What are your most recent Hi-Res purchases? - Page 139

Thanks for the info. Just placed the order. Great price.

Kim

You won't be dissapointed, I guarantee it

OK I surrender.
Thnx, man, they even knocked $3 off the shipping as I bought all 3.

caupina,

Nick Drake's "A Treasury" is a great SACD at a real low price. I have the Gershwin-Rhapsody in Blue-Fiedler" Living Stereo SACD as well. If the SACD prices at Fry's are good you should grab any of those titles. I have bought a number of Nat King Cole SACDs recently. They sound excellent and will be good to have if they go OOP. If you want good suggestions on the Living Stereo SACDs you should check out the threads I linked below from the Hoffman forum.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...=living+stereo

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...=living+stereo

Bill

SoM,

It looks like the SACD/DVD-A bug has bitten you as well.

Bill

Just ordered:

Nat King Cole: After Midnight

Bill

Thanks Bill, I'll read those threads, I know Steve Hoffman loves them, the thing is that I'm not very familiar with that genre, in fact of my collection of CD/SACD/DVDA etc, close to 1500, I only have 10 titles and I don't listen to them too often. I just buy music I really like (take some chances on some titles I think I might like) and pass up on that I don't, even though I know there's a chance a certain issue could cost a fortune in the near future. I'm not into this to make money but to enjoy this hobby and share my experiences with all of you

caupina,

To be honest I haven't listened to many of the Living Stereo SACDs I have bought. I was lucky to get many of them when Barnes and Nobles had the big sale recently. I'm sure they will increase in value but I'm like you in that doesn't really interest me. I just wanted to have them for when I have more time to listen to music I will be glad to have them. I do not know anything about classical music as well.

Bill

We're in the same boat then ...these two titles I'd like to get though...and Bill if you're looking for some specific SACD let me know and I'll look around when I'm browsing the used bins and I'll get them for you at not extra charge, just shipping

I didn't know very much about it but collecting the RCA Living Stereo series (I don't have all of them, but I am near 40, judging by a quick glance on my shelf) has been like a relatively inexpensive course in classical music. The compositions are among the most well-known (no trips into obscurity so far), the orchestras and conductors and soloists were the superstars of their day and the sound quality varies from good to outstanding (considering some of these recordings are from the early fifties, it is rather amazing, at least to me). I have since greatly expanded my classical collection (about 100 SACD-DVD/A in that category, plus another 200 or so CDs), in large part inspired by RCA Living Stereo releases as well as my annual subscription (for the past seven years) to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (housed in a brand new, acoustically phenomenal hall).

In my humble opinion, the best way to dip into the waters of classical music are the Living Stereo series and the Naxos label (whether SACD/DVD-A or CD). There are better recordings/performances on other labels (and I have a number of them) but there is no more affordable way to build a good starter collection that I have found, in any event.

The Bream is quite nice, by the way.

Thanks Ovation for your valuable opinion, I really appreciate the input of knowledgeable people that can point me in the right direction .

Great approach and collection!

I've just recently stuck my foot in the classical genre and to be honest, my lack of "like" was more tied to a lack of exposure. On a good system, some of the best dynamics, emotion, and energy to be had. Some of this stuff "rocks out" more than my rock discs.

I'm still very much a classical noob, but I'm finding it very engaging. Surprised myself and my wife. But if you've tried it and it's not your thing...that's OK too. Lot's of other great music out there to explore.

Just listened to Spain yesterday...great sonics/performance. The sonics with the Bream disc is a little lacking in my opinion (somewhat veiled on my system/room), but the performance is terrific.

Totally agree with the RCA Living Stereo SACD/CD reccommendations...great way to test the waters. I also picked up some the "top recommendations" classical recordings from the SA-CD.net site as well.

http://www.sa-cd.net/toprecommendations

Thanks USAFChief for the compliment ...yours is awesome too!!! and I see you've gotten a decent amount of classical titles so your opinion is also very important. I'll get the bug to collect this genre I hope sooner than later....it took me a while to get into jazz, Pat Metheny Group got me started more than 20 years ago and now I've been getting into Bill Evans, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, but especially some european jazz....of which I highly recommend these (sorry if I derailed the thread a bit but no SACD issues of these titles ):

After two strikes I finally got a used copy of Sam Cooke at the copa MCH 5.1 sacd. Only paid 15.50 shipped.

