New Audio Fidelity SACD's of Yes (CTTE!) and Rush - Page 2

Well................ if you ordered your CTTE SACD from importcds you might get a surprise in the package. Two members over at the Steve Hoffman forum posted that they got a package from importcds. In the package was Elton John's "Rock of the Westies" AF Gold CD instead of the CTTE SACD . So I hope I get the CTTE SACD and not "Rock of the Westies" CD.

Bill

I received my copy of the CTTE SACD from importcds on Saturday as well. I listened to a few songs but I didn't have time to really crank it. I'll try to give it a good listen tomorrow.

Bill

Haven't ordered yet. Looking forward to seeing some reviews first. Come on, guys, it's Monday already!

This thread over at the Steve Hoffman forum discusses the CTTE SACD. Claus who is a well known and knowlegable member over there says the SACD is now his go to digital copy of CTTE (page 44 post #1095). I can't recall if I ever had CTTE on vinyl but I've never had it on CD so this is my first digital copy of the album.

Bill

scolumbo, received CTTE today and it is outstanding, 10 of 10 imo.
I posted in the hi-res thread, if you like Yes don't lollygag AF pressings are limited runs.

I bow to no man (or woman) in my love of Yes (the real Yes, not the current bastardization), but I have bought so many copies of CTTE (went thru 4-5 vinyl copies, them MFSL 1/2 speed vinyl, original, then remastered CD), that w/o 5.1 mix, the improvements would have to be significant for me to dip yet again. Can you give us some specifics on how this sacd is better?

Jim, I don't know how this sacd is better because it's the only digital copy I own.
But the SQ of this release is outstanding, imo.
I have several AF releases and the CSN for instance is no better to me than the Rhino release.
I judge each disc on it's own merits on my system.
All I can say is that CTTE sounds clear, natural and is very crank-able.

I honestly can't imagine anyone who loves Yes wouldn't be really glad they bought this disc.
And You And I is just beautiful.
I've listened to CTTE 3 times this evening.
I'm crossing my fingers that they re-do The Yes Album.
I think the chances are pretty good as it seems like this one is selling fast and Steve Hoffman has mentioned wanting to do more Yes remasters.
Edited by Milt99 - 3/5/13 at 8:32pm

Thanks for the response, but I have no problems w/ my re-mastered CTTE- it sounds very good to me. I have not bought any 2ch sacd's; I'm all about the mch. Unless I hear that this sacd is a significant improvement over the CD, I will just wait and hope that Steve Wilson gets to do his magic w/ CTTE; would love the deluxe treatment he does on this- any Yes really, but this would be my 1st choice, tied with Tales.

I can appreciated that but realistically, the chances of CTTE getting a SW 5.1 DVD-A are non-existent.

Why do you say this (and ruin our fantasies!)?

I'm not optimistic about getting a 5.1 treatment of CTTE but I hear Steven Wilson has a free week at the end of August so who knows.

I'll probably pick this up based on Milt's and a few other recommendations. I can give you my impressions compared to all my other copies. What's one more. I'd hate to miss out if this was the definitive version.

I agree that the chances we'll get CTTE in 5.1 are poor- mainly because it's too good to be true, but I wonder why you say they are non-existent? I would have agreed until recently, since it was pretty well accepted that the multi-tracks had been lost, but I was just recently informed via another forum (quadraphonicquad.com- an excellent forum dedicated to all things surround) that it appears either that was false or they've been found. The thread in question:

http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/showthread.php?15835-Next-Steven-Wilson-70s-Mix-Let-The-Speculation-Begin/page11

Jammit.com, which sells "stems" for songs, i.e. isolated instrumental tracks that appear to derive from multi's has them for the whole CTTE album. So, it appears there's at least a ray of hope...

Catching up on that thread, it would be great indeed if the multitracks for CTTE are available. My Yes wishlist would start with CTTE, then Tales, followed by The Yes Album, then Relayer, and finally GFTO. I don't need Tormato or anything later, I'll be satisfied with just that list.

I speculated the non-existent because it's just been released by Audio Fidelity and the owners of the tapes did not spring for a 5.1 re-mix when it would've been the logical time to do it.
I also feel that they're not going to dilute the market with another release.
Maybe in several years if the planets line up right but I can't remember it having happened before.

The other main outlet for hi-rez is Analogue Productions and they have zero interest in doing new 5.1 mixes.

