SACDs

[danfaz]

Originally Posted by Josh

I have tried to stay away from DVD-As because they seem to have more source issues than SACDs

I have gathered up a handful of DVD-As, and really like them. Beck's Sea Change is phenomenal, as well as Rumours, Hotel California, Doors Perception, Gaucho, etc. I also have (or had) the SACDs of most of the above, and prefer the DVD-As to the SACDs. But that's just me & my system.

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by danfaz

I have gathered up a handful of DVD-As, and really like them. Beck's Sea Change is phenomenal, as well as Rumours, Hotel California, Doors Perception, Gaucho, etc. I also have (or had) the SACDs of most of the above, and prefer the DVD-As to the SACDs. But that's just me & my system.

In some cases like Hotel California, I definitely prefer the DVD-A version.

[Clark Kent]

There were some quality DVD-As, but that format is deader than dead now. The encryption was completely broken on it and DVD-A rips trade freely at the usual places, driving their collectability into the ground.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

There were some quality DVD-As, but that format is deader than dead now.

Not quite deader than dead I would say. Consider King Crimson's 40th Anniversary Series for example. Or that Rush included DVD-A's in their recent box set reissue series. Plus recent DVD-V's with stereo high-res from Gentle Giant, and upcoming Roxy Music and Talk Talk.

So it seems like DVD-based formats are still seeing some use for high res outside of audiophile labels and the japanese market.

The physical disc landscape for high res is (still) a mess.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by blu2

Not quite deader than dead I would say. Consider King Crimson's 40th Anniversary Series for example. Or that Rush included DVD-A's in their recent box set reissue series. Plus recent DVD-V's with stereo high-res from Gentle Giant, and upcoming Roxy Music and Talk Talk.

So it seems like DVD-based formats are still seeing some use for high res outside of audiophile labels and the japanese market.

The physical disc landscape for high res is (still) a mess.

SACD is still seeing 700 to 800 releases a year, as opposed to the 10 or 12 that DVD-A is seeing. Most of the content producers who were big into DVD-A have moved on to Blu-ray if they are still releasing Hi-Rez at all.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I was much happier with the sound of the Piano Man SACD from MFSL than the AP SACD of Tea For The Tillerman. I'm not a big fan of that particular AP SACD, Marino made some questionable EQ moves on it.

Piano Man sounds pretty lifeless to me, and veiled, compared to what I experience from some of my better SACD's. It almost sounds rolled off in the high frequencies too, like what I'd expect a dts soundtrack to sound like on DVD.

Tea sounds more like what my Nat King Cole Hoffman SACD's sound like, like my system disappears...although not in the same league as "After Midnight".

I might try picking up Piano Man on vinyl instead. I thought MOFI did a much better job with the Pixies SACD's. Heck they don't even put any unique information under the SACD write-up, they actually reference the 180g vinyl in the notes under the SACD despite me questioning them directly on this many months ago.

I find this sounds similar to what I experience listening to Dylan's "Desire". Maybe the limitations are in the master tapes.

And yeah, DVD-Audio is dead. It's not even a sales blip on the scope of SACD, which is very much a niche by itself. And SACD isnt' even a blip on the scope of vinyl, which represents only 2~3% of overall music sales.

[Strilo]

So if I want to track down Hotel California in high resolution surround, should I be looking for SACD or DVD-A?

[blu2]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

SACD is still seeing 700 to 800 releases a year, as opposed to the 10 or 12 that DVD-A is seeing. Most of the content producers who were big into DVD-A have moved on to Blu-ray if they are still releasing Hi-Rez at all.

Well, I didn't say that DVD was healthy by any means... But it's still being used.

As it happens, for me personally, there's more coming out on DVD-A/V than SACD that I would purchase. I won't spend $50+ on a Japanese SHM-SACD, and the typical material that comes out from the audiophile re-issue labels doesn't align with my listening preferences.

I'd love to see more on Blu Ray, but outside of mega-boxes there isn't much being released.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Wow does PIANO MAN sound that bad? I have it on my wish list.

That's just my observations, I wasn't impressed at all to be honest.

But I got it when it first went up on Amazon for $22 so I don't have buyer's remorse.

I would like to compare to the vinyl, just don't want to spend an additional $30 at the moment. Might add it to my Cyndi Lauper pre-order from MOFI, they confirmed they're using the original stereo master for their upcoming vinyl release.

