Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Music › Someone please review YES: Fragile on DVD AUDIO?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Someone please review YES: Fragile on DVD AUDIO?

post #1 of 40
11/19/02 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 
Thanks in advance!
Reply
post #2 of 40
11/19/02 at 8:15am
If it's in Best Buy today, I will hear it and review it.
Reply
post #3 of 40
11/19/02 at 8:57am
Didn't see last night at a Tower Records.
Reply
post #4 of 40
11/19/02 at 10:59am
I just pulled it out of the mail box and now have it in my grubby little hands. Will report later.
Reply
post #5 of 40
11/19/02 at 12:43pm
Just received it in the mail and right off the bat "Roundabout" sounds great in 96hz/24 bit sound. Very open and airy sounding, Steve Howe's guitar work has never sounded better.

The bass notes from the organ during "Cans and Brahms" really rocks. My ICBM is working

Everything else sounds fine especially the bonus cut of "America" presented here for the first time also in Advanced Resolution Surround Sound. Very nice!

There's a cool feature called "Yes Timeline" that follows the band from theri infancy til "Fragile". It has photos pf every Yes single during that period that were released worldwide.

This is a MUST get for Yes fans and Multi-Channel fans. Even those with only a regular DVD player can enjoy this as it does have both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 mix's.
Reply
post #6 of 40
11/19/02 at 5:05pm
My local Best Buy had like ten copies of Fragile--I've never seen so many of just one dvd-audio title.

I've only listened as far the "The Fish", because I needed this thing called "dinner" . But the DTS track sounds excellent, and it sounds clearer & definitely more detailed than my non-remastered CD version. Whether this is due to using the original multi-track masters (probably this) or the surround aspect, I don't know. But I don't care-it just sounds REALLY good.

More to come later!

LJ
Reply
post #7 of 40
11/19/02 at 7:09pm
Can't wait till my copy arrives!

How is the surround mix?
Reply
post #8 of 40
11/19/02 at 8:28pm
Quote:
My local Best Buy had like ten copies of Fragile--I've never seen so many of just one dvd-audio title.


I have noticed my Best Buy has begun to stock similar quantities of new releases from Warner. This could be a sign that DVD-A sales are increasing in their store, but who knows.

I am still waiting for my copy of Fragile to arrive from Circuit City, hopefully it gets here tomorrow.

J
Reply
post #9 of 40
11/20/02 at 12:00pm
The DVD-A sounds terrific...

Couple of notes...

- This is one of the few discs that will allow the switching of audio (between surround and stereo) without going to the menu. Although, when switched, it starts at the beginning of the track.

- The back of the DVD-A has a chart labeling the disc content(This chart should be on EVERY disc). And although it lists the stereo mix at 192kHz/24-bit, it seems to be 96kHz/24-bit, the same resolution as the surround mix.

Mislabeled?

I don't think it's my player(ElitE 45-A) as other discs, including the one I'm listening to right now, Guarneri String Quartet (highly recommended if you like the Ravel, Debussy, Faure string quartets) does in fact play the 192kHz/24-bit stereo track just as the disc labels.

Any other thoughts...?

Go get the disc... Enjoy, JD

P.S. Where the #$%*@ is Donald Fagen?!!
I WANT The NIGHTFLY...
Reply
post #10 of 40
11/20/02 at 4:25pm
I just gave the disc a listen, and have to say it is fantastic. The stereo track is extremely clear and dynamic. It literally sounds like it was made just this year. The masters must have been in excellent condition. I listened to a couple of tracks in 5.1 and was also similarly impressed. This is a recording that was made for multi-cahnnel. Go buy it right now

The stereo track is indeed 24bit/96kHz (mislabeled on package), but excellent nonetheless.

Jack,

The Nightfly should be out around the middle of December. I cannot wait to get this disc either.

J
Reply
post #11 of 40
11/20/02 at 4:53pm
Just orederd it from CC online,however it's backordered.
Reply
post #12 of 40
11/20/02 at 5:43pm
Quote:
It literally sounds like it was made just this year.


I'll second that statement. And this is just the DTS track! Little to no background noise; I can hear the "plucks" on guitar strings; voices have a very real & in-the-room quality; imaging is very good (front and to the sides). Sometimes with Jon's voice there was a slight graininess present, but everything else was smooth and again, it just sounded very real. All this from 30(!) year old tapes.

Ths surround mix is the immersive type--but is on the conservative side (Linkin Park's is much more agrressive). Nothing jumps out at you. If panning is used, it is nice and slow. Except: with "Cans and Brahms" they really let loose and things are happening all around you! And, this is one of the few times the LFE channel really "does" anything--95% of the time there is little low bass occurring.

The disc starts immediately when the player finishes reading it.

