Quality DVD-A/DualDisc Recordings?

[zicmubleu]

Well, I am not working on a turntable and do listen to SACD. So, I have a feeling I am like a lot of other people that own a multiformat player. I would like to see a good resource of DVD-A and DualDisc recordings, maybe this could be it!

Sorry JasonR, your intro was too good to not reuse!

It is not meant to be oxymoronic to mention quality and DualDisc to those of you that love the SACD, Vinyl and apparently some sort of flac rips you get downloaded. I prefer to buy music at a b&m since I can often listen to it first to see if I like it, and as it turns out it is much easier to spot a DualDisc than a SACD in a rack even beyond the fact that there are so few SACDs in the racks. The labeling of SACD is so poorly done it appears to have been their wish for the format to never take off. However the DualDisc has a logo on the top edge of the case making it easy to spot in a rack filled with CDs. Now the unfortunate thing is that many DualDiscs don't seem to be DVD-A, but do have a 5.1 enhanced track on the DVD. This makes DualDisc somewhat misleading but for my poor listening skills they still sound OK to me, sort of a beer taste with a Costco Champagne budget.

Despite being relatively easy to spot a DualDisc in the rack it would be helpful to know what albums are out there to be on the lookout for. Last night I picked up several DualDiscs at a Barnes and Noble (B&N is too close to you guys writing of B&M meaning b&m for me!). Below is a list of what I picked up last night, but I have also picked up some DMB and John Mayer on DualDisc in the past. Most of the albums below are not actually DVD-A and they really make an effort to not show that with tiny writing in a black field set in a dark blue background, I don't have 10,000 to 1 contrast ratio eyes unfortunately. Please add album titles that you have found in this format that you feel are worth owning. Thanks and no offense meant to you true audiophiles.

The Last Great Traffic Jam - collection of 11 mostly good songs some are even in mono! For you young guys, under 50, we used to listen to music through one speaker built into our record player that had exotic speed settings of 33, 45 and 78! Just think of the sound quality you could get with a 78 on todays vinyl!

The Downward Spiral - NIN, need not say more but this is not my exact favorite

Something to be - Rob Thomas, unknown to me but the 30 second track samples sounded pretty good to me, can't tell for sure if this is DVD-A, fine print

Devils & Dust - Bruce Springsteen, not DVD-A, but he is the boss

Heavier Things - John Mayer, fairly new artist for me that I like

Hopefully members can add some titles to this list, and if possible give us a good hint of the type of music when the artist is a bit obscure. NIN uses so much fuzz tone I am not sure why they bother with a higher res recording! Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

Now the unfortunate thing is that many DualDiscs don't seem to be DVD-A, but do have a 5.1 enhanced track on the DVD. This makes DualDisc somewhat misleading but for my poor listening skills they still sound OK to me

It's usually just a regular Dolby Digital track if there's a multi-channel track, they only thing they label as "enhanced" is the stereo track, which is 16-bit/48kHz versus the CD which is 16-bit/44.1kHz - hardly worth noting as "enhanced" and basically a complete waste of time.

If you have a universal player the John Mayer disc absolutely has to be bought on SACD, the difference between the DualDisc and the SACD (I have both) is night and day. The Dolby 5.1 track is absolutely throttled around the throat by the superior DSD track. That's Sony for you though, they made a complete mess of the DMB DualDisc as well which was originally advertised on the Warehouse website as having a 24-bit stereo track of the album and shortly thereafter was changed to "enhanced stereo" which is Sony's way of saying they're completely screwing you into the extra purchase unless that short 20-minute making of video was worth it. Based on the # of times I've watched it, it clearly isn't. They did a much better job of Big Whiskey but it's a shame they didn't release it on an SACD hybrid with a 5.1 mix. This is the first album since Before These Crowded Streets that really would have benefitted from one.

