SACD Reccomendations

Mark Hedges · 09-10-2003, 05:50 PM

I just ordered a SACD player (Sony C222ES) and am looking for some software recomendations. What do you guys think? I am definetly picking up:

Nora Jones
Alison Krauss Live
DSOTM

What else do you guys recommend? I like jazz, classical, & bluegrass.

What do you recommend for multichannel discs? My rear soundstage isn't so good so I would probably be more interested in "audience" type mixes rather than "on the stage" type mixes.

Thanks!

Mark

Steve_AS · 09-10-2003, 06:03 PM

A classical must-get is Carlos Kleiber/Berlin Philharmonic Beethoven 5 & 7th symphonies - classic performances, brought newly to life with SACD surround ambience. Very much a 'best seat in the audience' mix.

Hank · 09-10-2003, 06:16 PM

These are multi-channel:

Bucky Pizzarelli Swing Live - You will believe you are in a NYC jazz club. Stupendous!!!

Dave Brubeck Time Out
Miles Davis Kind Of Blue

I also 2nd the Kleiber Beethoven 5th & 7th!

KrisM · 09-10-2003, 06:39 PM

Channel Classics has a great sampler disc that is very cheap. I paid about $9CDN for it, and it has some solid performances on it . I bought Vivaldi's La Stravaganza by Rachel Podger and a Pieter Wispelwey disc(C. Saint Saens) that were both featured on the sampler. Both discs are excellent and are worth picking up. I also plan on picking up Wispelwey's Benjamin Britton disc.
As far as jazz goes I would recommend John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. I have also enjoyed alot of the Sony jazz titles, even though they are expensive in my area. Charles Mingus-Mingus Ah Um and Monk's Straight, No Chaser give me alot of enjoyment.

Regards
KrisM

Mike Broadman · 09-10-2003, 09:34 PM

You can't go wrong with anything Analogue Productions has put out.

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Seth--L · 09-10-2003, 10:49 PM

A classical must-get is Carlos Kleiber/Berlin Philharmonic Beethoven 5 & 7th symphonies - classic performances, brought newly to life with SACD surround ambience. Very much a 'best seat in the audience' mix.

Having heard the Kleiber SACD on various systems, I find the sound quality to be only slightly better than previous CD and LP incarnations, which were always so-so - DG's recordings tend to be average, they could never touch EMI and Decca ones. To make matters worse, DG did not go back to the master tapes when making the SACD, but instead used old PCM masters. Just about any Sony SACD of a recording from the analog era sounds significantly better than this SACD, and other DG SACDs from this era, even ones that were recorded pre-1960.

Anyway, I'd recommend any Sony SACD featuring George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra.

KrisM · 09-10-2003, 11:00 PM

Seth, what is your take one The Four Seasons SACD by Sony?

Regards
KrisM

Seth--L · 09-10-2003, 11:12 PM

KrisM,

I have not heard the SACD. I'm familiar with the recording. It doesn't do much for me, but then again neither does most of Vivaldi's music (though I do like some of Andrew Manze's recent recordings of the violin concertos and sonatas). I'm sure the sonics are quite good. Sony tends to do the best remastering jobs.

KrisM · 09-10-2003, 11:18 PM

Thanks, Seth. I am new to the classical genre, and have enjoyed the Vivaldi I have heard so far. I may pick it up if I can find a decent price on it.

Regards
KrisM

Steve_AS · 09-11-2003, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Having heard the Kleiber SACD on various systems, I find the sound quality to be only slightly better than previous CD and LP incarnations, which were always so-so - DG's recordings tend to be average, they could never touch EMI and Decca ones. To make matters worse, DG did not go back to the master tapes when making the SACD, but instead used old PCM masters.

You are of course referring to the SACD stereo version, whereas to me, that's pretty much made obsolete by the SACD surround version, which presumably was remixed from the original multitracks.

Then again, I'm not someone who automatically turns up his nose at 'old PCM masters'.

Justin Lane · 09-11-2003, 04:27 PM

A couple goodies from Universal

John Coltrane A Love Supreme
Diana Krall The Look of Love

From Sony if you are into fusion

Herbie Hancock Headhunters
Miles Davis In a Silent Way

J

Rachael B · 09-11-2003, 07:59 PM

Bluegrass : Nickel Creek's two releases and member Chris Thile's album ALL WHO WAUNDER ARE NOT LOST, and Jerry Douglas' Sugarhill album... the title of which I cannot remember at the moment and I'm not home to run and see. Just buy the whole Sugarhill catalog so far and you'll get Dolly Parton too. Jorma Kaukonen's BLUE COUNTRY HEART is one of the better recorded SACD's out and a great performance too.

Jazz: Manfredo Fest's JUST JOBIM, Will and Rainbow (includes Phoebe Snow on 3 vocals). Take a close look at everything on the Groove Note label. Every one of their releases that I've heard is a winner. Jacintha's new album JACINTHA IS HER NAME is just one of their winners. Anthony Wilson Trio's OUR GANG is another Groove Note triumph.

For jazz, I'd take a long hard look at the better labels...DMP, Telarc, Analogue Productions, Chesky, Eighty Eight's, Heads Up (get both the Spyro Gyra albums, muy bueno! cultura maximoso!!!!), and Groove Note. These labels feature quite alot of stuff recorded on DSD recorders...well, maybe not Analogue Productions but they have some great old stuff.

The Universal releases are collectively OK, but are all old stuff...no new stuff recorded in DSD.

Wellcum tu SDAC!