What Hirez Discs Have You Purchased Recently? - Page 24

Chris Gerhard · 03-18-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

I did listen to it in stereo when I put my RP91 on my stereo a couple of months ago.

The recent Neil Young "Greatest Hits" 96/24 LPCM stereo is really good and I am hoping the "Harvest" DVD-A stereo is that good just in case I agree with the few voters that rate the surround mix a 3 or less. Overall the poll does show it rated highly but a few vocal dissenters have indicated it is not a universally acclaimed mix. In any event, you were right, it is a stereo disc, just not only stereo. I have been around long enough to know the woman is always right and I can find that truth hidden in each statement.

Chris

Doug_B · 03-18-2006, 03:25 AM

Re my Billy Joel Stranger SACD comments in this thread from the other day.

To my ears, the deficiencies in this disc are not subtle. For the 2ch layer, the sound is particularly flat / 2 dimensional. The presentation is very much constricted to the plane between my speakers. Instruments are not given a chance to breathe / resonate; they all sound smothered. Comparatively, the vocals are probably better. Multichannel is somewhat better, although there is some inconsistency between tracks. Generally, the soundstage improves simply due to the use of more speakers, and sometimes instruments do not convey the level of smothering I noted across the board for 2ch. As I have liked this album since its initial release ('77?), I do listen to this SACD once in a while, but I am forced to listen at low volume.

There's really nothing to argue about if others like the disc's presentation, as we all have our own perceptions. Nobody needs to justify them. I only brought up my own opinions because, as I stated before, the deficiencies I hear, esp on 2ch, are not subtle.

Doug

Doug_B · 03-18-2006, 03:38 AM

New SACDs purchased:

Natalie Macmaster - In My Hands
Spyro Gyra - Wrapped in a Dream
Romero - Live at Trinity Church
The Tiptons - Surrounded by Horns
Nickel Creek - Self-titled
The Kinks - Everybody's in Showbiz

Haven't heard much of any of them yet, but they generally have very good sonics to my ears (Kinks not at same level as others, which is to be expected, but still good from the few songs I've heard). Usually need time to like the material of an album that I've never heard before, but In My Hands has a certain quality / uniqueness that will probably win me over quickly. Also bought even more redbook CDs, so it'll be a while before I get through everything even once

.

Doug

Paul.S · 03-18-2006, 09:49 AM

Doug: Did you spend much time with the The Stranger CD back in the day? If so, how does the 2 ch s.q. on the SACD compare?

Chris Gerhard · 03-18-2006, 07:05 PM

Well crap, I went back to digitaleysdotnet and ordered 5 more to be shipped when my order ships.

Pat Metheny: Imaginary Day (DVD-Audio) DVD New (9106933871)
1 $10.71 --

Neil Young - On The Beach (1974) DVD New (9109112030)
1 $10.72 --

Emmylou Harris - Producer's Cut DVD New (9111963563)
1 $11.95 --

Emerson, Lake And Palmer: Brain Salad Surg DVD New (9115538431)
1 $10.78 --

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (DVD-Audio) DVD New (9115557549)
1 $12.14 --

It cost another $2.50 shipping to get these to me. If I show up and mention I have bought some more, I want somebody to have me committed.

Chris

Doug_B · 03-19-2006, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Doug: Did you spend much time with the The Stranger CD back in the day? If so, how does the 2 ch s.q. on the SACD compare?

Wish I could tell you, Paul. I had the CD for only about a year in 1991, lost it in a house move somehow, and never replaced it. Also, I wasn't as much of a critical listener at that time, and my system was not at its current level. Prior to that, I owned the vinyl from the time it was released (probably still have it, but no vinyl capability on my system), again using my '80s-'90s system. Memory fades...

Doug

Brian Magnuson · 03-19-2006, 07:51 PM

Donald Fagen - Morph the Cat (DVD-A)

Rachael B · 03-19-2006, 09:26 PM

Christopher, I got that Neil Young Grated Hitz on vinyl. I got a pretty good pressing except for a pop on one song. Did your's include Sugar Mountain and The Loner which were on a coloured single in my set?

Paul.S · 03-20-2006, 08:01 PM

FINALLY received an order I placed through the studio store on the Sony Pictures lot. A small selection of single layer Sony SACDs:

Hot House Flowers - Wynton Marsalis
#1s - Mariah
Footloose Soundtrack
Escape - Journey
L.A. Phil - Bernard Hermann: The Film Scores
Hourglass - James Taylor
52nd Street - B. Joel

Especially looking forward to Hourglass and 52nd Street as both are Frank Filipetti 5.1 mixes.

To the extent it wasn't obvious in the past, it seems clearer to me now that--to the extent original engineers were not available/interested and the artist did not assert him/herself, Sony just paid Mark Wilder to do the engineering/remastering for many of these early single layer, stereo-only SACDs.

Chris Gerhard · 03-20-2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Christopher, I got that Neil Young Grated Hitz on vinyl. I got a pretty good pressing except for a pop on one song. Did your's include Sugar Mountain and The Loner which were on a coloured single in my set?

No, the set includes a CD and the DVD but those two songs are on neither. Both songs are included on "Decade" which I also own but the sound on the new compilation DVD is better.

Chris

Rachael B · 03-21-2006, 05:30 PM

Christopher, I didn't know Sugar Mountain was on Decade. I have or have had beaucoups of Neil and Neil related albums but never that one. I first heard Sugar Mountain when it was the flipside of one of his singles long ago. This is the first time I've owned it. The Grated Hitz vinyl is purr-dy hi-rez but I really prefer digital formats these days. Stille, I buy a few records....