Cobra Records has the largest catalog of DSD Binaural recordings at NativeDSD with 49 albums. Binaural DSD Recordings, Vol. 1: the Cobra Records edition is a compilation of 13 songs (1 hour 26 minutes of music!) hand-picked by Cobra Records’ owner, operator and engineer Tom Peeters for headphone listeners.

Featuring Adrian Rodriguez Van der Spoel, Chen Halevi, Cuarteto Quiroga, Enno Voorhorst, Lisa Jacobs, Maria van Nieukerken, Musica Temprana, Natalia Ensemble, Nederlands Saxofoon Octet, Pauline Oostenrijk, The String Soloists, Veronika Hagen & Winds Unlimited.

In this sampler I made a selection based on interesting recordings of small to middle size ensembles. In my opinion a binaural recording gives you an extremely precise experience of location where the instruments are placed. My goal is always to achieve a very intimate feeling with an image close to the members of the ensemble as if you are there.

This sampler contains a variety in music styles from very classical to almost folk and from duo to small orchestra with soloist. Please enjoy the immersive experience of my favorite binaural recordings.

Adrian Rodriguez Van der Spoel conducts Musica Temprana (Track 1, 10, 11)
Cuarteto Quiroga & Veronika Hagen (Track 2)
Nederlands Saxofoon Octet (Track 3)
Enno Voorhorst with The String Soloists (Track 4, 5)
Lisa Jacobs with The String Soloists (Track 6)
Enno Voorhorst & Pauline Oostenrijk (Track 7)
Maria van Nieukerken conducts PaDam (Track 8)
Natalia Ensemble (Track 9)
Winds Unlimited with special guest Chen Halevi (Track 12, 13)

Binaural Recordings are reproductions of sound the way human ears hear it. In fact, the word “binaural” literally just means “using both ears.” When you listen to a binaural recording through headphones, you perceive distinct and genuine 360° sound. It’s the purest, most natural way to record and listen to music.

Binaural recordings are made using a special “Dummy Head” microphone that simulates a human head. Two microphones are built into its ear canals, which allow it to detect the location of sounds around it the same we do naturally. When a binaural recording is played back through headphones, the listener hears exactly what the dummy head heard during the performance. Every nuance of where a sound is coming from is preserved (whether it’s in front, beside, above, below or behind you).

To be able to listen back to the recording and experience the three-dimensional sound, the left and right playback channels just have to go directly to our own left and right ears. The easiest way to do that is to listen through headphones, and any brand or style will work (nothing fancy required!). Every time you pop on your headphones, you actually have the sensation of being transported back to the location of the recording, for an immersive listening experience.

Learn more about Cobra Records and Tom Peeters

Meet the Magicians: with Tom Peeters of Cobra Records