[pepar]

This thread is about everything technical about SACD/DVD-A except reviews of the music itself. Comments about the music itself are welcome, especially to help explain what the reviewer heard and/or referencing another title that will help readers to understand the reviewer's opinion. Discussions of all aspects of hardware to play them are ON topic though "certain aspects" of networked media tanks should be done by PM.

It has been suggested, and I concur, that reviews of multichannel Blu-rays/HD-DVDs be included. So if you are reading this and want to post a review of that media, please go ahead and post!


Jeff


Suggestions to standardize the reviews -


Please put the ARTIST, then title and then SACD or DVD-A in the post subject line. It will make it easier to alphabetize first by artist and then title. And it will help the reviews stand out from our other bantering.

Please include the label and catalog number as well as the year of the original recording.

Use a 1 to 10 scale when rating sound quality, with 10 being the highest rating.

If you have the Red Book CD, a comment or two comparing the hi-res version to the CD would be helpful.

Title Info


MCH layer Sound Quality (Transparency, Detail and Dynamics):


Stereo layer Sound Quality (Transparency, Detail and Dynamics):


If MCH, please comment on the use of the surrounds, i.e. used mostly for ambiance or are vocals and instruments fully spread around the room?


OPTIONAL System Info

Pre/pro/AVR

AVR:

or Pre/pro:

Main Amplification:

Speakers

FR/FL:

Center:


Surrounds:

Surround angle from CC:


Rear Surrounds (if used for MCH hi-res audio):

Rear surround angle from CC:


Sub(s):

 

[pepar]

 Beck - Sea Change - DVD-A - Milt99 (8/13/2011)

Chris Botti - Night Sessions - SACD - caupina (8/27/2011)

Michel Camilo, Spirit of the Moment - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/22/2011)

Eric Clapton - Reptile - DVD-A - streetsmart88 (9/4/2011)

Bryan Ferry - Boys And Girls - SACD - Bill Mac (8/20/2011)

Ola Gjeilo - Stone Rose - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/14/2011)


Josh Groban - Awake Live - Blu-ray - streetsmart88 (8/30/2011)

Hiromi - Spiral - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/14/2011)

James Horner - A Beautiful Mind (soundtrack) - SACD - Desert Pilot (9/18/2011)

Billy Joel - 52nd St - SACD - pepar ((10/27/2011)


Ståle Kleiberg - Treble & Bass: Concertos by Ståle Kleiberg - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/13/2011)

Lord Of The Rings - The Complete Recordings (soundtrack) - DVD-A - Desert Pilot (8/13/2011)

Claire Martin - He Never Mentioned Love - SACD - streetsmart88 (9/2/2011)

Claire Martin - Secret Love - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/22/2011)

Claire Martin - Too Darn Hot! - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/29/2011)

Marion Meadows - Player's Club - SACD - Desert Pilot (8/20/2011)

A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas - SACD - Desert Pilot (12/26/2011)

Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners - DVD-A - Milt99 (8/15/2011)

Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners - DVD-A - pepar (12/22/2011) (my apologies for the duplicate review, but my enjoyment of this album is so much that after listening I had to post!)

The Police - Every Breath You Take: The Classics - SACD - pepar (8/19/2011)

R.E.M. - Automatic For The People - DVD-A - Milt99 (8/18/2011)

SEAL - Best 1991-2004, DVD-A - Desert Pilot (8/18/2011)

Steely Dan - Gaucho - DVD-A - SoundofMind (8/15/2011)

Steely Dan - Two Against Nature - DVD-A - pepar (8/11/2011)

Art Tatum - Piano Starts Here: Live At The Shrine - Desert Pilot (1/8/2012)

Yes - Fragile - SACD - USAFChief (8/21/2011)

 

[holt7153]

Great idea for a thread-I'm looking forward to seeing some reviews. Will this be limited to SACD/DVD-A or will it include DTS, DualDisc, etc?

