Comparative audio samples - opinions wanted

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Four short clips (all of the same recording), but all with different EQ and noise reduction.

Comments on their respective merits would be appreciated. Thanks.

[quantum]

1a: Instrument is forward in the mix.  The amount of presence allows warmth in the bass as well as the treble melody to sing above accompaniment.

2a: A very warm and encompassing sound.  However, attacks are less defined and the overall sound seems more diffused.  The melody is not as prominent in the mix, as it seems there is lesser emphasis of high frequencies.  

3a: Warm sound.  Attacks have more presence in the mix, and the melody appears to have an easier time to sing out.  I would describe the sound envelope as having a blooming shape, where the onset swells to a later peak.  The peak of this envelope is the furthest from the attack in the group of recordings you have provided.  

4a: Faithful to the piano, is how I would describe this one.  Peaks are very early in the sound envelope, with a natural sounding decay and sustain.


Beautiful playing as usual!

[ted]

I found it very difficult to make any completely objective comparison of these four, Andrew. I prefer 1a without a doubt but I am hard put to explain exactly why in any sense which would help you. I have played through them five times using my old, but high quality Pioneer equipment, with good Mission speakers, forming an equilateral triangle with my listening chair, as I do with all my recordings. 1a is more intimate, with a slightly wider stereo angle, closer to the driver's seat, as it were, and a sound which strikes me as richer, but this reaction is probably just from listening so much to my own music recorded in my lounge. You get used to anything you hear often, and then you start to prefer it, then finally consider it superior when it probably isn't.

Of course the music is very attractive, and listening to it tends to override listening to the recordings - that doesn't help. I find it exceedingly difficult to listen either analytically or objectively at the best of times I'm afraid. Neil's comments are both acute and objective, and therefore likely of more value to you than mine; I have not examined the files themselves.

Anyway, the short, probably unhelpful answer is that I like 1a.

  

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thanks: I appreciate the opinions. I'll wait in case anyone else offers a view before stating what the individual samples are, other than to mention that 1a is completely untreated.