Moody Blues new SACDs

[himey]

I just picked up A Question of Balance SACD Hybrid and am wondering if anyone has listened to any of the other new Moody Blues releases.

A.Q.O.B. says 5.1 on the cover and in the booklet however it's 4.0 but still sounds good in surround. Since it was released in QUAD during the 70s it is probally from the same master?

This is a 1 disc release but 3 of the others are 2 disc sets (and cost more yet the bonus discs are non SACD stereo).

So I am wondering if all are from the original QUADS and are 4.0. Or were they even released as quad in the 70s.

Also has anyone compared the "Days of Future Passed" new release vs. the DTS CD version? The DTS CD is less than half the price and I am pleased with most of my DTS collection. Any Info would be great.Eric

[dougotte]

The search engine is your friend!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...ht=moody+blues


Doug

[boondocks]

I've not heard a DTS version of DOFP. I think a lot of us felt a little let down on
the SACD version, BUT considering when it was recorded, I'm happy to own a
copy (or rent, or get to keep a while, or whatever the industry presently deems
appropriate).

boondocks

[sivadselim]

If the original quads were available, that's what's on the disc.

IIRC, unfortunately they couldn't find the original quads for "In Search of the Lost Chord", so it's simply a stereo SACD.

If you are happy with your DTS DOFP, then I suppose you shouldn't replace it; although I did. No, I have not even tried comparing.

[himey]

Originally Posted by sivadselim

If the original quads were available, that's what's on the disc.

IIRC, unfortunately they couldn't find the original quads for "In Search of the Lost Chord", so it's simply a stereo SACD.

If you are happy with your DTS DOFP, then I suppose you shouldn't replace it; although I did. No, I have not even tried comparing.

Thanks, That was the info I gathered from the "old" other thread. I ended up getting all but 'To Our Children's Children's Children' which I will pick up later.
I realized later that "In Search of the Lost Chord" was a stereo mix. I would have gotten that one last.

I have only listen to/recieved "On The Threshold of a Dream" and "A Question of Balance" so far and I like them both a lot. I never owned either on any format so this is an awsome addition to my SACD/DVD-Audio collection. The other 2 I ordered (D.O.F.P. and 'In Search Of The Lost Chord') are german releases on a different label so I am hoping they are just as sweet, other than the one being only stereo.Eric

[sivadselim]

Originally Posted by himey

Thanks, That was the info I gathered from the "old" other thread. I ended up getting all but 'To Our Children's Children's Children' which I will pick up later.
I realized later that "In Search of the Lost Chord" was a stereo mix. I would have gotten that one last.

I have only listen to/recieved "On The Threshold of a Dream" and "A Question of Balance" so far and I like them both a lot. I never owned either on any format so this is an awsome addition to my SACD/DVD-Audio collection. The other 2 I ordered (D.O.F.P. and 'In Search Of The Lost Chord') are german releases on a different label so I am hoping they are just as sweet, other than the one being only stereo.Eric

I feel that OTTOAD and AQOB are the best ones of these (on any format); glad you got them. But it being only stereo is no real reason to have waited on ISOTLC; that's a landmark psychedelic album. And might as well get TOCCC, too.

[oztech]

is there a box set are they have to be purchased individually.

[PaulT_BC]

Originally Posted by oztech

is there a box set are they have to be purchased individually.

Individually

[Chris Gerhard]

I just ordered what I determined to be "A Question of Balance" and "On the Threshold of a Dream" from Buy.com. The price worked out to $10 each delivered so I can only hope I get what I believe I ordered. Here is a link to the Buy.com Threshold listing:

http://www.buy.com/prod/On_The_Thres...202470076.html

The G in the description was determined to be short for German Hybrid SACD by me so we will see if I am correct when it comes in. I have ordered 30 or 40 high resolution titles with odd descriptions and haven't been wrong yet. Buy.com also shows the DTS "Days of Future Passed" to be a DVD-A, of course that is bunk as are maybe a dozen other DVD-A descriptions. You need to be a master at sorting through bad descriptions at Amazon.com, Half.com and Buy.com to buy high resolution now. The wise probably buy them at brick and mortar stores so they can walk to the register with product in hand.

