Various Artists - Stay in Tune with PentaTone (2005)

This SACD is an essential purchase for anyone who has a multi-channel system and wants to make sure that they are getting the best from it.
The first 70 minutes of this 94-minute hybrid disc (tracks 1-14) are a showcase for some of PentaTone’s excellent and varied releases, but unlike many samplers these are complete movements of works rather than faded out snippets. Listening to them one after the other makes one realise how brilliantly PentaTone have captured the acoustics of the many different recording venues and the overall high quality of their recordings.
Although you may already have one or more of the SACDs from which these excerpts are taken, you may find, as I did, something unfamiliar. In my case it was the Taneyev ‘At the Reading of a Psalm’ which I intend to investigate further.
The remainder of the disc (tracks 15-48) is only available to those with a surround system.
Tracks 15-17 are designed to make your friends gasp with amazement at the possibilities of surround sound.
First, we have a recording made on the shores of Loch Lomond, Scotland between 4.30 am and 6am which re-creates the great outdoors in your listening room with startling realism. Next, we have a steam train arriving and departing from a station that brings to mind those early stereo demonstration LPs - great fun. Finally, there is a recording made at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo of a pipe band entering the castle gate into the Esplanade, again very impressive, unless you are allergic to the sound of bagpipes. The gunfire near the start will certainly test your main speakers and subwoofer.
The remaining tracks (18-48) consist of a series of test tones that enable you to check and refine all aspects of your surround set up.
The SACD booklet has eight pages of detailed and very clearly written instructions in English on how to use each of the tests and make adjustments. Section headings are:
What is this test for?
How do I use this test?
How can I make it better?
Step-by-Step instructions.
Even the least technically minded listeners should be able to use these tests with ease and make substantial improvements to the performance of their system.
One of the most useful of all was the Audible LFE Calibration (tracks 36-42) that enables you to set the level of your subwoofer so that it integrates perfectly with the other speakers, never an easy task, without any measuring equipment. The difference in overall sound quality when you get it right is amazing.
With this disc PentaTone have provided a most valuable system tuning tool, and you get 70 minutes of great music as well!
Top recommendation.

by Graham Williams

Tracklist:

01. Alexander Glazunov-Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 82 - Moderato - 04:31
Performer: Julia Fischer - RNO / Kreizberg, Composer: Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)
02. Johannes Brahms-Symphony No. 2 in D, Op.73 - Allegretto grazioso (Quasi Andantino) - Presto ma non assai - 05:12
Performer: NRSO / Vonk, Composer: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
03. Sergei Taneyev-At the Reading of a Psalm (Po prochtenii psalma) Cantata No. 2 Op. 36 (1912-1915) Double Chorus (Andante sostenuto) - 04:57
Performer: RNO / Pletnev, Composer: Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev (1856-1915)
04. Arcangelo Corelli-Concerto da chiesa in D, op. 6 no 4 - Allegro - 03:17
Performer: NDA / Murphy, Composer: Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713)
05. Carl Loewe-Piano Concerto No. 2 in A - Espaniola (Andante grazioso) - 07:47
Performer: Mari Kodama - RNO / Nagano, Composer: Carl Loewe (1796-1869)
06. Joseph Haydn-Symphony No. 44 in E minor "Trauersymphonie" / "Mourning" (Hoboken 1:44) - Allegro con brio - 06:35
Performer: CKO / Boni, Composer: Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
07. Ludwig van Beethoven-Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 “Moonlight" - Adagio sostenuto - 05:48
Performer: Mari Kodama, Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
08. Johann Stamitz-Sinfonia a Quattro in F (c. 1750) - Tempo di Minuetto - 04:13
Performer: NDA / Murphy, Composer: Johann Stamitz (1717 - 1757)
09. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E, KV 261 - 07:57
Performer: Julia Fischer - NKO / Kreizberg, Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
10. Gabriel Faure-Requiem Op.48 - In paradisum - 03:01
Performer: Netherlands Chamber Choir / LSO / Spanjaard, Composer: Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
11. Gabriel Faure-Pelleas et Melisande : Suite Op. 80, Sicilienne - Allegretto molto moderato - 03:34
Performer: NedPhO / Kreizberg, Composer Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
12. Gottfried August Homilius-Choralvorspiel "Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen" - 02:36
Performer: Bram Beekman, Composer: Gottfried August Homilius (1714 - 1785)
13. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-Clarinet Concert in A, KV622 - Rondo (Allegro) - 08:32
Performer: Andrew Marriner / Asmif / Sir Neville Marriner, Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
14. Richard Wagner-Lohengrin - Prelude 3rd Act - 03:32
Performer: NedPhO / Kreizberg, Composer: Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Multichannel only:
15. Dawn on the banks of Loch Lomond
16. A steam train journey
17. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo
18. Pink noise left front
19. Pink noise right front
20. Pink noise center
21. Pink noise left rear
22. Pink noise right rear
23. Pink noise subwoofer
24. Phase left right
25. Phase left center
26. Phase center right
27. Phase left front left rear
28. Phase right front right rear
29. Phase left rear right rear
30. Phantom left center
31. Phantom right center
32. Phantom left front left rear
33. Phantom right front right rear
34. Phantom left rear right rear
35. Panorama (twice)
36. 60 / 60,2 Hz
37. 70 / 70,2 Hz
38. 80 / 80,2 Hz
39. 90 / 90,2 Hz
40. 100 / 100,2 Hz
41. 110 / 110,2 Hz
42. 120 / 120,2 Hz
43. Pink noise left front
44. Pink noise right front
45. Pink noise center
46. Pink noise left rear
47. Pink noise right rear
48. Pink noise subwoofer