My new favorite for 2012 is the LP that Myles told me I had to get, and that was “Sonny Meets Hawk.” The only copy that I could find available that I wanted was a test pressing made by RTI and sold by Acoustic Sounds. And yeah, the LP is a bit pricey at around $82.00 including shipping.
So the LP showed up Thursday night in the great packing that Chad uses, but I didn’t have a chance to listen to it until last night. When I opened the box, the LP was in a sealed bag and the LP jacket is plain white and the record label is blank on side 2 and the side one label simply says “RTI Test Pressing, Date: Sep 13, 1996, Matrix Number: LSP E2712 A1/B2. I really didn’t know what to expect from this LP other than Myle’s hasn’t steered me wrong yet with any of his suggestions.
I gave the LP the normal cleaning on the 16.5 RCM and dropped it on the table and cued it up. In the words of Tom Petty: “Oh my my, Oh hell yes!” I simply wasn’t prepared for how stunning this recording is. Out of a super-quiet background emerges some beautiful jazz music that sounds stunningly realistic. The tonal colors and the purity of all the instruments just has to be heard to be appreciated and believed. I’m still in awe of what I heard. When side one finished, I was just hoping that side two would sound as good and quiet as side one, and I wasn’t disappointed.
I need to spend more time listening to this LP so I can gather some intelligent thoughts about the interplay between Sonny and Hawk which I found to be mesmerizing. The first listen was just overwhelming for so many reasons. If this LP doesn’t take your system to a new level, I’m sorry. As I was listening to this LP last night, I was thinking it sounds better than some 15 ips/2 track tapes I own and I think it would give a great many a run for their money because it’s simply that good.
Prior to putting on the LP, I was listening to some DSD jazz files. As I was listening to the DSD jazz, I was thinking about how good I think DSD sounds, especially when played back over the Mytek Stereo 192 (thanks again Bruce for telling us all about this DAC). Sometimes I don’t plan on spending much time listening to DSD, but then it sounds so good I just feel compelled to sit in my chair and let the music play.
And such was the case last night. The system had been warming up as usual with the file server and I intended on going downstairs and immediately switching to playing tapes and LPs. But as happens so many times, the sound I was hearing was so compelling I just sat down and listened. For me, DSD simply takes digital to another level of ease and naturalness that reminds me of great analog. In fact, I’m pretty sure I could fool some people into thinking they were hearing analog with some of my DSD files.
And I said all of that so I could say this: When I put on Sonny Meets Hawk and the music started, there was no comparison to the sound quality I was just admiring from DSD and what was now pouring forth from my stereo. It’s just an entirely new level of realism. I can’t speak for any other version of this LP either digital or analog-mono or stereo. What I can’t imagine is any version beating the one I have. I think I’m going to buy another copy before they are gone.