Chris

[himey]

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

I just ordered what I determined to be "A Question of Balance" and "On the Threshold of a Dream" from Buy.com. The price worked out to $10 each delivered so I can only hope I get what I believe I ordered. Here is a link to the Buy.com Threshold listing:

http://www.buy.com/prod/On_The_Thres...202470076.html

The G in the description was determined to be short for German Hybrid SACD by me so we will see if I am correct when it comes in. I have ordered 30 or 40 high resolution titles with odd descriptions and haven't been wrong yet. Buy.com also shows the DTS "Days of Future Passed" to be a DVD-A, of course that is bunk as are maybe a dozen other DVD-A descriptions. You need to be a master at sorting through bad descriptions at Amazon.com, Half.com and Buy.com to buy high resolution now. The wise probably buy them at brick and mortar stores so they can walk to the register with product in hand.



Chris

That is where I bought DOFP and ISOTLC. They are both "Made In Germany" but I see no difference when I compare to AQOB and OTTOAD which I bought at CD Universe. I don't believe any of these new releases were "US" releases hence they are Imports but I could be wrong. I just recieved DOFP and ISOTLC yesterday in the mail and haven't listened to them yet but the packageing is the same as others, sweet!
The only disc in the series (of 5 new releases) I don't have yet is To Our Children's Children's Children's which buy.com shows as Ger ("made in Germany")
and will be rereleased 1-09-2007. I may go ahead and order from CD WOW. Buy.com has the Google Checkout and $10 of $30 but I don't think it will last much longer.Eric

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by himey

That is where I bought DOFP and ISOTLC. They are both "Made In Germany" but I see no difference when I compare to AQOB and OTTOAD which I bought at CD Universe. I don't believe any of these new releases were "US" releases hence they are Imports but I could be wrong. I just recieved DOFP and ISOTLC yesterday in the mail and haven't listened to them yet but the packageing is the same as others, sweet!
The only disc in the series (of 5 new releases) I don't have yet is To Our Children's Children's Children's which buy.com shows as Ger ("made in Germany")
and will be rereleased 1-09-2007. I may go ahead and order from CD WOW. Buy.com has the Google Checkout and $10 of $30 but I don't think it will last much longer.Eric

I believe the Moody Blues SACD titles were given an official US release but the discs were more of the same made in Germany. I did use Google Checkout to save the $10.

Chris

[lchiu7]

I bought this title from Amazon UK a while ago but have never been able to listen to it until this week when I finally got my SACD player and new receiver with multichannel analogue inputs. I haven't listened to this music since when it first was released and it was quite illuminating to hear it in MCH. I see there are those who say it's from the quad mix so it isn't as good as it can be but from IMHO it's very impressive for a recording that was done over 20 years ago.

I found it quite illuminating also to switch from the MCH track to the stereo track and hear the sound field collapse to the front of the room. Commentary from the rear speakers is bit of a strange mixing choice IMHO though

Larry

[sivadselim]

Originally Posted by lchiu7

.............very impressive for a recording that was done over 20 years ago.

20 years ago?

Not sure which title you mean but they're all over 35 years old. DOFP is almost 40!

[lchiu7]

I did say over 20 years ago :-)

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by lchiu7

I did say over 20 years ago :-)

And that is certainly correct. I think I will start referring to myself as over 20. Saying I am over 50 is unnecessary.

Chris

[lchiu7]

Just an unnecessary as saying "I recall when I purchased the LP when it was first released and being totally amazed by the clever juxtaposition of classical and popular music in the one album to create a musical experience that exceeded the sum of its parts" :-)

[sivadselim]

daze of future passed

[Chris Gerhard]

CD WOW shows an April 2 date for a couple more SACD releases:

http://www2.cd-wow.us/detail_results...uct_code=36519

Chris

[BMO]

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

CD WOW shows an April 2 date for a couple more SACD releases:

http://www2.cd-wow.us/detail_results...uct_code=36519

Chris

How do you tell if it's SACD/DVD-A?
Thanks for the link.

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by BMO

How do you tell if it's SACD/DVD-A?
Thanks for the link.

Just shows as a hybrid SACD for "Every Good Boy Deserves Favor":

http://www2.cd-wow.us/detail_results...t_code=1859234

I expect a couple of them then, likely single disc releases but who knows at this point?

Chris

[Signalseeker]

Everyone thank you for all the updates on these classic core 7 SACD releases. From what I gather whether or not the CD is listed from Germany, UK or the US they are all the same from UME correct? I do not own a SACD player yet but I will soon have to purchase one to listen to these, much to the delight of my wife. Reviews I have read Bruce Edler mainly states the remastering on these albums is far superior on both the CD and SACD and while the 1997 remasters were good these are better. Does anyone agree? Has anyone tried the Japan UMG releases? I have read they are just OK. Thank you.

