In an earlier article, I posted my list of Pure DSD256: My Top of the Pile albums for sound quality. In this article, I'd like to expand on this and share some Pure DSD256* albums transferred from analog tape that I consider my top of the pile for sound quality in this category. I decided to make the transfers from analog tape a separate list because the sound from tape is different—has a different character—while also excellent.
But first, a bit of background...
When an analog tape recording is transferred in Pure DSD256, the sound quality is more transparent than a transfer in PCM or DXD, or post-processed in PCM. For some samples you can download to hear for yourself, scroll down to the section "The Age of Some of These Tapes."
Nonetheless, there are good reasons—necessary reasons—to post-process some of these source tape transfers. These source tapes are typically vintage tapes that are 60 and more years old. They may have noise, tape stretch, pitch variations, and other issues that when corrected make them a wonderful listening experience, but if uncorrected might be highly annoying. This kind of special post-processing can only be done in PCM currently. So, the PCM post-processing is a necessary step for some albums.
So, to be clear, many otherwise outstanding reissue from analog tape are thus not included on this list because they are not Pure DSD256. They are outside the parameters I set to make creating this list a manageable project. Many of them would be included in some other list.
As to the source of the tapes in this listing, the albums from Yarlung Records, International Phonogragh, Inc (IPI), Direct To Tape Recordings (DTR), and Desmar are from the labels' own edit master tapes. The albums from High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT), other than the IPI, DTR ,and Desmar albums, are typically from alternative tape sources.
In my opinion, the audiophile community has been brainwashed into believing that sourcing from the master tape is the only way to get a good release—it is not. I recommend you read Master Tapes—Shmaster Tapes for a different perspective; and be sure to read the comment from reader Adrian Wu below that article, he is spot on.
The wonder of the HDTT catalog is that it is a treasure trove of some of the most revered albums in the music catalog, both classical and jazz, now out of copyright. Included are recordings by some of the world's greatest artists from Blue Note, Chess, Columbia, Decca, EMI, Everest, Mercury, Prestige, RCA Living Stereo, Mercury Living Presence, Roulette, Verve, Westminster, and others. The artwork and titling may be different, but the recording is not. To my ear, the HDTT reissues consistently sound sound better than the digital releases from the labels themselves. And I have compared many.
The criteria I applied in making this list
First, the sound quality must be outstanding, among the best I hear among the Pure DSD256 transfer from tape albums to which I've been listening. In this respect, I have a strong bias towards recordings that capture acoustic instruments as heard by an audience in a natural acoustic setting. Recordings made with musicians in sound booths each wearing headphones may have a place, but you won't find them here. Since we each have our listening biases and priorities, you will find mine by clicking on my name at the top of this article to bring up my profile.
Second, I need to like the music and the performances—the music must be interesting and the performance quality must be very good, with good technical facility and good artistic sensibility. This is entirely according to my tastes, which will not necessarily align with yours. However, please be advised that this is not a "best of" list—it is list of very good music in very nice performances recorded with superb sound quality representing some of the best being achieved today. And occasionally I'm going to grant an album a mulligan just because I like it so much.
Third, I am listing albums alphabetically, with no ranking implied, in two categories: 1) Classical Music and 2) Jazz, Popular, and World Music. A link to my review of each album is provided, so I am not adding any "capsule summary" description in this list.
The Age of Some of These Tapes
Before getting into the list, let me address a point of resistance about these albums right from the start. Some folks will believe that a recording made in the late 1950s just can't possibly sound very good. That is balderdash. And to this point, I encourage you to download and listen to this first track from the 1956 recording of Stravinsky L'histoire du Soldat, Robert Mandell, Ars Nova. It is a free download courtesy of Bob Witrak at HDTT. If you can play DSD256, play that .dsf file. If you cannot play DSD256, I've also included a DXD file converted from the DSD256 so you can still hear what a great tape from 1956 can sound like.
Click Here for Free Download of First Track of L'histoire du Soldat
And, keep in mind that the albums listed from IPI, DTR, Desmar, and Yarlung will all be of much more recent vintage.
Now, onto the list...
