What are your most recent Hi-Res purchases? - Page 184

Martin-what do you think about Dream Theater/Systematic Chaos as an album? I see there's a MCH version floating around. I still can't believe Portnoy's no longer in the band .

I found qobuz.com selling this, but only residents of France can buy it. Is there another site selling it?

Just Won Today on eBay : "Talk Talk" Spirit of Eden SACD & another copy of "Talk Talk" Colour Of Spring. SACD

Might decide to sell some of my duplicates after I go through and inventory everything.

Portnoy multitasked himself out of that band. I think he was in about a 100 bands besides Dream Theater but it is a shame.

No, Qobuz has the exclusive rights. I am not from France and I do not understand French so I was navigating through the site with the help from Google translate so I do not really know their policy. I paid with PayPal with a Hungarian/EU delivery address and everything went smoothly.
BTW, by using the PayPal option at checkout on the HDtracks site, I was able to download the album I wanted, although I am not from the US.

I was watching the Spirit of Eden SACD, but just not willing to pay that much. Not sure if you are aware, but there is now a DVD-A/2Ch 24/96kHz out (released 16 Apr - packaged with vinyl). Very reasonable when compared to the SACD price (also 2Ch). See here. Less than 23 lbs...in the neighborhood of $40 and you can resale the vinyl.

EDIT: I actually found/ordered the DVD-A/Vinyl from above link for less than 18 lbs, shipped from CA, USA...$35 to the door. Here's a link on the topic at the Hoffman site...good reviews.

Colour of Spring is also available in the same format!

Martin,
Thanks for the info and link.
I was not aware that there was a DVD-A/ Vinyl out for this but still would have bought the SACD to complete my set.
The price for the "Talk Talk" Spirit Of Eden SACD is very pricey (over a hundred) but it's also a vaulable and collectible SACD.
Took your advise and ordered both sets of the "Talk Talk" DVD-A/Vinyl as well since it's much more affordable..

Just got done listening to this DVD-A sampler disc I won on eBay a couple of weeks ago and WOW!!
What a great set list!! All the songs are originals in 5.1/ 96k surround sound. Sounds fantastic!!
Took a chance on this because it was new sealed and no description if it was 5.1 or stereo, or any thing about the audio. (48k, 96k, 192k)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170825555998...ht_1164wt_1396

If you ever held your nose up at DTS, don't. Paul told the truth on this reasonably priced disc. Beautiful and extremely open, enveloping sound on this one. Lyle was a mystery to me, other than a palm to forehead, what was Julia thinking when she married HIM.

Well this is terrific in true 5.1. Lyle is primarily in the center channel, excellent use of surrounds and a great listen...you get some folk, jazzy blues, country ballads, and gospel. Great songwriting and the production is impeccable.

I have a newfound respect for Lyle. Don't be afraid to pull the trigger on this masterpiece...a no brainer. How in the heck have I not heard of this before?

Here's one of the earlier posts...speaks to the importance of mastering.

I have both the CD version and the DTS version of Joshua Judges Ruth , the DTS version sounds very bad compared to the CD version , I will give it another listen tonight , maybe something in the settings was off ,I wrote off DTS surround sound after listening to that disc , I have heard other DTS disc that sounded ok.

Mark

I agree that the redbook CD of Joshua Judges Ruth sounds better than the DTS disk. The Joshua Judges Ruth CD is an audiophile classic.

OK

Maybe the cd version is just outstanding , I think it is ,I will give them another go around tonight .

Mark

That's very surprising to hear. A lot of "best DTS disc I've heard." What in particular are you hearing that sounds very bad?...I'm not experiencing anything even closely resembling average with my set-up. A lot of positive ratings/reviews out there as well. My system (oppo 95/Outlaw amp/Aperion spks) and with my ears this sounds right. I may have to try the redbook as well. Just hard to imagine it could be significantly better if better at all. This beats a bit of my hi-rez stuff and is available to the door for less than $15.

Funny this hobby of ours

I find this same situation with many recordings that have different formats (Redbook vs SACD, DVD-A, DTS) or differences in recording modes. (Stereo vs MCH)
Someone will think one version sounds great and another version sounds awful.
There maybe some technical merits to these claims in certain situations but I also think the majority boils down to personal taste.
Music is just one of those things that is just so VERY personal.
There really is no one size fit's all, right or wrong, and if YOU find it enjoyable that's what really matters.