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by Signalseeker

Everyone thank you for all the updates on these classic core 7 SACD releases. From what I gather whether or not the CD is listed from Germany, UK or the US they are all the same from UME correct? I do not own a SACD player yet but I will soon have to purchase one to listen to these, much to the delight of my wife. Reviews I have read Bruce Edler mainly states the remastering on these albums is far superior on both the CD and SACD and while the 1997 remasters were good these are better. Does anyone agree? Has anyone tried the Japan UMG releases? I have read they are just OK. Thank you.

The SACD's get mixed reviews. I have only listened to the surround versions of the few I have and like them a lot. The Steve Hoffman forum has some that think other CD and LP versions are better and there is some discussion about it. I currently don't have anything to compare, but based on my memory of what I have heard the SACD versions are the only ones I want.

Chris

[Joe Hendrix]

I was just listening to TOCCC last night. Santa was very nice to me this year, and I received an Oppo 970HD and the 7 SACD releases of the Moody Blues.

First off, TOCCC has always been one of my favorites, so I have that bias. But... after dinner an a glass of wine, cranking up the surrounds with this SACD is just fantastic. It's difficult to find the time these days to allow yourself to just sit and listen to a whole album, but when you do allow yourself the time, it's really nice.

I've listened to a few of the others as well (always in the SACD surround mode), and have enjoyed those, too. I wasn't as impressed with DOFP, but I was kinda in and out of the room when I was listening. The one funny thing that turned me off was at the very end of Nights in White Satin, when they strike the gong cymbal. It should have been dramatic and coming through all of the speakers at once. What I heard was this little anemic gong coming out of the left rear speaker. What's up with that?

[SoonerCaniac]

Though I just preordered the last of the two classic seven from CDWOW, Amazon.co.uk has recently posted those discs as well:

Seventh Sojourn SACD - Amazon.co.uk
and
EGBDF - Amazon.co.uk

Current sales ranks are in the low 200s, FWIW. Amazon.co.uk's release date is 2/19/2007, CDWOW lists it as 4/2/2007! That'll get ironed out soon, I'm sure.

For my wife's sake, I hope others come out in surround. . .she's obsessed with that band.

Best,
Josh

EDIT - Amazon.co.uk just (1/23/2007) changed their release date to April 2. . .FWIW

[Joe Hendrix]

I finally go a chance to listen to DOFP without interruption. It's better than what my original feelings were about it. But... you can tell the quality of the sound is not quite what you'd expect. I do realize that this was recorded back in 1967, and some deterioration of the master tapes must've taken place, but I think the major complaint about this is how compressed the sound seems, and for the most part I have to agree. Nonetheless, this is a great album, and for the most part, the surround is good. There were a few things I would've done differently, but I must've been out of town when Justin tried to call.

[oztech]

if anyone is interested they are avaliable online at circuit city
i just ordered mine.

[PaulT_BC]

Originally Posted by SoonerCaniac

Though I just preordered the last of the two classic seven from CDWOW, Amazon.co.uk has recently posted those discs as well:

Seventh Sojourn SACD - Amazon.co.uk
and
EGBDF - Amazon.co.uk

Best,
Josh

Thanks for the info Josh (and Chris earlier), just pre-ordered the last 2

[BSTNFAN]

Did the new ones come out? Is anyone offering a good deal on the set of all 7 of them?

[PaulT_BC]

They are out in Europe and Canada. I got mine a couple of days ago but am not home to listen to them. Seems to be some delay in US from what I am reading on other Forums (maybe due to the inside booklet lists 3 extra tracks but there are only 2 as listed on the back of EGBDAF).

Concensus is generally good across the board, same as the original 5 (except the nay sayer stereo only dudes at Steve Hoffman ).

Elusivedisc has the lot of 7 for 180USD:
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....ber=POLSAISET7

I don't find their prices all that great but order from them when I can't get stuff elsewhere.
For example the single disc of Seventh Sojourn at elusivedisc is 30USD, I paid 17CAD (15USD) at amazon.ca.

Considering they are 'Imports' into the US you will get higher prices in the US from all the distributors there. The discs are probably coming from Canada regardless.

[oztech]

mine are on a fed-ex truck somewhere its funny that we had to wait this long to
get the last 2.