SACDs

[Mahatma]

Got the SACD of Beethoven's 9th Karajan's recording of 1977 only to find that it doesn't play on my SACD player It plays on my BD player,but that is nowhere near as good as my CD/SACD player.

Sometimes life takes you off guard.Anyone have any suggestions on how to make it play?Green felt-tip pen

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Louisville Slugger

I have to say the CD sounds damn good.

How do you know if it's still in shrink-wrap?

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

How do you know if it's still in shrink-wrap?

Because I took that picture before I listened to them,

[mspar009]

Originally Posted by Louisville Slugger

Because I took that picture before I listened to them,

haha - so how does the Japanese pressing sound compared to the original CD?

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by mspar009

haha - so how does the Japanese pressing sound compared to the original CD?

Well the '99 remaster CD sounds like it had a bigger soundstage, but I really have to listen to them again. The CD might have been mastered brighter. I really haven't cranked the Japanese SHM-SACD yet.

Now I started reading threads over at the Steve Hoffman forums and apparently the old Steely Dan CDs from the 80s are the definitive ones to get,

This is driving me crazy. I fell in love with this band, but I don't know where to find these "definitive versions."

[mspar009]

I am in the same boat, since I had to get rid of my turntable due to lack of space. I am a big Louis Prima fan so it looks like I am S.O.L. for the most part with decent sounding digital sources.

The SACD will need to be played a few times and you will notice an improvement in sound.

I noticed you like Sinatra - the new Dean Martin SACD "This Time I'm Swingin' " sounds really nice.

[themoviefanatic]

anyone recommend the best place to get the SACD's, price wise and transit time in the US?

[mspar009]

Originally Posted by Slikkbradd

anyone recommend the best place to get the SACD's, price wise and transit time in the US?

Price is pretty universal as far as I can tell - importcds has decent prices, as does music direct, the latter being the better of the two in terms of shaping time and communication.

[mspar009]

I just received a few SACD titles and thought I would make some suggestions:

Ray Charles Live in Concert, Sound is near perfect. A really nice 2-channel recording with great dynamics. I own the original LP and the SACD is not as warm sounding. ***This is a beautiful live performance, and I think this specific performance will appeal to a variety listeners.

Yes: Fragile (Japan Pressing), my initial impressions are that it has a good separation, and the 5.1 mix is really fun to listen too. For a 2-channel purist it may be unimpressive.

Vince Guaraldi: A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Japan Pressing, initial impressions are that the recording is super clean with live acoustic qualities. Great jazz album and the sonics are top-notch (never heard this album, blind buy).

Dean Martin: This Time I'm Swingin: I have logged 100s of hours listening to dean on both CD and LP ... At first I was disappointed, but I must of have adjusted because it sounds beautiful now. It's far from perfect and it got MOFI treatment where everything is too warm (sort how like when you order from dominos all tge food taste the same regardless of what it is!). It's definitely not the definitive Dean Martin in terms of sound quality.

I have Tommy, The Who ... But have yet to check it out.

[Solo man]

Originally Posted by mspar009

I just received a few SACD titles and thought I would make some suggestions:

Ray Charles Live in Concert, Sound is near perfect. A really nice 2-channel recording with great dynamics. I own the original LP and the SACD is not as warm sounding. ***This is a beautiful live performance, and I think this specific performance will appeal to a variety listeners.

Yes: Fragile (Japan Pressing), my initial impressions are that it has a good separation, and the 5.1 mix is really fun to listen too. For a 2-channel purist it may be unimpressive.

Vince Guaraldi: A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Japan Pressing, initial impressions are that the recording is super clean with live acoustic qualities. Great jazz album and the sonics are top-notch (never heard this album, blind buy).

Dean Martin: This Time I'm Swingin: I have logged 100s of hours listening to dean on both CD and LP ... At first I was disappointed, but I must of have adjusted because it sounds beautiful now. It's far from perfect and it got MOFI treatment where everything is too warm (sort how like when you order from dominos all tge food taste the same regardless of what it is!). It's definitely not the definitive Dean Martin in terms of sound quality.