Classical
Antill Corroboree & Ginastera Panambi Suite, Sir Eugene Goossens LSO. HDTT 1958 2021 No review, but an absolute reference quality recording and so much better than the original vinyl, Album here
Bartók Music For Strings, Percussion & Celesta & Hungarian Sketches, Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. HDTT 1958, 2018 Review
Beethoven Septet in E flat, op. 20, Members of the Vienna Octet. HDTT 1959, 2017 Review
Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Solti Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. HDTT 1959 2019 Review
Berlioz Les Nuits D'Été, Leontyne Price, Liszt Mephisto Waltz, Reiner CSO. HDTT 1963/1955 2017 Review
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Charles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra (the 1954 recording). HDTT 1954, 2019 Review
Ciaramella Dances, Ciaramella Renaissance Ensemble. Yarlung Records 2013 No review, Album Here
Chausson Symphony in B-flat, Franck Le Chasseur Maudit, Munch BSO. HDTT 1962 2021 Review
Copland Billy The Kid, Rodeo, Morton Gould and his Orchestra. HDTT 1958 2019 No review, Album Here
Dialoghi, Elinor Frey and David Fung. Yarlung Records 2008 2015
No review, but it has been a reference favorite of mine since it was released. Yarlung needs to re-release this album with the rest of the music that came from these sessions. Album Here
Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," Istvan Kertesz, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | Smetana Bartered Bride Overture, Reiner CSO. HDTT 1961 2017 No review, Album Here
Evening Conversations, David Fung. Yarlung Records 2006 2025 Review
Faure Requiem, Gérard Souzay, Suzanne Danco, Ansermet, l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. HDTT 1955 2018 Review
Franck Works on the Cavaille-Coll Organ, Jean-Paul Imbert. Base2 Music 2017 Review
German Music Middle Ages and Renaissance, The Boston Camerata. HDTT/Desmar 1978 2023 Review
Janaka String Trio, Debut, String Trios by Penderecki, Beethoven, Barabba. Yarlung Records 2006 2015 No review from me, but very nicely played and in sound quality that will knock your socks off! Selected Reviews of the 45rpm vinyl release, Album Here
Lanchbery-Herold, La Fille Mal Gardée, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by John Lanchberry. HDTT 1962 2017 Review
Liszt: Nicolas Kynaston on the Royal Albert Hall Willis Organ. Base2 Music 1968 2023 No review, Album Here
Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Maag, LSO. HDTT 1957 2018 No review, Album Here
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition for Organ, Calvin Hampton, Asbury First Methodist Church, Rochester, New York. HDTT/JProffitt 1982 No review from me, but a stunning recording of an organ by the excellent recording engineer John Proffitt. Play the "Catacombs" track at a goodly volume if you dare. Album Here and Here
Offenbach Gaite Parisienne, Fiedler Boston Pops. HDTT 1954 2019 No review, Album Here
Petteri Iivonen and Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Art of the Sonata. Yarlung Records 2011 2015 No review, but utterly reference quality performances and sonics, Album Here
Petteri Iivonen, Art of the Violin Volumes I and II. Yarlung 2008 2015 No review, but utterly reference quality performances and sonics, Albums Here
Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 3, Vocalise, Leopold Stokowski, National Philharmonic Orchestra. HDTT/Desmar 1975 2023 Review
Ravel: L'enfant et les sortilèges, Ansermet, l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. HDTT 1954 2017 Review
Schubert Symphony No. 9 in C major, Charles Munch, BSO. HDTT 1958 2015 Review
Smoke and Mirrors, Music of Reich Harrison Ravel. Yarlung Records 2014 Review
Strauss R, Don Juan, Death And Transfiguration, Herbert von Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic. HDTT 1960 2018 Review
Strauss R, Ein Heldenleben, Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. HDTT 1954 2019 Review
Strauss R, Sinfonia Domestica, Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. HDTT 1956 2020 Review
Stravinsky, L'Histoire du soldat (The soldier's tale) - Robert Mandell, Ars Nova. HDTT 1956 2020 Review
Stravinsky Petrushka, Ansermet, l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. HDTT 1957 2016 Review
Stravinsky Le Sacre Du Printemps - Ansermet, l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. HDTT 1957 2016 Review
Stravinsky The Song of the Nightingale and The Fairy's Kiss, Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. HDTT 1956, 2020 Review
Syrinx, Duos for Harp and Flute, Laurel Wyckoff and Anne Sullivan. HDTT/DTR 2015 No Review, Album Here or Here
The Stokowski String Sound, Leopold Stokowski, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. HDTT/Desmar 1975 2023 No Review, bit if you've never experienced the full impact of Stokowski's string sound, this will be a revelation. From the original Desmar tapes. Album Here
Jazz, Popular, and World
Ahmad Jamal's At The Alhambra Live. HDTT 1961 2018 (No review, Album Here)
Anita Sings the Most, Anita O'Day, The Oscar Peterson Quartet. HDTT 1956 (mono)
I almost excluded this album because it does "sound old" as Ann describes it. But hearing Anita O'Day in such excellent sound quality is really special. So, I'm keeping it here—at least for now. Review