 

[pepar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by holt7153 /forum/post/20802374


Great idea for a thread-I'm looking forward to seeing some reviews. Will this be limited to SACD/DVD-A or will it include DTS, DualDisc, etc?

I am thinking that it should be high resolution SACD and DVD-A and not DTS-encoded CD's or DVD's. And Dual Discs don't make that cut either. Blu-ray Audio discs would qualify.


But I'm certainly interested in hearing the thoughts of others on that.


Jeff

 

[upstate-avfan-da]

Great idea for the new thread!!


Although I may be embarrassed by the limitations of my setup haha.


Suggest a "template" for copy/paste and filling in the blanks for hardware before talking about SQ to put it in context of the listener.


AVR:

FR/FL:

Center:

SR/SL:

Sub:

Player:

(Add 7.1 if applicable and/or supplemental hardware)

 

[USAFChief]

I've subscribed in anticipation of a good thread!

 

[pepar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by upstate-avfan-da /forum/post/20804977


Great idea for the new thread!!


Although I may be embarrassed by the limitations of my setup haha.


Suggest a "template" for copy/paste and filling in the blanks for hardware before talking about SQ to put it in context of the listener.


AVR:

FR/FL:

Center:

SR/SL:

Sub:

Player:

(Add 7.1 if applicable and/or supplemental hardware)

Thanks. Inserted your list and am building on that. I should have some time to work on the format at the office today...


Jeff

 

[Milt99]

Great idea pepar.(I offered it several years ago but got shutdown)

I think it should be mandatory to list one's complete system components AND room description.

Way to go guy.

One caveat, I have dual-discs that are DVD-A on one side and CD on the other.

These should definitely be included as they are DVD-A.

What about the rating standard?

Should we go with a 100 point scale? 5 star scale?

I would suggest rating categories for content, recording\\mastering and mix.

 

[USAFChief]

Testing, Testing, Testing,

Pre/pro/AVR

AVR:

or Pre/pro: Outlaw 970

Main Amplification: Outlaw 7125

Speakers

FR/FL: Aperion Verus Forte Towers

Center: Aperion 533 VAC


Surrounds: Aperion 532L/R

Surround angle from CC: 100 deg


Rear Surrounds (if used for MCH hi-res audio): N/A

Rear surround angle from CC:

Sub(s):[/quote] Aperion S-10


Room: 15 X 20

Listening Position: 10 Ft from Center


Crap, I'm tired of typing all this info...I have to build a word template.


Sara K: Made in the Shade


Well balanced MCH...tastefull use of surrounds

AQ bests Hell or High Water...very dynamic/realistic

Performance...good, but not as good as Hell or High Water


This is only a test, do not adjust your computer.

 

[pepar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Milt99 /forum/post/20806986


Great idea pepar.(I offered it several years ago but got shutdown)

I think it should be mandatory to list one's complete system components AND room description.

Way to go guy.

One caveat, I have dual-discs that are DVD-A on one side and CD on the other.

These should definitely be included as they are DVD-A.

What about the rating standard?

Should we go with a 100 point scale? 5 star scale?

I would suggest rating categories for content, recording\\mastering and mix.

Yes, definitely, a DVD-A side puts it into the thread!


I think the system info is good to have, and room description might be of interest to some, but describing one's own room might too subjective. And many will not have anything to "measure" it against and therefore may not really know the strengths and weaknesses.


Personally, wrt the system, I am *most* interested in knowing what the speakers are and where they are. But a few comments on the room are welcomed ... maybe comments on acoustical treatments.


But mostly I see this thread's best purpose is to give members info on stereo vs multichannel and sound quality .. compared to the CD and compared to the best SACD/DVD-A.


Jeff

 

[pepar]

I have added more to the first post "format" and think it is close to ready to roll out. Comments?

 

[pepar]

Title Info


MCH layer Sound Quality (Transparency, Detail and Dynamics): 8 to 9


Stereo layer Sound Quality (Transparency, Detail and Dynamics): Not rated


Fagen, Becker & Co are masters IMO at surround mixes. I hear phantom images between each pair of speakers all around the room. Harmonies, background vocals are all around. Ditto instruments, though the main drumset is in LCR. Percussion moves around.


