Vote

Proprius, a small Swedish label with not only audiophile records but also very interesting music of the beatren tracks.

Stereophile. Well, if I can't vote for myself I would point to the superb engineering Keith Johnson is doing for Reference Recordings with the Minnesota Orchestra. And Chesky, of course. And APO. And ... there's some great stuff out there right now!

naxos

Reference Records

Chesky is my favorite label, but not my favorite music

Dorian. No comment. For me, it's just THE LABEL.

NAXOS.

Most of the original music on compact disc that I have heard from audiophile lables is not very good. The sound quality is good, but, everything else (song writing, playing, etc) is lacking. I think the major label CD reissues have caught up to and (sometimes) have surpassed the reissues from the MOFI's, XRCD, and DCC labels.

Chesky

The only one I know of and have purchased from is Chesky. Actually, even then only their 24/96 DVDs which are truly amazing. Whoever did the latest Steely Dan CD (Two Against Nature) did a good job I'd say, however.

I don't know if it would be considered an audiophile label, but ECM has never disappointed me with the quality of their releases.In addition,the cost is no more than any other label and cheaper than many 'audiophile'labels.

Here are the audiophile labels I have tried: Pope Music, JVC (XRCD), DCC, Chesky, and Stereophile. All are excellent; comparisons are impossible due to the differences in music genre, source material, etc. Sadly, Pope and DCC appear to be defunct. Mobile Fidelity is making a comeback, but only in SCAD and LP formats. Naxos, while perhaps not an audiophile label produces amazing recordings for $7 retail. For me, comparing the sounds of the various labels is pointless. Even if it were possible to identify one label as having the "best" sound, one label could not issue the entire music catalog, even in a single genre.

ECM. The recording quality of the label serves the communicative powers of the artists. It's a business with integrity that I respect greatly.

Surrounded By Entertainment (SBE). Why? Balls.

ECM

MFSL, their 200 Gram LPs sounded superb. Pity they had such a strange choice of titles, though. Listen to the Muddy Waters, Folsinger LP. It's hard to find anything that has better sound. Just MHO.

Reference Recordings and Chesky Records. Both are excellent in quality of recording and in choice of artists.

Chesky

DGG. Not a true audiophile label, but what a catalog! Their records usually sound very good. Try to stay away from CDs made in the early eighties, though. Early digital recordings (or transfers) were a disgrace.

DCC, or anything mastered by Steve Hoffman.

TACET!

ECM. Excellent overall balance. I'm awaiting releases in either SACD or DVD-A formats. They should be mind blowing!

Mobile Fidelity; hope round II lives up to the previous version.

DCC

Presently, it has to be JVC. Their XRCD2s are truly amazing. The RCA Victor classical re-releases are phenomenal in their overall dynamics and fidelity. I have yet to hear an SACD or a DVD-A sound better than the JVC XRCD2s. That has to be saying something for the plain ol' vanilla CD format anyway. Also, check out some of the new HDCD releases from the Reference Recordings label (Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances) to name just one. They are producing some fantastic cd's as well. Makes you wonder why SACD and DVD-A are still around.

Chesky Besides the beautyfull sounds, it sometimes contains music as well. There are more: Telarc, Groove Note. Soren Denmark

Pure Audiophile: It's the best new label. Definately set the standard for audiophile vinyl in the future.

Audiofon.

Chesky Records. Great music. Great sound. New performers.

I have been very impressed by Mapleshade Records. I think the sound quality of these CDs indicates that there is essentially nothing wrong with the format, but there is something wrong with the recording techniques of most labels. Their recordings have a warmth that I rarely hear on other recordings. This, I believe, comes from the fact that they use analog recording before the digital processing occurs.