I love the idea of surround sound music and have a PS3 and a decent 5.1 system via HDMI.

The problem is that I never heard of and have virtually no interest in the albums that I see mentioned everywhere.

The only one I saw on Amazon that I thougth was good was Metallica Black Album but it says 4 weeks backorder.

I admit that I havnt gone through every single title so there might be things out there I like but reviewing this forum and the common lists I couldnt find anything.

Are there good solid albums from the past 10 to 15 years that someone in my demographic might care about? Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Offspring, Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, White Stripes.

All I ever read about on here are albums that no one under 30 would care about. The first time I heard of Steely Dan was on the Howard Stern show when the younger staff were making fun of Bababooey for listing it as one of his top 5 albums.

Whats the problem (other than many of you will say I have poor taste in music!)? Are 5.1 versions of artists I listed in the works? If not, why not? Or if they exist but are hidden and hard to find, let me know!

Linkin Park - Reanimation DVD-A
Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral DualDisc
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth DualDisc
3 Doors Down - Away From The Sun DVD-A
Corrosion of Conformity - Americas Volume Dealer DVD-A
Ministry - Animositisomina DVD-A
Weird Al - Straight Outta Lynwood DualDisc

There are others but these are the ones I have that come to mind. Silverline has a ton of great titles but being Silverline I am afraid to try out most of them except for the few I have heard good revies on and bought.

On a side note, does the PS3 do DVD-A?

beck, sea change and guero
pink floyd, dark side of the moon
all the rolling stone remasters
that's about it . . . . . slim pickings as far as recent pop/rock/alt acts.

Frank Sinatra and the Count Basie Orchestra - Sinatra at the Sands DVD-A

:eek: :p :D

Disturbed - Believe DVD-A
Alice in Chains - Greatest Hits SACD

Keane - Hope and Fears SACD

iPod = stereo

Porcupine Tree - In Absentia, Deadwing, Stupid Dream and the upcoming Fear of a Blank Planet (all DVDA)
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic SACD
Derek & The Dominoes - Layla SACD
Snow Patrol - Final Straw (SACD or Dualdisc)
Allman Brothers - Live at Fillmore SACD (or Eat a Peach)
The Who - Tommy (SACD or DVDA)

All those are multichannel (the Rolling Stones discs are stereo only). My regular CD listening is pretty close to all the groups you listed, and there aren't a lot of surround sound options unless you're willing to try some groups you'd normally pass by.

One of the issues may be that record companies see that the majority of people under 30 tend to equate music with mp3s, which has very little to do with quality of sound. Maybe the reasoning is that if this generation cares so little about hi fidelity, why bother with SACD or DVDA on groups that most will purchase in a lower quality (sound wise) format?

One of the issues may be that record companies see that the majority of people under 30 tend to equate music with mp3s, which has very little to do with quality of sound. Maybe the reasoning is that if this generation cares so little about hi fidelity, why bother with SACD or DVDA on groups that most will purchase in a lower quality (sound wise) format?

I was getting all worked up and indignant when I read that. I'm 22 and I'm definitely not okay with mp3s and I think it's a damn shame that interest in SACD and DVDA seems to be so low. (Hoping for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray to break through where the other formats couldn't, though)

But then I looked around me and realized you're right. People my age think I'm a freak because I whine when they send me their crappy CBR 128kbps MP3s (My ears >.<) and because all the files on my PC are AAC (lol wut's that?). They don't seem to be impressed when I show off some splendid 5.1 mixes. So why would they be interested in DVD-A or SACD?

At this rate there aren't going to be any surround mixes left because no one cares. That would be horrible D: But like I said, I really hope HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are going to venture into the whole hi-def surround market and I hope they market it right this time.

Oh, about the recommendations...

Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (DVD-A)
Queen - A Night at the Opera (DVD-A or DVD-V, depending on the edition you can find)
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (SACD in stores or DVD-A, through more shady routes)

Those are probably my favorite mixes. But anything by Porcupine Tree is good. They're the best band in the universe. I bet you'd like them. Give them a try. The DVD-A of Stupid Dream is probably easiest to find (it's a 2-disc edition with a slipcase).