Now I need to dig out my DTS Joshua Judges Ruth and give it an audition.

Do you think that some people hear better transparency, detail and dynamics in one version of a title and prefer the version with LESS of those characteristics?

Jeff

Following Les Chants Magnetiques, I went on to download Oxygene and Equinoxe, both 96/24 from the original Studio Masters ( 2011 remasters )
Oxygene is superb, beats the 2007 re-recording by Jarre, which was mixed in 5.1 and released in DTS.
Equinoxe has too much tape noise for my taste but the music is great. Especially the string synths shine here.

My copy, a RBCD, sounds great and features great artistry as well. But the reviews on Amazon regarding the DTS are quite mixed. I'd very much appreciate an A/B level-matched comparison by those who have both, to help us decide whether to spend $15 on the DTS.


Inquiring minds want to know!

I will give both a good listen soon , I did a quick listen last night and the CD sounded better than the DTS version but the DTS was not as bad as I remember , the CD was just more dynamic , the DTS sounded compressed .
I had high expectations for the DTS ,maybe to high .

Mark

That is my experience - the CD is more dynamic and i noticed especially on the piano at the beginning of North Dakota that the CD sounds much more lifelike. I think the piano at the beginning of that song is some of the best recorded piano out there.

One other thing is that I was used to the CD version before the DTS version. I find I develop a preference for hearing something a certain way and then anything else sounds wrong.

Queen-A Night at the Opera 30th Anniv Coll Ed., see here. The DVD has both 2 ch and a nicely mixed 5.1, both in 96/24. A bargain- well remastered and you get video and a free CD to boot. Bohemian Rhapsody alone is worth the price of admission at around $15 deliverd NIB; this song was meant for MC.

Vince Gueraldi- A Boy Named Charlie Brown SACD Hybrid No MCH but a very nice warm sound from this disc. Good presence with the snare drum brushes! Nice grab from Amazon for 11 bucks. Still in print I reckon

Recent wins from eBay: "David Elias - The Window" SACD MCH
http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/1336

"Texas - Careful What You Wish For" SACD MCH
http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/1628

Ooh, my Storm Corrosion CD/Blu-Ray preorder just shipped from The Omega Order! Official release is next week! YouTube the song Drag Ropes if you haven't heard of this. Grace for Drowning meets Heritage? Looks to be very mellow and moody with layered vocal harmonies! I can't wait for Steven Wilson's latest mix!

Great dynamic range to the Storm Corrosion blu ray 5.1 mix. Mellow dark earthy tunes. Percussion but little to no drums. Quite the trip this collaboration is! Nice harmonies when Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt sing together. Relaxed acoustic for much with symphonic touches.... Nice spacious 5.1 soundstage with discrete tracks coming out of the surrounds at times. Much more relaxed than Grace For Drowning or Heritage...

Just bought Elton John's Mad Man Across The Water SACD and Lindsey Buckinghams Live in LA Blu Ray. Arrives next week.

Jeff

Seen Lindsey live a couple of years ago. Phenomenal guitarist! That Blue Ray may be worth checking out. I loved Fleetwood Mac's Say You Will in DVD audio which is a personal favorite of mine. I hope they get around to record again because they can still bring it.

Madman is one of my favorite Mch SACDs. Paul Buckmaster's orchestral arrangements really shine in 5.1. The mix between the orchestra,vocals and band is outstanding. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Blu Ray.com gave it high marks in picture and sound, just a heads up.

Jeff

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet in this thread, but for you Texas residents, beginning July 1st, your sales tax free purchases at Amazon.com come to and end.

States have been trying to close the "loophole" for a number of reasons, primarily to regain tax revenue lost when their residents switch to out-of-state online sellers, but also because they are under pressure from their own state's businesses because of the disadvantage they have against the out-of-state sellers.

You should expect that in the future - and maybe the not too distant future - all sellers will be collecting sales tax.

Were you aware that even though Amazon had not been collecting sales tax for you state, you probably still owed it as a "use tax?"

Jeff