What are your most recent Hi-Res purchases? - Page 186

I'm not sure exactly what soundstage and imaging mean in relation to CDs, but one reason I suspect I'd like the DTS version better is that my receiver plays 5.1 sources with Audyssey DSX Wide, which sounds great to me.

^I don't understand why you'd question those terms irt CD.

Of course to each his own, but I've found that with a well-tuned stereo setup, good sources including RBCDs can reveal fabulous soundstage and imaging and are best listened to in native 2 ch format. In fact, often guests will put their ear up to the CC or the DSX wides to hear if they're playing. Of course, for stereo they're not but that's how good the phantom image is and that how wide the soundstage can be.

As to DSX wides for 2 ch music, that is all about preference and applying two layers of artificial expansion, first neo:6 or Dolby PLIIx and then DSX. I never use that for critical listening exactly because of the tradeoff of the imaging as the mixer intended for an artificially enhanced sense of size of room/width of soundstage. I will turn all that processing on for my wife, who likes diffuse, new-age type of music, Native Amer flute, etc which she prefers to fill the room. She could care less about imaging, she likes immersion.

I didn't really question the terms; I merely said I didn't understand what they mean in relation to CDs, or more accurately, as inherent features of particular CDs. Although I understand that different CDs are recorded, mastered, mixed, etc. differently, I have never personally experienced listening to a CD and thinking that it had a wider soundstage than other CDs. To me, stereo is stereo, and, other than dynamic range compression, how a CD sounds depends more on the system it's being played on than its inherent properties. I have no idea what "imaging" means in relation to listening to music.

I don't know what kind of setup you have, but as far as I know, my receiver will not apply DSX Wide to stereo sources. I do apply Dolby PLIIx when I listen to CDs, but I don't consider myself a "critical listener." The only sources I listen to in stereo are my LPs, and if I could figure out how to apply Dolby PLIIx to them, I would.

As you said, to each his own, but this is the Surround Music Format forum, so it shouldn't be surprising that most of the posters here prefer surround to stereo.

I have many CD/SACDs that I feel have a much better soundsatge and imaging than others. I'm kind of surprised you do not have CD/SACDs where you notice this as well. I have some rock and jazz CD/SACDs (2CH) that have an almost surround type of SQ to them. By that I mean the music has depth and width to it. Some CD/SACDs that I own are at the other end of the spectrum where the soundstage is very narrow and has no depth. Imaging to me means that a recording with multple instruments or vocals have a clear definition and location to them.

Bill

Wish You were here BD Pink Floyd
Black and White nights Roy Orbison BD
Eagle vision sampler BD BTW $0.89 @ amazon!

madman:

Not a SHM! I ordered it too, they sent me a used! copy!! went right back

BD with 39 tracks. what do you want for 89 cents? I got 5.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...on%2Caps%2C482

Imaging as it relates to cd's is the placement of instruments and sound within an acoustic space. On a CD with good imaging the instruments and vocals each have their own acoustic space. On a good stereo system you can even have sounds coming from the right of the right speaker or left of the left speaker. In other words a surround type effect with two speakers. A center speaker is necessary for multiple seating positions, but if you are sitting dead center and you have speakers that can image well, there is no need for a center speaker.

I was referring specifically to CDs. Of course I have noticed sonic differences among my multi-channel recordings, but that's because surround music formats provide a larger canvas for musicians and engineers to work with. Stereo, while broader than mono, is just more limited, in my opinion. Even my stereo SACDs don't give me the impression of a "wider soundstage." I suspect they sound better to me than most CDs because of their sources and limited dynamic compression. Let's not even get started on high-resolution...

Thanks for the explanation of imaging. To me, that supports my opinion because multi-channel recordings offer more locations to place different instruments and vocals.

I think that a wider soundstage is a function of room acoustics and speakers. But the content must also be mixed so that the "cues" are there that enhance apparent source width.