System Info


Pre/pro/AVR

AVR:

or Pre/pro: Onk 5508

Main Amplification: ATI 2507


Speakers

FR/FL:M&K S-150

Center: M&K-S-150AC


Surrounds: M&K S-150

Surround angle from CC: 120°


Rear Surrounds (if used for MCH hi-res audio): present, not used for 5.1 MCH

Rear surround angle from CC:


Sub(s): Hsu TN-1220HO x 4 (collocated pair in front, collocated pair in rear)

Hsu amps


My room is very well treated, superchunk bass traps and absorbers at first reflection points.


Jeff

 

[pepar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by USAFChief /forum/post/20807084


Testing, Testing, Testing,

Pre/pro/AVR

AVR:

or Pre/pro: Outlaw 970

Main Amplification: Outlaw 7125

Speakers

FR/FL: Aperion Verus Forte Towers

Center: Aperion 533 VAC


Surrounds: Aperion 532L/R

Surround angle from CC: 100 deg


Rear Surrounds (if used for MCH hi-res audio): N/A

Rear surround angle from CC:

Sub(s): Aperion S-10


Room: 15 X 20

Listening Position: 10 Ft from Center


Crap, I'm tired of typing all this info...I have to build a word template.


Sara K: Made in the Shade


Well balanced MCH...tastefull use of surrounds

AQ bests Hell or High Water...very dynamic/realistic

Performance...good, but not as good as Hell or High Water


This is only a test, do not adjust your computer.

Excellent kick-off!!


Maybe re-arrange to have title info first as it is, I think, what most people are looking for.


I will have a doc or draft email of the "format" including all of the system/room info pre-filled.


Jeff

 

[grubadub]

what a coincidence. two against nature is at the top of my dvd-a/sacd hunt right now

 

[pepar]

REQUEST - Derek & The Dominoes Layla SACD

 

[Bill Mac]



Quote:
Originally Posted by pepar /forum/post/20808533


REQUEST - Derek & The Dominoes Layla SACD

Jeff,


Is this a request for a review of Layla? If so I have it and will give it a listen when I get a chance. I haven't listened to this SACD in a long time so it will be a pleasure to give it a spin. I'm a HUGE Duane Allman fan so my thoughts might be a little biased

.


Bill

 

[USAFChief]



Quote:
Originally Posted by pepar /forum/post/20808533


REQUEST - Derek & The Dominoes Layla SACD

SHM or Hybrid? I've got the Hybrid/older/cheaper version. It's one that stays in the storage bin a bit (not necessary an indication of quality).


That was a dumb question...you're a MCH guy.

 

[Desert Pilot]

This is a great new thread. Thanks!


Might I suggest (if someone has the time) to keep a master list of technical reviews up at the top of the thread (I think there is something similar in the blu ray software area). Break the list into subsections based on audio quality.


For instance, I would rate Hiromi's Jazz SACDs from Telarc at the top of the list (5 star???). Also Lord of the Rings DVD-As.


Thanks!


Marcus

 

[pepar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mac /forum/post/20809808


Jeff,


Is this a request for a review of Layla? If so I have it and will give it a listen when I get a chance. I haven't listened to this SACD in a long time so it will be a pleasure to give it a spin. I'm a HUGE Duane Allman fan so my thoughts might be a little biased

.


Bill

Yep, a request for a review. I recently bought Eat A Peach and, while I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, Duane Allman is on my mind. And beyond that are some Clapton MCH SACDs that are available relatively cheap.


Jeff

 

[pepar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by USAFChief /forum/post/20810785


SHM or Hybrid? I've got the Hybrid/older/cheaper version. It's one that stays in the storage bin a bit (not necessary an indication of quality).


That was a dumb question...you're a MCH guy.

Yea, I like to be surrounded.

Jff