Menus are animated with classy graphics--you finally get to see that uh.....fish boat(?) creation fly!.

The timeline thing is actually interesting to read and see--usually these types of extras I find boring. And it very complete--you need at least 10 minutes to really check it out fully.

The disc also has a stereo Dolby Digital track--it sounded pretty good.

All in all, this was $18 that was very well worth it. A really quality product. The people that worked on this disc helped this already-great music become more alive & moving than I have ever heard it.

LJ
Reply
post #13 of 40
11/20/02 at 8:17pm
Quote:
It literally sounds like it was made just this year.


Yeah, except it features extremely talented musicians performing creative and original musical works on real instruments... That's one way you tell it wasn't made just this year...

I'm really enjoying the album...

They mixed the drum kit and the bass in the front center channel for most of the album (again)... But then, I suppose nothing's perfect.

Cheers, JD
Reply
post #14 of 40
11/20/02 at 9:06pm
I haven't gotten this yet, but I was hoping that they would do a very aggressive mix for We Have Heaven, with each voice in one speaker. It looks like that isn't so from these posts, but that may be too weird for most.
Reply
post #15 of 40
11/21/02 at 5:22am
Quote:
I haven't gotten this yet, but I was hoping that they would do a very aggressive mix for We Have Heaven, with each voice in one speaker. It looks like that isn't so from these posts, but that may be too weird for most.


Actually Mike, the Multi-channel mix on We Have Heaven is the most aggressive 5.1 mix on the disc. Individual voices do indeed come from each speaker. It is a very creative and effective mix. When I typed my first thoughts I had yet to listen to this track. Go get the disc, you will not be disappointed.

J
Reply
post #16 of 40
11/21/02 at 6:21am
Wow, you guys have me excited about this one. I over-listened to Fragile at one point in a wasted youth and have avoided it since, so this'll get me a fresh fix.

And thanks for the comments on the DTS tracks from those of us who are forced to subsist on low-res.
Reply
post #17 of 40
11/21/02 at 9:34am
Thanks, Justin.
Reply
post #18 of 40
11/21/02 at 1:20pm
I think it's a perfect release. It's got Dolby Digital and DTS for the DVD crowd. Not too shabby!
Plus its has plenty of Advanced Resolution for the DVDA crowd.

It's a classic Rock album that everyone knows how it sounds.
And the menus and extras are very well done.

This one is a home run in my book.

I can only hope DSOTM gets as good of treatment when its time comes.
Reply
post #19 of 40
11/21/02 at 2:37pm
Quote:
I think it's a perfect release. It's got Dolby Digital and DTS for the DVD crowd. Not too shabby!


How's the bass?

I was a bass player in my youth and once owned a Ric 4003 specifically because Chris Squire (and Geddy Lee, for that matter) played one, and I just could not believe what it sounded like.

Probably going to buy this after work anyway, but just curious. I know that the Hotel California DVD-A disc (the title track in particular) has very strong bass (thats a good thing!).

BL
Reply
post #20 of 40
11/22/02 at 9:27am
Fine, I will answer my own question

Bass is good, but not great. IMHO the quality of the bass on Hotel California is much better than Fragile, although that likely is simply a difference in the original recording, or perhaps in how is was EQ'd and mixed for DVD-A. It just does not seem to hit the sub like HC does. Its not weak, but I keep wishing for a little more slam.

In general though, it is a great recording. Even casual Yes fans (I am one) will enjoy this disc.

One thing that does standout on Fragile is the amount of air around the sounds.

I put this disc in, pressed play, and was awed by the sound of the acoustic guitar during the intro to Roundabout. Very, very, nice. You can hear little squeaks of noise as hands slide over the strings. I don't think I have every heard an acoustic guitar sound more real in my living room, unless I was playing it.

BL
Reply
post #21 of 40
11/22/02 at 11:55am
OK, in case anyone cares, I take back my comments regarding bass on this CD. I hadn't listened end to end, and was focusing on Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround...

Just cue up Cans and Brahms, and any questions of insufficient bass will be addressed!

Another random comment. I had all sorts of navigation problems on the DVD-V layer of this disc. I had a hard time when switching back and forth between the DTS tracks and the DD tracks. The track list would indicate DTS, but theere was no output, even though the time counter on the player was advancing.

I had to stop the disc, and restart, the select DTS from the menu. I also noticed that, when I was playing the DD layer, the audio and display buttons on my player (a pioneer DV-45A) were inoperative.

No biggy...I won't be spending much time on the DVD-V layer anyway, and its probably just a quirk with my player.