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (SACD, I think there's a DVD-A too but I'm not sure...)
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (DVD-A)
Queen - The Game (DVD-A)
Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance (DVD-A)
Björk - Vespertine (DualDisc, not hi-def)

Those are also good. If you like metal, Katatonia is probably your best choice. An excellent band and this album is definitely worth a try. The mix is okay, but not stellar. The Queen mixes are made of epic win, so try to look past the gay-factor, they're excellent discs.

Check out Circuit City for that Metallica dvd-a. Last I checked they still had it at $13.99. As mentioned before, the Linkin Park dvd-a is excellent, Nine inch Nails are great too. Willing to take a chance? All the Porcupine Tree surround discs are mixed very well, and rock pretty good in places.

On a side note, does the PS3 do DVD-A?

No Sony products do DVD-A so the OP is limited to SACD for 5.1

No Sony products do DVD-A so the OP is limited to SACD for 5.1

Just because the OP is using a PS3 right now is no reason for him not to pick up some DVD-Audio discs. They'll at least contain 5.1 Dolby/DTS mixes, which is what he was most interested in. (I'm assuming the PS3 can play the DVD-Video compatible options on the discs.)

Vespertine by Bjork is definitely a DVD-A btw.

I'm not much older than you so I'd go with the same suggestions, definitely Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, NIN: The Downward Spiral for SACDs. If the PS3 will do the DD 5.1 of DVD-As then NIN: With Teeth, Metallica: Metallica and Linkin Park. I'd give you some more recommendations but it's classic music .

I was getting all worked up and indignant when I read that. I'm 22 and I'm definitely not okay with mp3s and I think it's a damn shame that interest in SACD and DVDA seems to be so low. (Hoping for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray to break through where the other formats couldn't, though)

But then I looked around me and realized you're right. People my age think I'm a freak because I whine when they send me their crappy CBR 128kbps MP3s (My ears >.<) and because all the files on my PC are AAC (lol wut's that?). They don't seem to be impressed when I show off some splendid 5.1 mixes. So why would they be interested in DVD-A or SACD?

At this rate there aren't going to be any surround mixes left because no one cares. That would be horrible D: But like I said, I really hope HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are going to venture into the whole hi-def surround market and I hope they market it right this time.



I don't care what your friends say.
I like you already. LOL. :)

boondocks

Vespertine by Bjork is definitely a DVD-A btw.

Nope, not mine. It's part of the "surrounded" re-issues. I'm pretty damn sure it's a dualdisc, what with the two sides being playable and the fact that it says so on the box.

But yeah, apparently a DVD-A version exists too. Get that one instead.

Vespertine was released seperately before the "surrounded" box set came out as a DVD-A.

The Depeche Mode SACD's are also well produced. Unfortunately, you'll have to import them since the US versions are not SACD.

Snickersbar, maybe if you didn't have such a lousy attitude, you might look at all the albums you've previously read about here as great music to be exposed to, rather than just crap reserved for the oldsters. Don't get me wrong, I like about half of the stuff you've listed, but that's not all that is around that's worth listening to, and definitely not the stuff that would necessarily sound the coolest in surround.

I totally agree that surround releases are targeted to an older, or at least a nerdier (e.g. rush, dream theater, genesis, etc.) demographic cause they are the ones who purchase music, rather than download it legally or otherwise... Also, the production values of some of the bands listed (e.g. Nirvana) would be unlikely to benefit much from the surround treatment. I listen to a lot of metal, and the surround releases to date (Mastodon, Kreator, Opeth) are not nearly as impressive (sonically, at least) as more multilayered albums by groups like the Talking Heads, NIN, Pink Floyd, and the Flaming Lips...

Time to get yourself to school, boy! Music has nothing to do with age... :)

Pink's latest album is good but only Dolby Digital
Flaming lips are great
Linkin Park is awesome
Both Beck's are great
Amanda marshall is a lesser known one that has an incredible mix and good songs
3 doors down have 2 albums that are not bad on dvd-a
Shania twain and britney spears are pure pop but great fun mixes

I second The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East. What an amazing piece of music.

