What are your most recent Hi-Res purchases? - Page 231

Just did some research too, looks like Al Kooper remixed BS&T's debut album "Child is Father to The Man" for 5.1 SACD release but Sony has never released it...

^

#$%&*()

Sorry Jeff don't mean to annoy you. Just very confused at this point. Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't try posting on this thread, I'll go back to lurker status. And call my SACDBA sponsor...
Edited by davidbarrickman - 1/31/13 at 2:35pm

You're just the messenger.

Just bought:

Sonny Rollins On Impulse! APO SACD

Bill

Bill,
Recently you posted about this disc.
http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/5871
Rickie Lee Jones Pirates MoFi SACD just was wondering if you received it yet and what your impressions are...I have this in my collection. Thanks.
David

I have both of these MOFI SACD Stereo discs and my memory is that they are very good ............I don't remember them to be anything exceptional. Didn't realize they were so expensive now........Maybe I should give them a listen again as it has been a few years since I spun them last.

How long did it take for you to get the disc from order placement? The email I got from Amazon UK when I placed my order said it would be here Monday but no joy yet.......Starting to sweat it a little.

David,

I haven't received the RLJ Pirates SACD yet. It should be here next week and I'll post my impressions once I give it a listen. The lineup on this album sounds impressive with Randy Brecker, Donald Fagen, Steve Gadd Tom Scott, David Sanborn and many others. Of course we all have heard of Donald Fagen but the other names are familar to me as well. It should be an interesting listen .

Bill

SACDBA Members,

Some feedback on The Counting Crows – August and Everything After (AP SACD/2.0).

A little background…it was recorded on analogue tape which is tougher to find for 90’s Pop/Rock releases…so some good potential here for AP to beat the original release. Great vibe/music and one CD that stayed on frequent rotation in my car/house so very familiar with this one. Highly recommend if you like the music. Good to get new SACD releases that stand out a little (hint…support the cause)…not the typical AP classic jazz offerings. But it has the typical AP warmth with excellent clarity…certainly can explore deeper than with the CD. Dynamic range is what comes to mind when I hear this one, vocals shine a bit more, drums hit harder. The quiet passages are where this one shines!

Level matched to MFSL CD release…the AP SACD has better soundstage and just has that extra detail…cymbals shine a little clearer, voice more out front, hangs in the room better, fingers on the strings, music just blooms. This sounds great played at reference + (I’m listening at about 94 dB)…good release/buy with confidence.

Sticking with my recent nostalgia theme, I've purchased three of the re-released Elton John titles: Honkey Chateau, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Captain Fantastic. I've read all the great reviews on sa-cd and just decided it was time.

Not sure if you picked up the SHM releases or the original SACD releases...recommend the ones in 5.1. Can be a little bright, but still a fun listen. Might as well grab Madman, his s/t, and Tumbleweed...price is cheap.

Honky Chateau
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Captain Fantastic

Snowing outstide...great day to be a bum and listen.

Grahm Nash - Songs for Beginners & Songs for Survivors (DVD-As). Both very nice in 5.1...good mix/use of surrounds...and more important, great music. Folks, Jeff has some convincing points with the 5.1 vs. 2.0. When 5.1 is done right, 2.0 can't match. Still some great 2.0 stuff not to be ignored, but putting this on after some good 2.0 stuff and I have the wow moment when it plays.
Edited by USAFChief - 2/2/13 at 7:58am

Ooh...Songs for Beginners is an old fav. May have to look that one up! Where's my sponsor????

If you're a fan of "Tubular Bells" a copy of the MCH SACD just went up for sale on that other forum. You know, the one with the "sa-cd's".

My point on 5.1 is solely about sound qualtiy, and then mostly about analog-era titles. Going back to the multitrack masters and then going forward from there with today's technology is tantamount to a guarantee that the sound quality will be the highest possible and will be what was heard by the artists, engineer and producer in the studio when originally recorded. (Maybe better. See my point about the sound quality of "today's" effects.)

And when I say "today's technology" I don't just mean the recording "medium." Consider that studios of that era used plate reverbs, and those plate reverbs used transducers to input the sound into the plate and pick out the sound at various spots around the plate. (Some studios would have even used spring-type reverbs.) This was for "wetting" the mixed elements. Delays for doubling and or echo were done with tape machines. Even when digital delays came onto the scene - I had an Eventide Harmonizer in the late 70's - the circuitry was stone age compared to today.

If today's digitally recorded mixes used effects from the 70's, the mixes would be muddy, e.g. a voice might be crystal clear, but if that is thickened (e.g. doubled) and then "placed" in a large hall would sound like sh1t. Using current effects technology yields a pristine source and pristine effects; it all blends together seamlessly.

So, flogging this horse a bit more, remastering a SACD from the old analog stereo mix might improve the sound quality over the master used for the vinyl or CD, but it also brings forward all of the older effects. REMIXING, even into a STEREO mix ensures the highest quality possible from the original sessions. It seems rare, though, that remixes are done in stereo, and that is why I harp on preach recommend 5.1 mixes as the ultimate.

