is a sliver of musical sound. In the background. Especially when I'm driving. Or like now....Yes is playing in the other room....While I'm thinking. It's not over bearing. It's not even on the tip of my mind.

I can think clearly without the music coloring my thoughts at all while still enjoying the beauty of the music.

I do get where you're coming from. I like to listen to my I-tunes through my 15 year old computer speakers while I work. Besides, I save on the electric bill rather than listening to the Hi Fi all day.

[Fly By Light]

The other Yes albums that IMO sound exquisite are The Yes Album and 90125...the original Atlantic/Atco CDs.

Actually parts of Talk are quite good as well. The radio 'hits' are too hot, but the rest has a lot of depth.

I do hope there is a Japanese pressing of GFTO out there somewhere. I've been looking ofr 3 years and haven't seen one anywhere. I'm guessing it doesn't exist :-(.

[CybrKhatru]

yeah, Talk does have some simply amazing sounding passages.

Krista---for GFTO were you looking for CD or LP?

I used to have a Japanese GFTO CD .. it was part of one of their many "LP-sleeve"-style CD remasterings. It sounded ok, but I don't know if I've ever heard this album truly shine on any format.

[Fly By Light]

yeah, Talk does have some simply amazing sounding passages.

Krista---for GFTO were you looking for CD or LP?

I used to have a Japanese GFTO CD .. it was part of one of their many "LP-sleeve"-style CD remasterings. It sounded ok, but I don't know if I've ever heard this album truly shine on any format.

Well, I'd like either or both. Sad that such an amazing album doesn't shine on a good system :-(. GFTO is my favorite and Awaken is my all time #1 song. I wonder what it could sound like if someone got their hands the multi-track masters? I'd love Trevor Horn to take that on. Have you ever heard Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Welcome to the Pleasuredome"? It's amazing!

[tardistraveler]

yeah, Talk does have some simply amazing sounding passages.

Krista---for GFTO were you looking for CD or LP?

I used to have a Japanese GFTO CD .. it was part of one of their many "LP-sleeve"-style CD remasterings. It sounded ok, but I don't know if I've ever heard this album truly shine on any format.


Not even the Rhino remaster? Bummer . . .

I don't have the remaster, so I can't judge.

[CybrKhatru]

Diane,
I dunno. The Rhino remaster of GFTO adds some much-needed clarity, but I personally found many of the Rhinos (GFTO included) harsh in places, and not warm enough. In the end my favorite GFTO is the original CD. It's cloudy in places but it does not lack warmth! I guess one has to pick their preference.

What I used to do with the old GFTO (and others) is to do some EQ tweaks. Seemed to make them more pleasant.

I know lots of folks who love the Rhino....so there ya go. ;)

Krista..yeah, as much as I'm not crazy about rewriting history, I wonder what a good remix of GFTO would sound like. It's so dense....lots of heavy reverb, multi-tracked vocals, percussion, and all sorts of things. That must have been a nightmare to mix!!!

[Fly By Light]

Diane,
I dunno. The Rhino remaster of GFTO adds some much-needed clarity, but I personally found many of the Rhinos (GFTO included) harsh in places, and not warm enough. In the end my favorite GFTO is the original CD. It's cloudy in places but it does not lack warmth! I guess one has to pick their preference.

What I used to do with the old GFTO (and others) is to do some EQ tweaks. Seemed to make them more pleasant.

I know lots of folks who love the Rhino....so there ya go. ;)

Krista..yeah, as much as I'm not crazy about rewriting history, I wonder what a good remix of GFTO would sound like. It's so dense....lots of heavy reverb, multi-tracked vocals, percussion, and all sorts of things. That must have been a nightmare to mix!!!

So Matt, there was never a Japanese pressing (LP) back in the day? I guess I'll have to track down the Rhino CD. I do have the original CD, which I do enjoy on my old Yamaha computer speakers :-). Bret doesn't have an EQ in his system.

[Fly By Light]

Krista..yeah, as much as I'm not crazy about rewriting history, I wonder what a good remix of GFTO would sound like. It's so dense....lots of heavy reverb, multi-tracked vocals, percussion, and all sorts of things. That must have been a nightmare to mix!!!