Hopefully members can add some titles to this list, and if possible give us a good hint of the type of music when the artist is a bit obscure. NIN uses so much fuzz tone I am not sure why they bother with a higher res recording! Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Trent's music has so many layers and is usually so complex that it benefits greatly from the high resolution format and at least this DualDisc contains a DVD-A layer even though it's only 24/48. Again if you have a Universal player it's better sonically to get the SACD, but the DualDisc has a lot of neat extra features like the videos. The SACD contains all the B-Sides like Burn and Dead Souls in SACD Stereo though and that's a huge perk too. I have both formats of Downward Spiral and will keep both of them.

Some of my faves:

Seal - Seal I (CD+DVD format, DVD-A = 24/88.2 DVD-A Multi-channel)
Seal - The Best Of Seal (DVD-A, with 24/44.1 acoustic 5.1 and 24/88.2 5.1 full band)
NIN - With Teeth (24/48 5.1 DVD-A, DualDisc format)
Stone Temple Pilots - Core (24/96 5.1 DVD-A)
REM - Green, Out Of Time (24/96 DVD-A, CD+DVD format)
REM - Automatic for the People (DVD-A, 24/96)
Queensryche - Empire (DVD-A, 24/96)
The Beatles - Love (DVD-A, 24/96)
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (DVD-A, 24/48)

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

It's usually just a regular Dolby Digital track if there's a multi-channel track, they only thing they label as "enhanced" is the stereo track, which is 16-bit/48kHz versus the CD which is 16-bit/44.1kHz - hardly worth noting as "enhanced" and basically a complete waste of time.

If you have a universal player the John Mayer disc absolutely has to be bought on SACD, the difference between the DualDisc and the SACD (I have both) is night and day. They did a much better job of Big Whiskey but it's a shame they didn't release it on an SACD hybrid with a 5.1 mix. This is the first album since Before These Crowded Streets that really would have benefitted from one.


Trent's music has so many layers and is usually so complex that it benefits greatly from the high resolution format and at least this DualDisc contains a DVD-A layer even though it's only 24/48. Again if you have a Universal player it's better sonically to get the SACD, but the DualDisc has a lot of neat extra features like the videos. The SACD contains all the B-Sides like Burn and Dead Souls in SACD Stereo though and that's a huge perk too. I have both formats of Downward Spiral and will keep both of them.

Some of my faves:

Seal - Seal I (CD+DVD format, DVD-A = 24/88.2 DVD-A Multi-channel)
Seal - The Best Of Seal (DVD-A, with 24/44.1 acoustic 5.1 and 24/88.2 5.1 full band)
NIN - With Teeth (24/48 5.1 DVD-A, DualDisc format)
Stone Temple Pilots - Core (24/96 5.1 DVD-A)
REM - Green, Out Of Time (24/96 DVD-A, CD+DVD format)
REM - Automatic for the People (DVD-A, 24/96)
Queensryche - Empire (DVD-A, 24/96)
The Beatles - Love (DVD-A, 24/96)
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (DVD-A, 24/48)

Thanks for the information about what that enhanced stereo really means, a whopping 4khz sampling! I was thinking that it might be a better recording without the volume war you have mentioned before. So what I hear as just fuzz tone on the NIN maybe simple over saturation of the media and codec capability. I definitely will be on the look out for Seal and Stone Temple Pilots, Beatles would be an automatic. Since I am not familiar with Queensryche nor Porcupine Tree I will look for them in the store even on regular CD to at least give it a listen. And I like the way you listed only DVD-A, those are somewhat hard to find. I guess it will be amazon for most. Thanks dobyblue.

[WriteSimply]

Some of Universal Music titles are available on DVD-A/DualDisc as well as SACD. For some reason, the SACDs sound more natural to me. But anyway, here's what I can recommend though you may have trouble finding them!

Sting - Brand New Day (DVD-A)
Buena Vista Social Club (DVD-A)
Diana Krall - The Look Of Love (DVD-A)
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (DualDisc)
Bon Jovi - Have A Nice Day (DualDisc)

I have more SACDs than DVD-A/DualDiscs.


fuad

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Some of Universal Music titles are available on DVD-A/DualDisc as well as SACD. For some reason, the SACDs sound more natural to me. But anyway, here's what I can recommend though you may have trouble finding them!