A recent exception to the needs-to-be-surround-to-be-the-best is ELP and ELP Tarkus. When I get my 5508 back, I plan on comparing the original stereo CD to the REMIXED stereo CD to the REMIXED stereo HI-RES DVD-A. I have expectations that I will hear proof of my theory with respect to sound quality and today's vs yesterday's technologies.

The two hi-res surround Nash titles you mention had me breaking out the bong.

Jeff
Edited by pepar - 2/2/13 at 11:26am

This mostly all surround stuff.

One exception is the SACD of Camel's The Snow Goose. This is one of my all time favorite albums - so had to have it. It's excellent - but so is the normal disc - in that both are limited by what is on the master tape. It just "feels" better having more bits I suppose. I suppose we would have to see a remix of this to get anything better - but not holding my breath for that.

Received "Divertimenti" yesterday - after seeing it on top of someone's favorite surround list here on the forums.

This is a very nice recording. It has both a BluRay and SACD. It comes really close to what I think classical should sound like in surround. It is not a case of having a nice stereo image in front and hall acoustics in back (like so many of my other surround sound classical discs). It really surrounds you and there are instruments around you. I can see why this was nominated for a Grammy a few years back. I think I like it better than the Transmigration disc- although it kind of depends on what mood you are in. The chamber music in Divertimenti goes over well as background music - more cheerful than the John Adams piece - which is more suited for serious listening with the lights off.

I also bought one of those recordings from the Boston Pops made in the 1950's. They are recorded in 3 channel stereo and obviously well suited to a 5.1 system (ignoring the rear channels). They sound amazing for such an old recording. They are as old as I am.

My other two recent purchases were a couple more Genesis discs - "Genesis" and "We Can't Dance". These seem pretty consistent to the other three I have... good - but not as good as something like Brothers In Arms or Hotel California (thank goodness that got re-released as an SACD in surround so I could afford it).

At the top of my most wanted list is Avalon - but not willing to spend the $$$ for that. Hope it gets re-released someday. Waiting patiently for the next Steven Wilson album (deluxe box on order). Also fingers crossed to see if Storm Corrosion gets Mr. Wilson a Grammy. It's an excellent surround mix - highly recommended.

Whomever it was above that is getting NIN's disc - just make sure your kids aren't around when you play it. However, it is an AWESOME sounding album in surround.

Played Abraxas during a poker game and it turned a few heads. It's a very different sounding album than in stereo - and worthy of being ranked close to Pink Floyd's stuff.

This one has been in my heavy rotation for many years. Excellent bass, sonics, and as you said, use of surrounds and excellent music.

Didn't realize Songs For Beginners was out in mch too....Will have to look for that one.

As a sidebar, can you imagine what CSN's self-titled album would sound like in hires mch? I might camp out and wait in line for that one.

Rolling Stones Grrrrr finally arrived today. (2 channel only bluray with PCM, Doby TrueHD and DTS HD MA layers - all 24/96.)

As others have posted in the other forum, I too am having some issues with the bitstream layers (Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD) and my Oppo -93 and Denon AVPA1HDCI pre/pro.

The menu is archaic at best and once you figure it out, switching between modes can cause handshake issues which means turning off the Oppo and Denon and then powering up again. So far, I can't even get the DTS HD MA layer to play - just garbage out. The PCM layer is fine and the DolbyTrueHD layer seems OK.

As far as the sound, I would say it is on par to the 2 channel SACD's I have although I haven't listened to all the tracks yet. Overall pretty good for a 2 channel presentation. Personally, I have found most of the Stones' SACD's a bit on the bright side anyway and this one is no different......But nice and clear with good separation and "off the speakers" sonics. Certainly well worth the $23 and the 2 week delivery from the UK and a 'must have' if you are a Stones fan. Gonna see if I can rip the PCM to my NAS next week (cross fingers).

Like you needed that for an excuse:D

Just bought:

Norah Jones Come Away With Me APO SACD

Bill

That's a good one!

(cough) What were we talking about?

Dude,

I don't remember but can you pass the brownies, whats with your eyes man is it allergy season already ?

Bill

Only slightly off-topic, but I just put in the David Gilmour "Remember That Night" blu-ray. Something magical about Shine On You Crazy Diamond with Graham Nash and David Crosby doing background vocals.

If you don't have it, this is one of my favorite blu-ray concert discs. Highly recommended!

If you like that one, you will be mesmerized by that same duo (Nash/Crosby) singing backup to Bonnie Raitt singing Love Has No Pride (acoustic) on the 25th Anniversary of Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Bluray. I play that one over and over and still get goosebumps.

On the same bluray, there is also a number where they join James Taylor for another acoustic number (Love The One You're With) - not as stellar but pretty darn good.

This bluray is one of my new favorites..........All in DTS HD MA.

Back on (or is it off) topic, I definitely bogart this bluray.

I am surprised I haven't blown speakers on "On An Island." I keep hoping Gilmour will realease the album in 5.1.

Jeff

. I have this on my dvr and watch it often. Been looking for a good deal on the blu ray.

There is a 5.1 mix of on an island available btw.