Denon Japanese compact dics

Posted by: starbuck on 29 October 2005

Hi.

I picked up a couple of these compact discs in a local secondhand shop out of curiosity (and because they were very cheap), and am really impressed with the overall sound quality of them.

The ones I bought are:
Francois Couperin - Les Nations (European Baroque Soloists);
Masahiro Arita, Transverse flute/Tokyo Baroque Trio - Quatuors Parisiens;
Masahiro Arita/Chiyoko Arita/Tetsuya Nakano - 18th Century German Flute Music

Can anyone advise if I can expect the same standard of music and sound quality on all of these Denon Japan releases, as there were a few others to choose from?

Thanks in advance to all who can advise.

Posted on: 29 October 2005 by J.N.

It is my experience that CD's manufactured in Japan ALWAYS sound better than their EU or USA equivalents.

No one seems to know why.

I have my 'top ten' favourite CD's from Japan. Watch out if ordering goods exceeding £18 in value, as they will attract UK import duty and VAT.

I've used HMV Japan and the delivery service is superb, via UPS. I received ordered discs in five days, from Japan!

John.

Posted on: 30 October 2005 by Mabelode, King of Swords

Starbuck

I vaguely remember reading some time ago that Denon recordings are considered audiophile recordings. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them.

I have an old Denon audio test disc which has quite a lot of music on it. The recording is of a high standard, but a touch on the warm side, a bit like the Chesky stuff.

Steve

Posted on: 30 October 2005 by pe-zulu

I own seven Denon baroque music CDs, among which three CDs with M. Arita (not the ones you mention but some Bach) and can say, that the sound quality as well as the performances are excellent. I shouldn´t hesitate, if I wanted the music.

Posted on: 30 October 2005 by HR

One of my favorite disks has always been Stefan Hussong's playing Bach's English Suites Nos II, III & V on the accordion (Denon 78836).
The performance recorded 1n 1994 as well as the sound are exemplary.
The disc is part of Denon's MS (Mastersonic Sereis) which provided a 20-bit One-Point recording, and claimed at the time to: 'have the highest quality sound which is conceivabale today'.

Haim

Posted on: 31 October 2005 by starbuck

Thanks to all for your advice. I went back to the same shop today and have cleared out the remainder of the Denon cds they had:

Huguette Dreyfus - Mozart/Sonatas for Fortepiano
Masahiro Arita - Blavet/5 Sonates
G.Ph. Telemann - Volker Ouverture
Bruno Rigutto - Chopin/18 Waltzes
Corelli - Concerti Grossi Op.6

Should keep me busy for a little while....

Thanks again,

Chris.

Posted on: 31 October 2005 by bazz

Denon has a long pedigree in Japan as suppliers of professional recording equipment and phono cartridges to NHK, the national broadcaster. I believe they were the first manufacturers of LP records in Japan and invented the PCM digital recorder.

They've been making high quality CDs for many years, I have some and they're all excellent.

Posted on: 31 October 2005 by HR

I just ordered the following Denons from Tower Records:

Works fot guitar by Villa-Lobos & Ginastera / Ramirez
Mozart: Piano Sonatas VO I / Pires
Brahms: Piano Sonata 3, Klavierstucke OP 118 / Grimaud
Vivaldi: 6 Violin Concerti Op.6 / I Solisti Italian
Bach: Trio Sonatas / Blacher, Kobayashi, Fujiwara

Those CDs are new and priced at $9.74 each. They have been recorded mostly in 1990-1995.

Haim