SACD, DVD-Audio and DualDisc recommendations

[db2]

Can anyone recommend any Classical music on SACD or dualdisc? Specifically I am looking for something soothing and relaxing, not a collection of loud, thundering symphonies. I am totally ignorant to classical music so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Bluray_ne1]

Here's another good place to find SACD / DVD-A:

http://shop2.outpost.com/category/Ou...terAreaString=

Click a category on the left and browse away...

[PossumPete]

Sony BMG store is "fulfilled by Amazon". That's why the prices are so good.

[Teazle]

Here's a non-recommendation ... CCR Willy & the Poorboys. I was very keen for this since hearing the kicking remix of "Fortunate Son" at the end credits of Live Free or Die Hard. But I think the original on this SACD actually sounds worse! What a disappointment. The LFoDH remix did something good with the bass.

Bayou Country seems a bit better but lots of tape hiss.

[Clark Kent]

All the CCR sacds are considered the best representations of those albums in any format. If you have a CCR sacd you are basically listening to the original mastertapes. I do agree that the source material isn't pristine as some other recordings but that is no fault of SACD. CCR just never recorded anything that could be mistaken for high fidelity.

[buckshot]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

All the CCR sacds are considered the best representations of those albums in any format. If you have a CCR sacd you are basically listening to the original mastertapes. I do agree that the source material isn't pristine as some other recordings but that is no fault of SACD. CCR just never recorded anything that could be mistaken for high fidelity.

but thats just their style. i love me some ccr, i have records, cds, but no sacds yet. by the end of the first measure you can always tell its a ccr song.

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

All the CCR sacds are considered the best representations of those albums in any format. If you have a CCR sacd you are basically listening to the original mastertapes. I do agree that the source material isn't pristine as some other recordings but that is no fault of SACD. CCR just never recorded anything that could be mistaken for high fidelity.

They definitely sound better than the CDs, and I won't disagree that they probably reproduce the content of the master as good as can be done.

However it appears the mix was done with vinyl in mind and as a result the bottom isn't as pronounced as some modern mixes destined for optical disc, where it's known in advance that there can be better handling of the lows. I guess this falls into the category of the new medium revealing limitations in the original.

Then there's the issue of tape hiss, but from what I understand there's no way to remove this without screwing up the fidelity. I have one hi-res record, David Crosby's I Wish I Could Remember My Name, where a 24/192 stereo PCM track is so hissy it sounds like the boiler in the next room has sprung a leak.

[PossumPete]

For anyone that's interested in "Multichannel" music, please check out this site:

http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/

They get hung up on old 8-track tapes and LPs sometimes but they do have good info and reviews of SACDs, DVD-Audio, dts CDs, and more recently HD music titles. Enjoy!

[Jim L]

Originally Posted by db2

Can anyone recommend any Classical music on SACD or dualdisc? Specifically I am looking for something soothing and relaxing, not a collection of loud, thundering symphonies. I am totally ignorant to classical music so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I have this SACD. Haydn symphonies (Philosopher, Mourning, and Tempora Mutantur). They are are not loud, bombastic symphonies.

Haydn Symphonies - SACD

My favorite one is the Adagio track from "The Philosopher." It's a very stately, calm melody played by strings (with bass and harpsichord) with alternating phrases by oboes and French horns.

I used to think that Haydn was boring and would never listen to his pieces, but now I think otherwise. This music is so relaxing that it can put you to sleep. (I mean that in a good way )

[btf1980]

Here is a good site for purchasing dvd-a and sacd's.

http://www.elusivedisc.com/default.asp

[msetten]

Moya Brennan's album Two Horizons is incredible on SACD (dualdisc)!!! That one is definetely my recommendation.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

All the CCR sacds are considered the best representations of those albums in any format. If you have a CCR sacd you are basically listening to the original mastertapes. I do agree that the source material isn't pristine as some other recordings but that is no fault of SACD. CCR just never recorded anything that could be mistaken for high fidelity.

Actually the 45 RPM vinyl is better and the difference is not subtle. That said, I do have the SACDs (1st album, Green River, Willy & the Poorboys, Bayou Country, Cosmo's Factory and Pendulum) and play those all the time because of the convenience of hearing an album the whole way through vs changing sides of an LP all the time. The SACDs do sound darn good.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by db2

Can anyone recommend any Classical music on SACD or dualdisc? Specifically I am looking for something soothing and relaxing, not a collection of loud, thundering symphonies. I am totally ignorant to classical music so any help would be appreciated.

The most relaxing are solo or small-ensemble pieces. I recommend the Janos Starker -Bach pieces (one of which was used in Master & Commander although it was a different recording). I also recommend the Faure, Debussy & Ravel Piano Trios on the Hyperion label. For piano, you can't go wrong with any of the Rubenstein stuff on RCA. Great stuff.

[Teazle]

I have a Scriabin played by Yevgeny Sudbin which is relaxing without being Classic-FM type stuff.

BIS-SACD-156
www.bis.se

[caliminius]

Originally Posted by buckshot

does anyone have player recommendations for dvda? i'm looking at this player Oppo DV-980H. it seems to fit what I need. it is single disc (so its thin) and does 7.1 over hdmi. but i'm looking for an inexpensive dvda/sacd player. I don't need the upconverting dvd feature. I have the ps3 as my player for everything else. I did find an hdmi switch to my liking.

(Sorry, I haven't read to the end of this thread, so forgive me if this is a repeat).

Pioneer makes a dual-format SACD/DVD-Audio player, the DV-46AV which their site lists a MSRP of $299 (found it on Tweeter.com selling for $229.99). I have an older model that is my primary player for these discs.

[Brandon B]

Originally Posted by Brandon B

It looks like Amazon is still selling some of the Stones' 2ch SACD hybrids. I've ordered a couple I missed when they first came out, so we'll see.

BB

Nope, turns out the SACDs are out of print and these are only the CD layer from the DSD remasters. Not a good deal at $14 each. Amazon is politely letting me return them since they turned up under a site search for SACD.

Since the originals never had any external indication of how to ell, the difference between the new and old versions is the old ones were a cardboard digipak type case, and the new are standard plastic jewel cases.

BB

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Actually the 45 RPM vinyl is better and the difference is not subtle. That said, I do have the SACDs (1st album, Green River, Willy & the Poorboys, Bayou Country, Cosmo's Factory and Pendulum) and play those all the time because of the convenience of hearing an album the whole way through vs changing sides of an LP all the time. The SACDs do sound darn good.

I knew I should have added a caveat but figured most here simply don't know what vinyl is.

[cembros]

just got a ps3 and im looking to get some SACD's, any suggestions?

[beavis667]

Hopefully you like rock/classic rock. If so, I recommend Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, Dire Straits; Brothers in Arms 20th anniversary ed, Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard and Slowhand. Those would be my favorite SACD's. Dire Straits will blow you away.

[The Seventh Taylor]

I second that Pink Floyd suggestion. Furthermore I'd recommend
- Depeche Mode, especially Violator
- Roxy Music - Avalon
- Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds

For more SACD suggestions see http://www.ps3sacd.com/music.html