On-line Stores & Sellers

[Brian]

The ArkivMusic USA store is now tended poorly enough that Ondine is still on sale...even though the advertised endpoint of the sale was 34 hours ago...

[Daverz]

I've bought FLAC downloads from Presto, Qobuz, eClassical. Are there other good options? Looking for a download of Maconchy String Quartets which I can get from amazon in MP3 format (Treasure Island label), but I don't see a FLAC (or ALAC) option anywhere.

Presto has the Unicorn set on CD only.  This was also on the Regis/Forum reissue label at one point.

Here's another site selling the Unicorn CDs:

https://www.heritage-records.com/shop/chamber/unicorn-chamber/elizabeth-maconchy-complete-string-quartets/

[Spotted Horses]

Presto has the Unicorn set on CD only.  This was also on the Regis/Forum reissue label at one point.

Here's another site selling the Unicorn CDs:

https://www.heritage-records.com/shop/chamber/unicorn-chamber/elizabeth-maconchy-complete-string-quartets/

Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression that Unicorn was a re-release of the Regis release, but looking at the Wikipedia page for Uniforn, Regis was a budget re-release line from Unicorn.

I did see the CD set on Presto (and on amazon.com) but I think it is more than likely that they are the same CD masters, with the defective track. (It's not in my imagination, I found an amazon customer review with complaint about distortion in the same track). The Regis is the one on my shelves, I don't like to idea of purchasing the Unicorn version and finding the same problem.

The Unicorn wikipedia page also mentions the Treasure Island label as re-publishing Unicorn recordings. The Treasure Island version of Apple Music has the problem fixed. If only Treasure Island sold its own CD set or lossless download. (There is a Treasure Island download on Amazon music, but it is MP3.)

[Daverz]

I did see the CD set on Presto (and on amazon.com) but I think it is more than likely that they are the same CD masters, with the defective track. (It's not in my imagination, I found an amazon customer review with complaint about distortion in the same track). The Regis is the one on my shelves, I don't like to idea of purchasing the Unicorn version and finding the same problem.

Which discs/tracks are the defective ones?  I can check the files I have, but they are also from the Regis issue.

[Spotted Horses]

Which discs/tracks are the defective ones?  I can check the files I have, but they are also from the Regis issue.

It's the final track on Volume II, String Quartet No 8, final movement. No hint of noise during silent intervals, but a sort of crinkling noise when the instruments sound loudly. Not super obvious, but heard clearly during headphone listening. I think it has to be data error in  the mastering procedure (rather than physical defect in the pressing) because it affects the entirety of that track, with no sign of it on any other tracks. The Treasure Island Music version on Apple Music Streaming is unaffected by the problem.

The Treasure Island Music web site is exasperating. They list 2 of the 3 volumes of the Maconchy Quartets, but they don't make it available on CD or download, and give no indication of where it can be purchased. They are just taunting me, "we have it, but we won't sell it to you, because we don't like the idea of making money."

[Daverz]

It's the final track on Volume II, String Quartet No 8, final movement. No hint of noise during silent intervals, but a sort of crinkling noise when the instruments sound loudly.

Yes, I hear it on my copy, which was ripped accurately according to Cuetools..

[Spotted Horses]

Yes, I hear it on my copy, which was ripped accurately according to Cuetools..

It's 3 minutes of music out of a ~3 hour set, so I should get too bent out of shape. I guess I should be content to stream it, and maybe get the MP3 version from Amazon to have as a failsafe if for some reason it disappears from the streaming sites.