Brock,

Good for you. How high would you have bid? I dropped out at $12.00 as I figured someone from here was bidding on it and I already had a copy on the way.

Bill

Ohh that was you... I put a high bid in of 31.09. I wasn't going to miss out on it this time.

Thanx for not bidding any higher

Brock,

I'm glad you got it. I threw the $12.00 bid in thinking if I won the bid I could send it to a good home. My copy should arrive today or tomorrow. So I'll post my thoughts on this very "elusive" SACD after I give it a spin.

Bill

After quite a long search I finally found Patricia Barber's Cafe Blue SACD at a very good price. This completes my collection of all five of PB's SACDs. I think I am done with SACD, DVD-A and CD buying till after the Holidays.

Bill

caupina,

We certainly are in the same boat for sure. I have read a number of posts over at the SH forum about Living Stereo SACDs with discussions about many artists as well as specific performances. I do not have a clue what they are talking about. I guess it would be similar if a life long classical music fan decided to get into classic rock. They would most likely be lost as well.

Thanks so much for the offer to look for SACDs in your favorite haunts. I will extend the same offer if there are some SACD titles you are having trouble finding. I have the two Living Stereo titles you linked. But I have not had a chance to listen to them. I will have to make the time though.

Bill

LOL ... Good luck with that

I'm glad someone has found and bagged one of these rare birds. Was this eBay?

Re my importscd purchase, they have not responded yet to my request from last Thursday through Amazon to return it. Yesterday I emailed them directly on the status of the return saying that I have always had good customer service from them. I don't know how long to wait to give them the benefit of the doubt before I escalate with Amazon.

Has anyone completed a successful and drama-free return of this yet?

Jeff

Yes it was on eBay

And my copy from import CDs still sits in my car waiting to be returned

Jeff,

I called them directly last week and will be calling them again as I have not received a response to my request for a RMA with a return shipping label either. I believe Super D is the parent company of importcds. When I called they asked what company I ordered from and was it through ebay or Amazon. I told the CSA the order was placed directly from the importcds site. Just tell them you have had no response to your RMA email request.

When I googled the address on the importcds site this is what I found.

Super D
17822 Gillette Ave #A
Irvine CA, 92614
United States
949-225-1170 Phone
866-666-1170 (Toll Free)

Bill

I did just get a reply saying that there is no RMA needed, and that I simply send it back to them. As that causes me to bear the expense of the return, that troubles me and I am trying to decide how I want to handle it.

I think I will reply to them saying I don't think I should have to be out of pocket on their mistake.

edit: that's what I did ... asked them if they are refunding the cost of the return.

Jeff

I will be calling importcds later today and ask for a RMA and a return shipping label. There is no way I'm sending this CD back without a RMA which is needed IMO. If you ship the CD back to them what proof will you have that it ever reached its destination? Then when the CD does get there how will the people on the other end know what to do with it?

If importcd wants to refund the purchase price with shipping and pay for return shipping up front then I would not see the need for a RMA. I doubt they will do that but I will ask them that if they say a RMA is not needed.

Bill

"Trust, but verify."

Sad but true. But with RBCD sounding so good, I'm expanding my music collection with many inexpensive bargains as well. I would love more of your suggestions for hi SQ/great performance RBCD gems like PB Cafe Blue. I wonder if there's a thread for that?

Yeah sure. Perhaps we should be "SACD Anon" sponsors for each other, calling the other immediately when the bug bites before clicking "BUY". On second thought, mebbe that's not such a good idea, considering our respective track records!

Ever see "Days of Thunder?" Even in their wheelchairs, Cole and Rowdy were such competitors that they ran each other over. Calling a fellow SACD addict about a deal somewhere might get you some support, but the person called would likely be heading there to click "buy" while giving that support.

^ I guess the exact item/price/source would have to be kept on a "need to know basis".