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Moanin'. HDTT 1958, 2022 Review
Bill Evans Trio, Waltz for Debby. HDTT 1961, 2022 Review
Billie Holiday, Songs For Distingué Lovers. HDTT 1957 2018 No review, Album Here
Billie Holiday, Lady in Satin, with Ray Ellis and his orchestra. HDTT 1958, 2022 Review
Blue Alterations, Al Stauffer/Tom Lawton Duo. HDTT/DTR 1981 2018 No review, Album Here or Here
Blue Mitchell, Blue's Moods. HDTT 1960, 2018 Review
Charles Mingus, Ah Um. HDTT Redux edition 1959 2023 Review
Chicago Meeting, Jeremy Kahn, piano & Howard Levy, harmonica. HDTT/IPI 2015, 2020 Review
Cootie Williams in Stereo. HDTT 1958 2016 (No review by me, but see Dr. David's comment here)
Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time Out. HDTT 1959 2022 Review
Dexter Gordon, Go! HDTT 1962 2022 (No review, Album Here)
Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up. HDTT 1964, 2022 Review
Dick Schory's Music For Bang, Baaroom And Harp. HDTT 1958, 2023 Review
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – Newport 1958 2023. HDTT Review
Getz/Gilberto, Stan Getz, João Gilberto, featuring Antonia Carlos Jobim. And with Tommy Williams, Milton Banana, Astrud Gilberto. HDTT 1963, 2022 Review
Hank Mobley, Soul Station. HDTT 1960, 2019 Review
Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, Vince Guaraldi Trio. HDTT 1962 2025 Review
Jazz Noir, Chad McCullough (trumpet), Reggie Thomas (piano), Joe Policastro (acoustic bass), John Deitemeyer (drums). HDTT/IPI 2024 Review
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, with Paul Chambers, Art Taylor or Jimmy Cobb, Tommy Flanagan or Wynton Kelly. HDTT 1959 2023 Review
John Coltrane, Live at the Village Vanguard. HDTT 1961 2023 Review
John Coltrane, Lush Life, with Paul Chambers, Al Heath, Art Taylor, Red Garland, Donald Byrd, et al. HDTT 1958, 2023 Review
Lee Konitz & Martial Solal, The Portland Sessions. HDTT/IPI 1979 2017 (No Review, Album Here)
Miles Davis And Sonny Stitt Live At The Olympia. HDTT 1960 2023 Review
Miles Davis, Bags' Groove, with Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke. HDTT 1954 2023 (mono) Review
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (with original and pitch corrected tracks-the original tracks are Pure DSD256, the pitch corrected tracks have been PCM edited of course). HDTT 1959, 2022 Review
Miles Davis, Porgy & Bess. HDTT 1958 2023 Review
Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain, with rehearsal and outtake bonus tracks. HDTT 1960, 2022 Review
Miles Davis Sextet, Someday My Prince Will Come. HDTT 1961, 2023 Review
Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley. HDTT 1961, 2018 Review
Sophisticated Lady, Volumes I and II. Yarlung Records 2014 Robert Levi's Review, Album Here
Sophisticated Lady, Simpler Times Volumes I and II. Yarlung Records 2015 No Review, Album Here
Surodaya, Robert Gupta (violin), Badal Roy (tabla) (EP). Yarlung Records 2012 2014 Robert Levi's Review, Album Here
The Fat Babies, Thumpin’ and Bumpin'. HDTT/IPI 2017, 2019 Review
The Oscar Peterson Trio, We Get Requests. HDTT 1964 2025 Review
Thelonious Monk Septet, Monk's Music. HDTT 1957 2023 Review
Thelonious Monk Quartet, Monk's Dream. HDTT 1962, 2022 Review
Thelonious Monk Quintet, 5 by Monk 5. HDTT 1959, 2023 Review
Somethin' Else, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Sam Jones, Art Blakey. HDTT 1958, 2022 Review
Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, with Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins, Max Roach (Mono). HDTT 1956, 2022 Review
Stan Getz Live at Zardi's 1956, Vol. I and II (mono). HDTT 1956, 2020 and 2022 Review
Nat King Cole, Just One Of Those Things. HDTT 1957, 2022 Review
The Great Reunion, Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington. HDTT 1963, 2018 Review
Warne Marsh at the Ice House Pasadena. HDTT/IPI 2017 Review
Notes and Recommended Articles about Pure DSD256
* Pure DSD256 is a DSD file that has been created from an analog input signal and has not experienced any processing in PCM. No trip out for a DXD project session in your digital audio workstation of choice to mix and sweeten it. No conversion from a PCM original recording. If the file has been converted to DSD from DXD or some other resolution of PCM (44.1kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz, etc.), it is not a Pure DSD file. Pure DSD256 is one originally converted from analog to DSD at 11,289kHz, also referred to as 4x DSD or Quad DSD. For my listening, DSD256 is where the magic starts to happen.
I encourage you to explore the following articles here at Positive Feedback:
Get the Master Tape Listening Experience with Pure DSD256, with Free Sample Downloads
Pure DSD256: My Top of the Pile (recordings originally to DSD256, not tape)
Choosing the Best Sounding File Format, with Free Sample Downloads
Mixing in Pure DSD—No PCM Allowed, with Free Sample Downloads
** Master tapes—The Audiophile community has been brainwashed into believing that sourcing from the master tape is the only way to get a good release. I recommend you read Master Tapes—Shmaster Tapes for a different perspective. Be sure to read the comment from reader Adrian Wu.