Shame there is no digital option for the Quad mix of Piano Man, I'd love to hear that.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Wait are MOFI! doing Cyndi on SACD? Or just VINYL? (I assume She's So Unusual) Would love to get it on SACD at a reasonale price!

Just vinyl, part of the Silver series so not original master tapes.

I might not have taken a chance on it as they don't list the sources for Silver, but they confirmed in this case they got the original stereo master so that should make for a good release.

Yeah, shame they're not doing an SACD of it. I can't afford the current one, so I've already pre-ordered the MOFI one.

[danfaz]

Originally Posted by Strilo

So if I want to track down Hotel California in high resolution surround, should I be looking for SACD or DVD-A?

I (and ManUtd above) prefer the DVD-A. The SACD is good, but I prefer the DVD-A, and that could just be a result of my setup.

With the SACD out, the DVD-A prices are dropping...getting into the 50s now.

[dobyblue]

Can anyone comment on the Dead Can Dance SACD's?

Missed out while they were cheap, but would like to get "Into the Labyrinth"

EDIT - bought the one I was looking at on eBay for US$38 sealed, as it looks like this is normally at least $60+ right now.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Can anyone comment on the Dead Can Dance SACD's?

Missed out while they were cheap, but would like to get "Into the Labyrinth"

No on the SACD, but I can comment on the DCD-Spiritchaser Silver Label vinyl. Very, very good.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

No on the SACD, but I can comment on the DCD-Spiritchaser Silver Label vinyl. Very, very good.

Yeah I'm surprised they are going Silver label on this. They had access to the original analogue tapes when they did the SACD's for 4AD, so you'd think that their vinyl series would belong in the Original Master Recording series.



I was going to try the Silver Labyrinth if I couldn't find an SACD at a reasonable price, but this works out to about the same.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Wow does PIANO MAN sound that bad? I have it on my wish list.

It doesn't sound bad at all, I think that is all the high-frequency content left on the analog mastertapes. It's 2012 and many classic masters were kept in poor condition over the years. Even with the improved ADCs and DACs of today, the mastertapes are not getting any younger. Most consider the Piano Man SACD the best extant version of the album now. It's not going to knock your socks off like the Nat King Cole SACDs, but those were a labor of love for Steve Hoffman and AP. I am very happy to have purchased the Piano Man SACD.

Originally Posted by Strilo

So if I want to track down Hotel California in high resolution surround, should I be looking for SACD or DVD-A?

Well, the SACD is just a DSD conversion of the original PCM mastering made for the DVD-A. So purists would probably want to hunt down the DVD-A. I do think the bass was improperly converted when transferring the DVD-A mastering to SACD, the SACD has exaggerated bass. Going forward from a collectible standpoint, I think the SACD will retain its value better as that platform has many more active users.

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Can anyone comment on the Dead Can Dance SACD's?

I'm not a huge fan of the group but bought the SACDs when they came out. For the ones made from analog tape (I think a couple of the early albums were recorded in PCM) you do see some of the benefits on the SACD layer. Typical improvements such as heightened realism in the vocals and better clarity. But whoever mastered them was a big fan of very heavy bass and the dynamic range is closer to a regular big label mastering than any audiophile standard.

[Josh]

I find myself checking eBay every day for new SACDs that are being listed. Definitely found my new addiction.

I noticed that the Warner releases aren't half-bad price wise out of Japan. Are there any that should be avoided? My birthday is coming up, and I figure the wife would appreciate a list The Limited Release stuff is a bit to rich for my blood. Man, I wish they would just release the stuff over here.

[PowellPressburger]

I ordered a bunch of the Depeche Mode SACD sets from a really nice guy from UK who sells on Ebay. The titles I ordered were...

Speak and Spell
A Broken Frame
Violator
Black Celebration
Music For the Masses
Construction Time Again

[dobyblue]

How much did you pay for Violator?

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

55lbs for Violator

If that price is for brand new then that's a great price.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Josh

I find myself checking eBay every day for new SACDs that are being listed. Definitely found my new addiction.

I noticed that the Warner releases aren't half-bad price wise out of Japan. Are there any that should be avoided? My birthday is coming up, and I figure the wife would appreciate a list The Limited Release stuff is a bit to rich for my blood. Man, I wish they would just release the stuff over here.

Wait until you see the prices for the SHM-SACDs when they go out of print. The good ones are going to be worth a mint.