Are you trying to decide between high-resolution downloads and LP reissues? In the market for a hi-rez portable audio player? A zealot bravely fighting back in the Loudness Wars? Change is inevitable, and in the audiophile world it's the spice that keeps things interesting—there's always a new remastering or idea product just around the corner. Minds and tastes, too, can change. In answer to the eternal question "What are you listening to now?," we present the 2015 edition of "Records to Die For," our annual album of snapshots of the minds and ears of Stereophile's staff.
The idea, as always, is fairly simple: We ask our esteemed writers to briefly describe a pair of records that they cherish, return to frequently, and don't want to live without. While that last bit may sound a little dramatic, it's ultimately the music that drives audiophilism. Whether it's the sound or the artistry or some combination of the two, seriously listening to music—and, probably, accumulating masses of recordings and equipment—are what distinguish audiophiles from more casual fans of music and/or gear. To counter the notion that everyone today has surrendered to compromised sound and disposable music, we humbly present Records To Die For 2015!—Robert Baird
Note: If a recording listed here has previously been reviewed in Stereophile, whether in "Record Reviews" or in a past edition of "Records to Die For," the volume and number of the pertinent issue appear in parentheses at the end of the review. For example, a listing of "(XXXV-12)" means that a review of the recording appeared in Vol.35 No.12 (December 2012).
