Sound Quality/Music Reviews and Comments on SACD/DVD-A - Page 3

Thanks Martin. I didn't look at it that way but you are right in that I got three very good DVD-As for the cost of a single SHM-SACD. In the order with the three DVD-As is Coltrane's A Love Supreme SACD. The cost with the four discs is still about the same cost as one SHM-SACD.

Bill

Brock,

I can't wait to get these DVD-As. I know that PT's music is different but I'm looking forward to trying something new. I hope that Lightbulb Sun and Stupid Dream are shipped right away as they were in stock.

Bill

Steve,

Did you have a hard time getting into In Absentia? Do PT's albums differ much from one to another? Not that I think that would be a bad thing I'm just curious.

Bill

Steve,

Thanks for your thoughts. I will start with Stupid Dream which should arrive first with Lightbulb Sun.

I have some time to listen to some music with the house to myself this afternoon. I have Miles Davis' Miles Smiles SACD on right now. It was a choice between listening to music or cleaning up the yard after Irene came through. It was an easy choice. I hope all of those in Irene's path are OK and did not sustain much if any damage. It is sad to read of those that lost their lives due to the storm.

Bill

I have listened to Miles Davis' Miles Smiles, David Bowie's Lets Dance and now The Police's Synchronicity SACDs. I'll try to do some reviews on all three later today. Although so far I'm not finding any of them to be reference material.

Bill

Its only 2CH which is unfortunate as it would be excellent in MCH.

http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/1320

Bill

Artist/Title Info: Miles Davis - Miles Smiles

Format: Single Layer SACD

Genre: Jazz

Label: Columbia CS 65682

I started listening to Miles Davis' music earlier this year and bought several of his SACDs. I have to admit that buying Miles' music is over-whelming as there are so many titles available. So I focused on the most popular titles like Kind Of Blue and went from there. Miles' music is a whole new venture for me being a classic rock, blues and mainstream jazz (recently) fan. I have enjoyed the many Miles' SACD and CDs I have bought but will admit the musical styles change quite a bit from album to album. Which in itself is not a bad thing as I enjoyed those changes. But in all honesty I'm very far from a traditional jazz or Miles Davis expert.

Miles Smiles was recorded in 1966 and released in 1967. It is the second of five albums recorded by Davis' second quintet, which featured saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams. The album when released received much acclaim from jazz critics.

I had not listened to this SACD in quite awhile and enjoyed the music very much as I listened to it yesterday. This is a stereo single layer SACD although the soundstage is very focused with it sounding like my center channel was in the mix. The SQ although good for a recording of this age but it is a bit bright at times and I found that the cymbals really stood out too much. The bass was somewhat thin at times as well. I do not have the RBCD version of this album as I would have liked to compare the two. I wonder if the SACD is that much of an improvement over a good version of the RBCD? Unfortunately I think SACDs from recordings of this age can be a hit or miss IMO.

http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/642

Rating (scale 1 - 10) Music / 8.5 - SQ / 6.5

System Info:
Source: Oppo 83SE
Pre/pro: Onkyo 886 - MCH SACD/DVD-A (using the MCH analog input)
Preamp: Parasound 2100 - 2CH SACD/DVD-A
Amplification: Boston Acoustics A7200 (Sherwood A-965 clone)
FR/FL: Salk SongTowers
Center: Salk Song Center
Surrounds: Definitive Technology BP2x
Surround location: On the ceiling (behind the MLP and slightly outside FR/FL speakers)
Sub: Rythmik F12SE (Anti-Mode 8033C sub EQ)

Room: 17' W (which is open on one side), 14' D with 9' high ceilings. No room treatments as of yet.

Bill

Thanks Dan. I enjoy listening to Miles pretty much the same way. I just got A Love Supreme today along with PT's Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun. So I will be busy once I get some time to sit down and crank the tunes. I will definitely compare the musical content between A Love Supreme and some of the Miles' SACDs I have.

Bill

Hey Steve,

I think if you can grab Up for $50.00 definitely grab it. Buy it first then tell everyone where you bought it. I would say Up is an excellent sounding MCH SACD. The music is a bit different at times, kind of hard to explain. Not mainstream like So is but still enjoyable to listen to IMO.

I have one Nickel Creek SACD This Side and would grab the S/T one as well but the prices are a bit steep. I enjoy listening to This Side but its not really the type of music I listen to much.

Bill

What are you looking for a backup copy?

Bill

With your luck and mine we'd go into business together then SACDs would be a dime a dozen. Sea Change and Avalon would be going for $10.00 the second we open up for business.

Bill

[quote=Djoel;20900195]
The other problem is we would never sell any product. We would be too busy listening and reviewing said product.


I agree as one should always buy first then mention the good deal they got. Because if one mentions a SACD like Up for $50.00 the net is crashing with "Up for $50.00" searches.

Bill

Hey Bruce,

Thanks for the great review! I will add your review to the others in the #2 post. We will definitely have to compare the Hotel California SACD and DVD-A in the near future. I'm very interested to see if there is any noticeable SQ differences between the two. I have Yes' Fragile coming on SACD so I'm looking forward to hearing that when it arrives.

Bill

I just ordered two SACDs titles from Living Stereo. As far as I know all their titles are classical. The cost of these titles are quite low usually under $10.00. I have been trying different types of music lately and thought why not try some classical music. Maybe this will make me more refined but I'm not counting on it.

Here is a link to a thread I started over at the Steve Hoffman forum inquiring about which titles are the best ones to start a collection with. I also checked sa-cd.net for ratings as well.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...d.php?t=261665

These are the two Living Stereo titles I bought.

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue - Fiedler

Ravel: Bolero, La Valse, Rapsodie Espagnole - Munch

Bill