That said, its all academic because, other then a bit of a bass boost apparent with the DTS layer, I much prefer the sound of the DVD-A tracks. The highs, particularly the cymbals, just sound awful on the DD and DTS layer, when compared to the DVD-A layer. Very strident. Listen to Long Distance Runaround on DVD-A, then swicth to DVD-V (DTS or DD, it sdoesn't matter). You'll hear what I mean.

And one more thing. Its a shame that the cool animated menus are only present on the DVD-V layer. Very cool to see the album cover come to life.

BL
Reply
post #22 of 40
11/22/02 at 2:40pm
I have to agree with all those who say this is a pretty incredible release. I wouldn't go as far as saying that its sound makes it seem as if Fragile was recorded yesterday, though. There's a certain thinness to the audio (to my ears) that tags it as being an older recording. That, and the fact that progressive rock like this just isn't made anymore.

But everything else about the disc is top notch. The clarity of the DVD-A tracks is almost shocking -- guess I've got too many memories of listening to "Roundabout" through blown-out college dorm speakers. Yes is also a perfect group for m/c audio mixes. This DVD-A takes full advantage of different speakers, but it all seems very natural. It isn't hard to imagine that this is the mix that Yes would have gone for had Fragile been released in quad back in the 70s. And the bonus track "America" is great!

It's a disc that should encourage those without DVD-A capability to upgrade for the holidays. The DD and DTS versions just pale in comparison.
Reply
post #23 of 40
11/22/02 at 7:35pm
The DVDA version does have an animated menu screen where that winged thing flys around the Earth. Pretty cool!

The bass during "Cans and Brahms" was damn fine on my SVS subwoofer. I know my ICBM and SVS were working!

Hope this is just the beginning of releasing Yes titles on DVDA or SACD.
Reply
post #24 of 40
11/23/02 at 2:27am
Since I had a credit at Digital Eyes, it was worth it to me to pick this one up for just the DTS version.
Reply
post #25 of 40
11/23/02 at 7:59am
Quote:
The DVDA version does have an animated menu screen where that winged thing flys around the Earth. Pretty cool!


I stand corrected on my previous comment that the animated menus were awol on the DVD-A layer.

My player (Pioneer 45A) starts playing straight away when the disc is inserted (the lyric page for Roundabout pops right up).

The menu button seemed to be inoperative, but when it hit the Top Menu button, I got the animated menus.

Very cool.

BL
Reply
post #26 of 40
11/25/02 at 6:54pm
The stereo track is well worth the purchase. Fantastic sound. Very open. The bass on America and Heart of the Sunrise is incredible considering this is a 30 year old album.
However...
I did not care for the surround mix! It did have its' moments, but it is strange, at best. America, one of my favorite Yes tunes (!), is unlistenable. As with any multi-channel DVDA or SACD, it is strictly hit or miss.
If you are a die-hard sweet-spot stereo junkie (I am) this is WELL worth the purchase.
Also, the photos and timeline are great.
Reply
post #27 of 40
11/25/02 at 8:42pm
Quote:
I did not care for the surround mix! It did have its' moments, but it is strange, at best. America, one of my favorite Yes tunes (!), is unlistenable. As with any multi-channel DVDA or SACD, it is strictly hit or miss.


Well stated. I happen to like the surround mix on Fragile, but there are titles that I hate.

One that comes to mind is Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow. It seems like it was mixed with a strong bias to the rear channels. That one will remain a 2CH affair, at least in my player.

OTOH, I really enjoyed Hotel California, and A Night at the Opera.

BL
Reply
post #28 of 40
11/28/02 at 5:52pm
I just made an analog MD copy of my Fragile disc for "portable" purposes. I've never owned the CD and my record was bought used and is not in the best shape. I may have tin ears but it doesn't appear that there is any audible problem with the copy, so I guess there isn't any watermarking.

Great disc, I wish they would make DVD-A hybrids so I wouldn't have to do this.

I also compared the DD 5.1 track with the DVD-A one and the DD sounds poor comparatively.
Reply
post #29 of 40
11/29/02 at 7:40am
Quote:
I also compared the DD 5.1 track with the DVD-A one and the DD sounds poor comparatively.


Same here....in fact, thought the DD and DTS versions sounded bad, compared to the DVD-A tracks.

The cymbals just sounded harsh to my ears, although the bass may have been a bit pumped up on the DTS versions.

BL
Reply
post #30 of 40
12/11/02 at 1:24pm
Picked this up today and am very impressed. I found even the DTS track to be far superior to my original cd at the frequency extremes (the cd has no bass or treble) and found the surround mix to be enjoyable in that it was revealing of many parts which had previously been a bit "buried". All except for "Mood for a Day", in which Mr. Howe sounds as if he's playing in the bathroom down the hall (which may well have been the case, but still...).
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Music
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Music › Someone please review YES: Fragile on DVD AUDIO?