What's In My Collection #5

Greg is back with another edition of “What’s In My Collection,” and this time the theme is simple: great sound can come from just about anywhere if you know what to look for.

This latest episode moves through a broad mix of music and formats, from older all-analog vinyl and unusually spacious demo records to select cassettes and rare reel-to-reel tapes. Along the way, Greg highlights some of the things that make certain releases so memorable: huge soundstage, deep ambience, punchy bass, realistic percussion, strong imaging, and that unmistakable sense that the musicians are right there in the room.

What makes this one especially fun is how wide the range is. One minute it’s an overlooked Roy Clark album. The next it’s a locally made 78 RPM microgroove stereo record, a standout Van Morrison pressing, a Blondie collection that people are finally catching onto, and a Primus reissue that Greg thinks is the definitive way to hear the album. Then the conversation shifts into cassettes that challenge the old myth that tapes can’t sound good, followed by reel-to-reel copies of classic jazz titles that show just how direct and lifelike analog tape can be.

At Northern Audio, that’s part of the fun. Great listening is not just about owning “audiophile” records. Sometimes it’s about discovering the pressing, tape, or format that makes you hear familiar music in an entirely different way.

Watch the video, check out the links for the specific versions Greg mentions, and then come hear what a revealing system can really do. Questions? 412.931.5850, stop by 3003 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237 or drop us a message.