My thoughts were only referring to 2CH music whether it was CDs or SACDs. I have some CDs (Patricia Barber comes to mind) that are excellent sounding and have a soundstage that extends well outside of my speakers. Right now I'm listening to Patricia Barbers Cafe' Blue SACD and I would be shocked if you felt that this recording had the same soundstage and imaging as other CD/SACDs. I'm not sure what your system consists of or what your room is like but maybe that could be the reason you are not hearing any differences.

Bill

I agree with this 100%.

Bill

I agree with that, too. Maybe not 100%, but I'll stop my OT posts.

You're welcome.

2 new Verve additions from Analogue Productions, Ella And Louis Again
and Ella: Like Someone In Love.

Like Someone in Love is stereo hybrid, a very nice collection of love ballads, orchestrations and all.

Ella And Louis Again is a Norman Grantz production with a "backing band" consisting of:
Louie Bellson, drums
Ray Brown, bass
Herb Ellis, guitar
Oscar Peterson, piano
This is a must-have for any jazz fan. A mono hybrid disc with outstanding AQ.

I have the MFSL version...would be interested in a compairison if you have the other.

Just picked up a like new copy of Donald Fagen Kamakiriad DVD-A on eBay.
This finishes off my Hi Res Steely Dan Collection.
Saw one sell yesterday on eBay for $105.00 which is just crazy!!
The price of Kamakiriad has just skyrocketed in the last couple of months from around $40 to now $75.00 or over a hundred.

Didn't they just release this on SACD? Strange that this title would increase so much...

As far as I know the only Donald Fagen SACD is The Nightfly. The Kamakiriad DVD-A is a hard one to come by of the three DF DVD-As. I have the Nightfly Trilogy box set which has Kamakiriad in MCH but not Hi-Rez. It will have to do until I find the Kamakiriad DVD-A at a good price.

Bill

Hmmm...am I lost? Sir, can you direct me to "What are your most recent HiRes purchases?" thread?

Anybody notice the shipping price increase to $4.99 at Amazon?!

To my knowledge The Nighfly is the only Donald Fagen SACD as you mentioned.

Bill,
I picked up my Kamakiriad on eBay for $56.00
Considering it's in new like condition, that's not to bad IMO.

Yes, you are lost--in a fog of condescension.

Yeah, last night I think it might be worth buying the Free shipping thing Amazon sell for $79.00 a year, but I don't think it applies to ever purchase though. I hate getting hose, and it's every where you go these days


DJoel

Amazon Prime gives you free 2-day shipping on all items sold by Amazon, plus substantial savings on 1-day shipping. A few 3rd-party sellers also get included into Prime, and that's clearly indicated on each item description.

And there's the free streaming via supported devices.

I calculate that the $80 I spend on Prime is returned several times over just on shipping, not to mention the benefit of 2-day service.

I agree--Amazon Prime is the way to go unless you only buy an occasional item from them. Have not tried streaming/Kindle but I would imagine if you use it often it adds to the value.

Just bought:

Porcupine Tree's In Absentia DVD-A

Thanks to Dan and Steve for turning me on to PT's DVD-As. I do not listen to PT as much as I would like to but their DVD-As sound excellent.

Bill

Just listened to Porcupine Tree's Fear of A Blank Planet DVD-A last night at very loud levels. Tracks 1 and 3 really pack a good punch with good subs.

It's a great disc to listen after a hard days work, and no one is home
Enjoy buddy Edit: Holly crap this thing is going for 95 big ones USED


I'm missing that one for some strange reason But definitely will be adding it to my collection.


Dan

With all the soundproofing efforts I made in my theater room, I can listen at pretty obscene levels without bothering anyone. I was listening to Porcupine Tree and Dire Straits Brothers in Arms last night at 11 PMM at levels I would not have dared in my previous room. It was loud enough that my hair was vibrating. I guess all the soundproofing efforts I made in my theater room worked because my wife never complained about the noise.