Sting - Brand New Day (DVD-A)
Buena Vista Social Club (DVD-A)
Diana Krall - The Look Of Love (DVD-A)
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (DualDisc)
Bon Jovi - Have A Nice Day (DualDisc)

I have more SACDs than DVD-A/DualDiscs.


fuad

WriteSimply are you a jazz fan? A friend that is into jazz said Diana Krall is not good jazz, such as Miles Davis, etc. It is a music style I have never fully understood but certain songs really appeal to me, I bought one Krall CD and was not that impressed but maybe I will givie her another chance. Sting's "Brand New Day" sounds like a good one for my tastes and I will have to listen to Buena Vista Social Club, I guess that is the artist as well as the album title? Thanks.

Steve

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

WriteSimply are you a jazz fan? A friend that is into jazz said Diana Krall is not good jazz, such as Miles Davis, etc. It is a music style I have never fully understood but certain songs really appeal to me, I bought one Krall CD and was not that impressed but maybe I will givie her another chance. Sting's "Brand New Day" sounds like a good one for my tastes and I will have to listen to Buena Vista Social Club, I guess that is the artist as well as the album title? Thanks.

Steve

Diana's jazz style leans more into "swing", whereas Miles Davis' style is shall we say "improvization at it's most unique and in-depth". The styles are so totally opposite they cannot be compared. Rest assured however, that as a "piano player", Diana Krall can play! And she can play with the best of them. It's her vocal interpretation that is lacking.

John

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

REM - Green, Out Of Time (24/96 DVD-A, CD+DVD format)

i have to agree with those and also mention up and new adventures in hi-fi. i also have to recommend the bjork dualdiscs.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

WriteSimply are you a jazz fan? A friend that is into jazz said Diana Krall is not good jazz, such as Miles Davis, etc. It is a music style I have never fully understood but certain songs really appeal to me, I bought one Krall CD and was not that impressed but maybe I will givie her another chance.

I recommended those based on my musical taste and the recording quality. Don't buy anything just because it has a good recording quality. Buy it because you think you'll like it or because you KNOW you love it.

Sting's "Brand New Day" sounds like a good one for my tastes and I will have to listen to Buena Vista Social Club, I guess that is the artist as well as the album title?

BVSC is the name of the album as well as the "band." Ol' school Cuban Latin music, before Cuba cut off ties with the US.


fuad

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

i have to agree with those and also mention up and new adventures in hi-fi. i also have to recommend the bjork dualdiscs.

If I recall correctly, the Bjork catalog albums (SURROUNDED box set) on DualDiscs are not DVD-A. It has Dolby Digital and DTS tracks but not MLP Audio.


fuad

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by John72953

Diana's jazz style leans more into "swing", whereas Miles Davis' style is shall we say "improvization at it's most unique and in-depth". The styles are so totally opposite they cannot be compared. Rest assured however, that as a "piano player", Diana Krall can play! And she can play with the best of them. It's her vocal interpretation that is lacking.

John

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

I recommended those based on my musical taste and the recording quality. Don't buy anything just because it has a good recording quality. Buy it because you think you'll like it or because you KNOW you love it.

BVSC is the name of the album as well as the "band." Ol' school Cuban Latin music, before Cuba cut off ties with the US.


fuad

John thanks for the explanation.

Fuad I appreciate your recommendation, was sort of wondering what category you place Diana Krall in. You did exactly what I was looking for, recommend albums that you felt are good which will give me incentive to check out that particular artist/group. After what John wrote and your suggestion I definitely will give Diana Krall another listen. A lot of current music done on piano really appeals to me; and I don't want to limit myself to what I know I like or love, sometimes it just takes a bit more listening to get into a particular sound, IMO. BVSC sounds interesting, not Santana I guess, but worth looking for. Thanks again fuad.