My recent favorites:

Beck: Sea Change (SACD) and Guero (DVD-A)
Foo Fighters: In Your Honor Dual Disc (DVD-A on disc 2)

Unfortunately, the SACD/DVDA pickins will be slim for you.

Dredg - El Cielo (SACD)
NIN - Beside You In Time (Blu-ray)

D:

Dredg released a SACD?
And NIN do Blu-Ray now?

D:

I have to check the first one out. (Blu-ray players are still waaay too expensive) But are they any good? Multichannel, yais? Good mix?

You might want to try this out. I haven't heard it so i cant really comment on its sound.

It's Ozzfest live 2002 SACD

it's available at JR.com


http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3957013

D:

Dredg released a SACD?
And NIN do Blu-Ray now?

D:

I have to check the first one out. (Blu-ray players are still waaay too expensive) But are they any good? Multichannel, yais? Good mix?
The NIN disc is on HD-DVD also (cheap players available now). It's a great concert: video and audio are top notch.

Vespertine was released seperately before the "surrounded" box set came out as a DVD-A.
The DVD-A is still available. (http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=2023698&style=music&cart=320462816&BAB=E&frm=lk_allspin)

I'm 26 and i picked up the three doors down album(DVD-A) and the dark side of the moon(SACD for my PS3).
Are you not into classical music at all?
I recently purchased the LSO's sacd recordings of beethoven's symphonies 1 - 9 for $54 on amazon. The are incredible, especially the 6th !
After buying these discs, it still pisses me off that the masses chose mp3. But there might still be hope with blu-ray/hd-dvd having lossless tracks for concerts and perhaps music only discs. Also there has been word of Hifi audio downloads !

I'm 26 and i picked up the three doors down album(DVD-A) and the dark side of the moon(SACD for my PS3).
Are you not into classical music at all?


Those that likes classical music has many SACD to choose among. Just check out www.SA-CD.net


Also there has been word of Hifi audio downloads !

Linn Records offer downloads with a quality identical to SACD : www.linnrecords.com/linn-downloads.aspx

As of yet only stereo is offered, but there are plans for releasing the MCH as well: www.sa-cd.net/showthread/19796/19930/y#19930

Vespertine was released seperately before the "surrounded" box set came out as a DVD-A.

I have Vespertine on SACD. Medulla too. Highly recommended.

I'll second all the Porcupine Tree surround discs, even the concert DVD (DTS 5.1) sounds awesome

add
The Beatles Love (DVDA)
Roxy Music Avalon (SACD)
Steely Dan Everything Must Go (DVDA)
Joe Satriani Strange Beautiful Music (SACD)
Blue Man Group Audio (DVDA)
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (SACD)


Maiden's Dance of Death DVDA was a disaster (to me)

Also check out AIX records (http://www.aixrecords.com/) they have some great sounding DVDAs if the music is your fancy

I have Vespertine on SACD. Medulla too. Highly recommended.

Reviews of those two SACD:

Björk: Vespertine (http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/1872)
Björk: Medulla (Limited Edition) (http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/2337)

Dude, not to be a fuddy duddy (I'm almost 35... so to a 25 year old I'm a has-been! :D), but you should take the opportunity with DVD-Audio (need a DVD-Audio player for the high res. tracks) and SA-CD to broaden your musical horizons! Free you're mind, man! :)

Look at www.sa-cd.net for a list of over 4,500 SA-CD titles! Classical, jazz, blues, bluegrass... not just rock (though, Aerosmith's classic Toys in the Attic SA-CD is spectacular in 5.1 as well as the REM DVD-Audio packs, and imported DVD-Audio discs of Talking Heads).

I just picked up an LSO (London Symphony Orchestra) cycle box set of the nine Beethoven symphonies and Smetana's Ma Vlast symphony on SA-CD. Absolutely transcendental performances! And with multi-channel it sounds like you are right in the concert hall.

Also have one of the great Jazz albums Kind of Blue with Miles Davis on SA-CD. The man was a god! A good Blu-ray disc is Legends of Jazz... 24 bit, 5.1 lossless audio! Awesome.

FYI

Dan