I have Tommy, The Who ... But have yet to check it out.

You will enjoy The Who Tommy, the drums sound really good and stand out a tad too much but they sound realistic. I have yet to listen to it in MC though.

Check your email please, I am looking forward to getting the Billy Joel SACD.

[dobyblue]

Did anyone pick up the Audio Fidelity SACD of America's self-titled debut? Holy Moses, I grabbed it for @ $18 on Amazon late last year and it's terrific.

Steve Hoffman comments on the process here - http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thread...delity.326497/

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by mspar009

I am in the same boat, since I had to get rid of my turntable due to lack of space. I am a big Louis Prima fan so it looks like I am S.O.L. for the most part with decent sounding digital sources.

The SACD will need to be played a few times and you will notice an improvement in sound.

I noticed you like Sinatra - the new Dean Martin SACD "This Time I'm Swingin' " sounds really nice.

Yeah! Sinatra! I am pissed the Come Fly With Me SACD was cancelled, :/ I'll have to check out Dean Martin.

I gave the SMH-SACD of Aja another listen last night. Had my Onkyo at around -24 dB. It was not extremely loud, but a good listening level. Pretty detailed. Much better the second time through.

I am on the look out for a Steve Hoffman/Roger Nichols pressing of Aja from the 80s. MCA Japan for USA 1984 MCAD-37214 DIDX 55. Apparently there were only 5,000 Steve Hoffman pressings made. I hear Roger's and Steve's pressings sound pretty close the vinyl and were taken from the analog master tapes.

Each Steely Dan album has a thread of the different masterings over at the Steve Hoffman forums. It's mind blowing.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by mspar009

...The SACD will need to be played a few times and you will notice an improvement in sound...

I'm glad you articulated that, because it's something that I have noticed myself, but had to ask myself over and over again...how's that possible?

[mspar009]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I'm glad you articulated that, because it's something that I have noticed myself, but had to ask myself over and over again...how's that possible?

I'm an Electrical Engineering student and I am going one of my professor's for a clearer explanation of the "phenomena"...who happens to be a laser guy.

I ponder this crap all day, and I am still believing my ears, before my brain...a good approach in audio.

[mspar009]

Louisville - I have been going over there since you mentioned it looking for the best digital sources...they are mean as hell over there.

Come Fly With Me is canceled indefinitely? I see that A Swingin' Affair is postponed ... Point of No Return is sweet - better than the first pressing I have from master tapes in L.A.


The best version Aqualung is like $100 ... Dead formats are expensive formats

[Supernaut]

Originally Posted by mspar009

Louisville - I have been going over there since you mentioned it looking for the best digital sources...they are mean as hell over there.

Come Fly With Me is canceled indefinitely? I see that A Swingin' Affair is postponed ... Point of No Return is sweet - better than the first pressing I have from master tapes in L.A.


The best version Aqualung is like $100 ... Dead formats are expensive formats

And what is the best version of Aqualung?

[mspar009]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

And what is the best version of Aqualung?

It seems like it is the CDD gold disc.

[JWgrayhawk]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

And what is the best version of Aqualung?

Originally Posted by mspar009

It seems like it is the CDD gold disc.

No way- the BR is the best version- possibly SW's best re-mix (which is saying a lot). Unfortunately, you have to buy that expensive box to get it.

[mspar009]

For Sale or Trade: The Police "Regatta de Blanc" SHM-SACD, Japan mini LP
$45, shipped, sealed-brand new.

Canada + $3

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by mspar009

The SACD will need to be played a few times and you will notice an improvement in sound.

Any improvement in sound is purely psychological (and probably about pattern recognition by the brain) unless you can explain how the lands and pits, representing digital 1s and 0s on the disc, change by playing it.

There are no waveforms on the disc. The only thing on any CD, whether RedBook, SACD or Blu-ray, is lands and pits. How do lands and bits result in a different sound (better or worse) by playing them? Even if the playback laser "burned" the CD and changed the pits, it would not change the sound as long as it could still read the existence of each pit (assuming it didn't change the timing of reading the pits).

Perhaps you should study the science of digital audio before making such statements.