Police "Every Breath you take" Hybrid SACD

John Royster · 03-04-2003, 11:27 AM

Got an e-mail from amazon today...

"Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has purchased albums by Police, you might like to know that Every Breath You Take: The Classics (SACD Hybrid) is now available. You can order yours at a savings of $5.49 by following the link below."

amazon.com product link

I couldn't find any more info about the release even by searching HTF. Looks like there was some discussion about a possible police SACD relase. Maybe this is it.

Darnit! As if my box set wasn't good enough now I just HAVE to have this SACD.

Funny there is no mention of SACD on the link. Can anyone verify this is a hybrid?

Lee Scoggins · 03-04-2003, 11:31 AM

Yes, the Greatest Hits will be a hybrid.

I cannot wait for this one.

Jeremy · 03-04-2003, 11:37 AM

I just received all 5 SACD remasters of the original studio albums. Sadly, I don't have an SACD player here at work.

Also, they mistaken put a Hybrid sticker on my copy of Synchronicity. All the others say SACD Player Only.

John Royster · 03-04-2003, 11:37 AM

drool...

Even the PCM box set is very well recorded/transfered. Lee, I saw you post on another area about re-masters. Is it commonplace to do the DSD sampling off the analog tape?

Rich Malloy · 03-04-2003, 11:41 AM

Anybody think the "Classics" hybrid disc will be available everywhere, even at places that don't normally stock SACD/DVD-A, just like the ABKCO Stones hybrids?

I'm hoping I can at least pick this one up on my way home, hopefully at Newbury Comics which had the best prices on the Stone hybrids locally. (I think I'll get the rest at Circuit City, but not on my way home tonight...)

**HTF Ads**

Dan Joy · 03-04-2003, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Anybody think the "Classics" hybrid disc will be available everywhere, even at places that don't normally stock SACD/DVD-A, just like the ABKCO Stones hybrids?

Yes, I bought mine yesterday at BB for 14.99. It was in the back in a box. Their computer listed 12 on hand and a BB employee was kind to go look. Because the computer listed an original street date of last week, he could sell it to me. Unlike the Stones, this is clearly labeled SACD and has a sticker that says plays on SACDs and cds. I am finding the surround mix very enjoyable except for the last two songs which sound very digitally edgy. There is some panning of sound and some sounds I never heard before. I came home late from work last night, made a large Tanguray and Tonic, shut off the lights and really enjoyed the mix. I don't have any other re-masters of said group to compare.

Leo · 03-04-2003, 01:16 PM

Well picked up my copy of Every Breath You Take - The Classics at BB today (I have the others shipping from Towerrecords.com) but wanted something to listen to while they were enroute. The hybrid SACD/CD were mixed in with the regular CD selection at Best Buy. But they were not stocking any of the remasters on the shelf. Don't know if this store hadn't gotten them or if they were not going to stock them. Can't wait to get home to take a listen to this disc.

Rich Malloy · 03-04-2003, 01:24 PM

At my local Best Buy (Landmark Center, Boston), the SACDs are kept well-hidden on a tiny, unorganized shelf in the home theater hardware section (aisles and aisles away from all the CD/DVDs/etc.). They're trying very, very hard to make sure that no one finds them...

Leo · 03-04-2003, 01:49 PM

Yeah, we need to complain about that. They could put them in a section near the regular CD's. Media Play does this and has both DVD-A and SACD in a single section.

Rich Malloy · 03-04-2003, 02:52 PM

I just returned from Best Buy (Landmark Center, Boston)...

They DO NOT have the SACD remasters (or the redbook remasters) with the exception of "The Singles" (priced at $15.99).

However, unlike Leo's experience, "The Singles" hybrid disc was not located in the bins with the other CDs, but rather in the "SACD section", which is buried in the home theater hardware portion of the store (completely unknown to most BB employees -- I had to find it myself several months ago, and it's very easy to overlook even when you know roughly where it should be).

After my discovery of "The Singles" hybrid, I found an employee who admitted to knowing about these titles. He informed me that they had not received the SACD-only releases and was unsure if they would. He also explained that they were directed by corporate to banish "The Singles" hybrid disc to the SACD section (if they could find it). I pointed out that this disc is a so-called "single inventory" release that's meant to replace the old CD (of which, there were many in the regular CD bins). He shrugged.

If you go over there, please find someone to complain to. That is, if you really care about SACD going mainstream. Something I wished I'd said: "On 3/25, one of the biggest selling albums of all time will be released on a single-inventory hybrid disc. Do you plan to bury it in the back, as well?"

Justin Lane · 03-04-2003, 03:49 PM

Quote:

After my discovery of "The Singles" hybrid, I found an employee who admitted to knowing about these titles. He informed me that they had not received the SACD-only releases and was unsure if they would. He also explained that they were directed by corporate to banish "The Singles" hybrid disc to the SACD section (if they could find it). I pointed out that this disc is a so-called "single inventory" release that's meant to replace the old CD (of which, there were many in the regular CD bins). He shrugged.

Rich, this is not surprising to me at all. Recently at Best Buy I was greeted by two different employees who tried to guide me to the CD section instead of shopping in the SACD section. After telling them I did indeed wish to purchase SACD, they let me in on that fact that Best Buy management informed them to do so. It seems like Best Buy is tired of people buying single layer SACD discs and returning them, because they will not play on the non-sacd hardware that most people own. There seems to be a corporate initiative to steer people away from the SACD sections instead of educating consumers on the new format (which could help spark sales in the long run). This is not a very good sign for SACD when one of the largest audio/electronics retailers in the country has told their employees to guide people away from SACD.

Quote:

If you go over there, please find someone to complain to. That is, if you really care about SACD going mainstream. Something I wished I'd said: "On 3/25, one of the biggest selling albums of all time will be released on a single-inventory hybrid disc. Do you plan to bury it in the back, as well?"

It wouldn't surprise me if Best Buy places DSOTM in the back with the SACD