The Nordic Sound: 2L Audiophile Reference Recordings

Soundstage 4 out of 5

The Nordic Sound from 2L is one of the best samplers ever. It has 19 tracks from the remarkable 2L catalog, and each varies greatly in character and sound design. Each track’s only common element is that its sound seems absolutely perfect for the music it conveys.

There’s a cut here from the Mozart violin concerto disc that first attracted many to the label, as well as an excerpt from Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony from the Trondheim soloists. The rest range from the percussion cacophony of Nordheim’s Colorazione (the deep bass drum and the crashing cymbal will give your entire audio system a workout), to the ethereal serenity of Gregorian chant.

2L consistently produces audiophile recordings that are at the top of the heap in both music and sound. Like Pixar with animated film, 2L seems unable to do wrong.

Rad Bennett

AllMusic 4 out of 5

2L’s sampler The Nordic Sound includes 19 musical selections taken from their growing, broad selection of recordings ranging from Mozart and Vivaldi to Schoenberg and Carter and beyond. The goal, presumably, is to make an argument for the superiority surround sound not just for movies, but for music as well.

There can be little question that the surround options offer a far more pleasing listening experience; the level of detail and realism offered in these formats vastly exceeds the stereo tracks.

Mike D. Brownell - Source