Best Audiophile Albums
Motivation for this list and methodology listed here — How do I find audiophile quality music?
David Crosby — Croz
Year: 2014| Dynamic Range: 13 | Source: FLAC — AcousticSounds.com| Engineers: Daniel Garcia | Mastering: Doug Sax and Robert Hadley | More info: Wiki
I am not a big CSN&Y fan but I love this album. Easy listening with some excellent guitar work from several artists including Mark Knopfler and Mr. Crosby himself.
Tracy Chapman — Tracy Chapman
Year: 1988| Dynamic Range: 14 | Source: Any format| Engineers: Kevin Smith| Mastering: Kevin Smith | More info: Wiki
This is the only Tracy Chapman CD I own and I love it. This album is a great example of how a well recorded and mixed album can sound without requiring hi-res formats like SA-CDs etc. Great lyrics, awesome tunes — definitely a must have for any audiophile. You should be able to snag it for cheap as well..
Mark Knopfler — Sailing to Philadelphia
Year: 2000 | Dynamic Range: 12 | Source: HD Tracks FLAC download (24 bit/48K) | Engineers: Chuck Ainlay, Chubba Petocz | Mastering: Denny Purcell | More info: Wiki
Great album by the Dire Straits front man. Mark caters to a wide audience in this album from rock to jazz and country. Laid back, easy listening with excellent sound quality.
Steely Dan — Aja
Year: 1977| Dynamic Range: 14 | Source: Multiple | Engineers: Roger Nichols, Elliot Scheiner, Al Schmitt, Bill Schnee | Mastering: Bernie Grundman | More info: Wiki
A must for anyone serious about high quality sound regardless of which genre of music you like. I have this album in multiple formats and they all sound great. Every drum beat, every cymbal crash sounds exactly like it should. You could probably pick up a copy for cheap in a used CD store.
Hugh Masekela — Hope
Year: 1994| Dynamic Range: 15 | Source: FLAC (24bit, 96khz)| Engineers: Unknown | Mastering: Unknown | More info: Wiki
Hope by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela is a live recording masterpiece. My favorite song on the album is Stimela (Coal train) — turn up the sound and you’ll feel like you are right there in the crowd. This album features on several audiophile lists.
Alan Parsons Project — I Robot
Year: 1977| Dynamic Range: 12 | Source: FLAC (24bit, 96khz)| Engineers: Alan Parson | Mastering: Alan Parsons| More info: Wiki
Another audiophile must have, from the great man synonymous with sound recording and mixing — Alan Parsons. This is my favorite Alan Parsons album and MoFi did an SACD re-issue which apparently is the best out there. But, I just have the FLAC version which is very very good.
Counting Crows— August and everything after
Year: 1993, SACD released in 2013| Dynamic Range: 12 | Source: SACD, FLAC (24bit, 96khz)| Engineers: Brant Scott & Mark Guilbeault| Mastering: Stephen Marcussen| More info: Wiki
Counting Crow’s first album and their best one. Originally recorded in analogue and sounds great in the SACD version.
Tears for Fears — Seeds of love
Year: 1989| Dynamic Range: 13 | Source: MSFL vinyl or the 1989 original CD | Engineers: David Bascombe| Mastering: Bob Clearmountain and David Bascombe| More info: Wiki
I love Tears and fears and this is their best album IMHO, so many great songs in the album — I never get tired of it. Try to find a used 1989 original CD release online at Amazon or other sites. The remaster wasn’t that great…
Bon Jovi — This left feels right
Year: 2003| Dynamic Range: 12 | Source: SACD| Engineers: Various| Mastering: Bob Clearmountain| More info: Wiki
Don’t laugh at me for adding this album to the list. But, trust me on this one — if you’ve liked JBJs music, you will like the mellowed down, acoustic versions of his biggest hits. Well recorded and brings good old memories back…
Steven Wilson — Home Invasion: Live at Royal Albert Hall
Year: 2018| Dynamic Range: 12 | Source: FLAC (24bit), Audio CD| Engineers: Steven Wilson| Mastering: Steven Wilson| More info: Wiki
I am prog rock fan and I absolutely love Steven Wilson’s work. This has to be one of the best live rock recordings ever. Amazing detail, awesome musicianship, great music — an absolute must for any prog rock fan. This is one album you can pick up and enjoy for relatively less money. In fact you can actually tell how good this recording is just by playing on Spotify.
Sting — …Nothing Like the Sun
Year: 1987| Dynamic Range: 15 | Source: MSFL Audio CD| Engineers: Neil Dorfsman and Hugh Padgham| Mastering: Bob Ludwig| More info: Wiki
One of Sting’s best albums in his very own style containing some of his best hits. Be sure to get the MSFL (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) release. You can still snag these on internet stores and ebay. Amazing depth and detail to the sound…
Foreigner — 4
Year: 1981| Dynamic Range: 12 | Source: SACD, 24bit FLAC| Engineers: Dave Wittman| Mastering: George Marino| More info: Wiki
Many of Foreigner’s best on this one. Well recorded — try to snag one of the SACD or the 24bit download.
