What's More Important to You, the Music or the Sound?

[vandermolen]

I listen to many historic recordings (for example Walton's 1st Symphony, LSO Harty which is one of the greatest recorded performances despite the mid 1930s recording).

[Mookalafalas]

It's silly to pose this as if it can be an "either/or" choice. There is always going to be a balancing when choosing--at least for those with good reproducing systems (speakers, headphones, etc).
  That said, I must admit constantly torn between the two. I am fascinated by the time-travel feel of listening to recordings from the 1920s and 1930s, but LOVE the glorious sound of recent SOTA recordings.
  Thank god we have both!!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It's silly to pose this as if it can be an "either/or" choice. There is always going to be a balancing when choosing--at least for those with good reproducing systems (speakers, headphones, etc).
  That said, I must admit constantly torn between the two. I am fascinated by the time-travel feel of listening to recordings from the 1920s and 1930s, but LOVE the glorious sound of recent SOTA recordings.
  Thank god we have both!!

Yes, listening to early recordings of music is a lot of fun.

Haven't heard of SOTA recordings before.  I did, however, enjoy listening to an SACD recording earlier of a Debussy work with Bavouzet.  Great performance and in very enjoyable sound.

PD

[Florestan]

Haven't heard of SOTA recordings before. 

It's an acronym for state-of-the-art recordings. 

[Mookalafalas]

It's an acronym for state-of-the-art recordings. 

  Thanks for that, Florestan. And I apologize for not being clear.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

So, does SOTA just mean "using the latest technology"?

PD

[Florestan]

does SOTA just mean "using the latest technology"?

Exactly.

[aukhawk]

So, does SOTA just mean "using the latest technology"?

The crucial word is "Art".
I don't think any recording engineer would take kindly to the assumption that the best sound depends on the latest and best technology.

[Madiel]

The crucial word is "Art".
I don't think any recording engineer would take kindly to the assumption that the best sound depends on the latest and best technology.

And yet, etymology is not meaning. As any dictionary entry on what "state-of-the-art" means will show you.

[DavidW]

Everything recorded in the past 70 years sounds great and the digital era recordings now spanning decades sounds exceptionally great.  And classical music has not fallen victim to the loudness wars... so the music or the sound? is not a question I ever ask myself.