I'm with you on rewriting history, Matt, but it would be great to hear how much better it could be. I imagine the master tapes should sound a LOT more dynamic.

[CybrKhatru]

So Matt, there was never a Japanese pressing (LP) back in the day? I guess I'll have to track down the Rhino CD. I do have the original CD, which I do enjoy on my old Yamaha computer speakers :-). Bret doesn't have an EQ in his system.

I don't know for sure....I assume that there was an original Japanese CD (like there was for Tormato and Yesshows, among others) but I too have not yet seen one. They must be out there somewhere....

If memory serves, I remember liking the remaster from 1994, but I think it had some minor speed issues. You might want to go for the Rhino and see if it floats your boat. :D


EDIT: LP? Yes, there was. I never found one, but for sure they exist.

[Fly By Light]

.

[Fly By Light]

I don't know for sure....I assume that there was an original Japanese CD (like there was for Tormato and Yesshows, among others) but I too have not yet seen one. They must be out there somewhere....

If memory serves, I remember liking the remaster from 1994, but I think it had some minor speed issues. You might want to go for the Rhino and see if it floats your boat. :D


EDIT: LP? Yes, there was. I never found one, but for sure they exist.

Thanks Matt! I will continue my search and try to get a copy of the Rhino release.

[CybrKhatru]

We went into a local hi-fi shop a couple of weeks ago, just for the heck of it. :lmao: Hey, it's fun to dream!


That said, I really do like our system and the way it sounds. If upgrades/"improvements" are years away from happening, that's ok. :D


Enjoy your new system Brian!!!

[chipperoo]

Sounds great Brian! :D :D :D

Wow that IS some system, if you can hear it all the way over there!:winknudge

[CybrKhatru]

Wow that IS some system, if you can hear it all the way over there!:winknudge

Dem bionic ears, dey sure do come in handy! ;)

[webbcity]

Just had to jump in here re: Going for the One... The best version I've heard on CD is the original Atlantic release (and I've also heard the 1994 remaster and the Rhino). I bought all the remasters when they came out and then realized that the originals were pretty much better than all of them. Just my opinion.

There are definitely plenty of Japanese CD and LP issues of GFTO. I've heard from a reliable source (though not my own ears) that there is a particular Japanese LP of this that sounds amazing, better than any CD, and it shows up on ebay pretty regularly, here's one now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/YES-Going-For-The-One-Japan-original-LP_W0QQitemZ370242352254QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_o n_Vinyl?hash=item563429f47e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

This is not a recommendation for this seller, I don't know him or her and haven't never purchased from them, but this is definitely the catalog # of the LP I was told about, and it has the red OBI strip down the left. I have been meaning to pick up one of these myself but haven't gotten around to it yet. Hope this helps!

-Tim

[Fly By Light]

Just had to jump in here re: Going for the One... The best version I've heard on CD is the original Atlantic release (and I've also heard the 1994 remaster and the Rhino). I bought all the remasters when they came out and then realized that the originals were pretty much better than all of them. Just my opinion.

There are definitely plenty of Japanese CD and LP issues of GFTO. I've heard from a reliable source (though not my own ears) that there is a particular Japanese LP of this that sounds amazing, better than any CD, and it shows up on ebay pretty regularly, here's one now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/YES-Going-For-The-One-Japan-original-LP_W0QQitemZ370242352254QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_o n_Vinyl?hash=item563429f47e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

This is not a recommendation for this seller, I don't know him or her and haven't never purchased from them, but this is definitely the catalog # of the LP I was told about, and it has the red OBI strip down the left. I have been meaning to pick up one of these myself but haven't gotten around to it yet. Hope this helps!

-Tim

Thanks Tim! I've written to the seller to find out how much he charges to ship from Japan. Hopefully it's not crazy. This is exactly what I was hoping to find! I have looked on ebay, but I guess not at the right times. Can't wait to hear it when I finally get one. I will report back when I do....