[Manmangler]

My DVD-A
Nightwish - Once (48 kHz 24-bit)
Megadeth - Peace Sells... (96 k 24 b)
Motörhead - Deaf Forever (96 k 24 b)
Bruce Dickinson - Balls to Picasso (96 k 24 b)
Shania Twain - Üp! (96 k 24 b)
Diana Krall - Look Of Love (96 24 b)
Iron Maiden - Dance of Death

DualDisc
Eppu Normaali - Ei Sankariainesta + Live DVD (Okay maybe not normal DualDisc but CD-side and DVD-side)
Britney Spears - In The Zone (R1)
Destiny's Child - #1's
Shakira - Oral Fijication Vol 1
Britney Spears - In The Zone
Arvil Lavigne - Under My Skin
Destiny's Child - Destiny Fullfilled
Jennifer Lopez - ReBirth
Jane Monheit - Dream With Me
Jane Monheit - In The Sun
Jane Monheit - Never Never Land
Within Temptation - The Silent Force

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

If I recall correctly, the Bjork catalog albums (SURROUNDED box set) on DualDiscs are not DVD-A. It has Dolby Digital and DTS tracks but not MLP Audio.


fuad

but the original post mentioned dual disc as well and the bjork release is in 5.1 surround sound. hence the title surrounded. all of musical releases now have impressive sound. her latest voltaic is incredible. the cd is so rich and full sounding. best live cd i think i've heard. even though it's not a live show. the dvd looks promising as well with 5.1 surround and dts audio. yes, i bought a dvd and i am dang proud of it.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by Manmangler

My DVD-A
Nightwish - Once (48 kHz 24-bit)
Megadeth - Peace Sells... (96 k 24 b)
Motörhead - Deaf Forever (96 k 24 b)
Bruce Dickinson - Balls to Picasso (96 k 24 b)
Shania Twain - Üp! (96 k 24 b)
Diana Krall - Look Of Love (96 24 b)
Iron Maiden - Dance of Death

DualDisc
Eppu Normaali - Ei Sankariainesta + Live DVD (Okay maybe not normal DualDisc but CD-side and DVD-side)
Britney Spears - In The Zone (R1)
Destiny's Child - #1's
Shakira - Oral Fijication Vol 1
Britney Spears - In The Zone
Arvil Lavigne - Under My Skin
Destiny's Child - Destiny Fullfilled
Jennifer Lopez - ReBirth
Jane Monheit - Dream With Me
Jane Monheit - In The Sun
Jane Monheit - Never Never Land
Within Temptation - The Silent Force

Like Metal? I bet some of that music is still stuck to your speaker magnets!

I listened to Jane Monheit online, I will have to check it out in the store. I then tried "Within Temptation", different song than your listing, but it reminded me of one of my old favorites which took me a bit of googling to find the group: "Renaissance" and the song "Northern Lights" specifically, you may want to give them a listen if you can find it. Thanks for those suggestions, I will try looking for them at the b&m before I give up and use the online stuff.

[Manmangler]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

Like Metal? I bet some of that music is still stuck to your speaker magnets!

I listened to Jane Monheit online, I will have to check it out in the store. I then tried "Within Temptation", different song than your listing, but it reminded me of one of my old favorites which took me a bit of googling to find the group: "Renaissance" and the song "Northern Lights" specifically, you may want to give them a listen if you can find it. Thanks for those suggestions, I will try looking for them at the b&m before I give up and use the online stuff.

Yep I'm old metalhead. Even my music taste is now little more softer.

Thanks I will check. Maybe next month, now I must stop buying things. I gonna run out summer money.

[Clark Kent]

Oasis has a couple of DualDiscs available with a couple of decent video features. The Wallflowers' "Rebel, Sweetheart" is another that I have in my collection. I knew the format was doomed when many labels refused to put true DVD-Audio sound on their DualDiscs.