Steven Wilson is tied up with his own music, the King Crimson releases, which are probably all done, and now he's doing the XTC catalog Yeah Baby!

Hey I'm just one guy and would love a 5.1 of CTTE, but I'd rather enjoy the one that is here today than hold out as these are limited pressings and don't stick around very long.
Besides, I don't have another digital copy and hadn't heard this in years and I love it.

Milt,

If I recall all AF SACD releases past and present are stereo only. So even if mult-track tapes were available the AF CTTE SACD would only be stereo.

Bill

Just that and you'll be satisfied? LOL Your wish list is just like mine, except I'd have Relayer before TYA. But just give me either one of the 1st 2 on that list and I'd be satisfied. I assume you have Mag in 5.1? I love that disc- think that album never got the respect it deserves- and it's awesome in surround.

Well, as you said, that's a limited pressing, so no real conflict- and as pointed out, AF doesn't do mch sacd, so who knows? But I'm not holding my breath...

As for SW, he always seems to be busy (the High Priest of surround), but he did put CTTE and Tales on his wishlist of surround projects (he did a Q&A at quadraphonicquad.com), so if he were given the opportunity, I imagine he'd find the time, eventually.

I agree, I think Magnification is highly under-rated, especially since the SQ is fantastic in surround.

I also like Symphonic Live in 5.1, even though it's not lossless, but I can understand why that's not everyone's cup of tea.

Well, if you get the BR, it's lossless... But the dvd sounds mighty fine to me- haven't double-dipped for the BR. Symphonic was my go-to Yes dvd for a while, but I got a lil burnt out on it. Recently, I tend to watch Tsongas more than the others.

I think the band, esp. Jon, was very disappointed with Mag sales- understandably- and it affected their/his (esp.) desire to do new albums. He said at one point that he'd like to focus on dvd's (and we got "Acoustic" and "Tour of the Universe"). Personally, I don't think they helped themselves very much by not playing it more on the symphonic tour- the 3 they played were some of the weakest on the album, imo- esp. "Don't Go." ItPo was really nice, but what about "Dreamtime?" That would have been awesome live. Remember when they used to play all (or almost all) of the new album for the tour supporting it? That's one reason I loved the Ladder Tour- another under-rated album imo- I went to 3 shows of that tour, tied w/ Symphonic for most shows on one tour I've been to, not counting different legs of the "same" tour.

hmmm...I seemed to have missed that it was released on Blu-ray. I generally don't like to double-dip also, but I seem to have trouble with that point of view when it comes to Yes and a few others.

Due to the magic of 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime, I'll have my SACD of CTTE on Friday, speaking of owning way more copies than anyone reasonably should.

So, how many times have you seen Yes live, altogether? Unfortunately, not enough times for me, esp. in their prime. I even sold the tickets I had bought for last summer's tour after hearing how bad this current lineup is.

I just got 2 copies of CTTE and they say they are numbered limited editions but I cannot find anywhere on the packaging or disc any numbers like the MFSL limited editions that clearly state X of X made. Am I missing something?

AF only lists the number not x of x.
According to the website, AF releases are limited to 5,000 units on the initial pressing.

The gold colored sticker should be on the outer paper cover.

My copy was just delivered to my door by the man in brown.

Mine is numbered 4278.

Mine is numbered (0993) and I believe ti-triodes is right in that AF pressed more than 5000 copies.

Bill

After looking at the reviews on the S Hoffman forum, I caved in and bought CTTE yet again! Funny, liked it just fine in the early seventies on a crappy Record Club of America cassette in a mono Mayfair cassette player. Always looking for something more to be revealed!

Doctor, I think you're going be to glad you picked this up.
It's a lot cheaper than the AP SACDs as well, at least from Amazon it is.

So Bill, I don't remember reading your impressions of CTTE.
Inquiring minds want to know

BTW, I ordered mine on Feb 21st and got number 0419, not that it makes any difference but it did raise my eyebrow in Spock-like fashion.
Edited by Milt99 - 3/10/13 at 5:40pm

Jim, I'm with you both on the "love of Yes" and "current bastardization." But I broke down and ordered the SACD yesterday. I couldn't bear the thought of missing the pressing and ending up paying $200 on eBay once it's out of print.

I would much prefer 5.1, but the multitracks appear forever lost. The jam site only has stems; you couldn't recreate an accurate mix b/c the stems are missing overdubs and effects (like the chirping birds and river from the beginning of CTTE), according to multiple reports.