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SACD recommendations

captouch said:
I just picked up a single layer Columbia/Legacy label Mingus Ah Um (CK 65512) - sounds great.

Wish I had picked up more of these when they were selling for a few bucks more than regular CD's in brick and mortar stores. I bought some, but not enough - didn't know that most of them would be OOP.
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Me, too. They were more expensive up here, though. Regular price on them was $30. The redbook releases of the same were more like $15. Every month or two the store I bought mine at would have a 20% off sale, so that's usually when I bought mine.
 
I didn't have time to read all the posts, but I too have recently begun to collect SACD as well as DVD A and BluRay Audio discs. I am loving the high resolution and even more so the 5.1 surround versions of many of my favorite albums. I'm a big Moody Blues fan and 6 of their first 7 albums can be found in surround, all but "In Search of the Lost Chord" which apparently the original multitrack tapes were somehow lost so only stereo versions are available. Being a huge fan, I love those albums.
If the criteria is sound quality, my best sounding SACD's are my 2 Pink Floyd albums, DSOTM and WYWH, Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral, and Dire Straights Brothers in Arms sounds great too.
If we can expand into DVDA or BluRay at all, I would say check out King Crimson Thrak, mind blowing. Also Quadraphenia sounds amazing, Gentle Giant Octopus, XTC Oranges and Lemons, and Yes Fragile. Not my favorite Yes album, but the mix and sound is fantastic.
 
I ordered a couple new ones. Will post after I listen to em.
 
anyone getting the new un-mastered Patrica Barber - Cafe Blue? It is being released on 4/15 and is suppose to be even better than the current (and very rare) SACD of this album. The old single layer SACD is totally awesome so I could not imagine what better would sound like?
 
stoutblock said:
anyone getting the new un-mastered Patrica Barber - Cafe Blue? It is being released on 4/15 and is suppose to be even better than the current (and very rare) SACD of this album. The old single layer SACD is totally awesome so I could not imagine what better would sound like?
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I'm not familiar with this recording, but started to read up on the new release. Being unmastered, it apparently sounds noticeably different - someone described it as drier. So unlike other remasters, this is likely a case where you want both and which you prefer (mastered or unmastered) will really be a subjective thing.
 
I have the current SACD and it is awesome so I sure hope they do not screw it up!
 
captouch said:
I'm not familiar with this recording, but started to read up on the new release. Being unmastered, it apparently sounds noticeably different - someone described it as drier. So unlike other remasters, this is likely a case where you want both and which you prefer (mastered or unmastered) will really be a subjective thing.
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Do you have a link to where you have read about this unmastered version?

I wonder what they mean by Unmastered?

This is from the Acoustic Sounds site:

"Unlike any other version thus far released. You feel the character of Capitol's vintage Neve console and you hear all the detail and feel and space of those famous analog reverb chambers." — Gus Skinas, The Super Audio Center / This recording authored for Hybrid SACD by Gus Skinas at the Super Audio Center, Boulder, Colo.

Looks like someone on Audiogon did not like it and returned it....

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/patricia-barber-cafe-blue-un-mastered
 
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olson_jr said:
Do you have a link to where you have read about this unmastered version?

I wonder what they mean by Unmastered?

This is from the Acoustic Sounds site:

"Unlike any other version thus far released. You feel the character of Capitol's vintage Neve console and you hear all the detail and feel and space of those famous analog reverb chambers." — Gus Skinas, The Super Audio Center / This recording authored for Hybrid SACD by Gus Skinas at the Super Audio Center, Boulder, Colo.
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Here's the link I was referring to. It's just one person's opinion.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/patricia-barber-cafe-blue-un-mastered
 
sounds like un-mastered means taking out some of the effects the audio engineers put in there? Not sure why they would do this as the original mix is excellent. Not sure why they don't just re-release the original SACD as it has been out of print for many years now and the originals now sell for stupid amounts of money? I have the MFSL original SACD version and it is probably the most amazing sounding album I own. It's one of those albums I play to show off my system.
 
@stoutblock

Bill Mac over at Hoffman's site picked it up and seems to enjoy it.


Bill Mac said:
The Café Blue SACD arrived today and I'm listening to it as I type. There is no need for a direct comparison between the new SACD and the MOFI SACD. The new SACD sounds excellent and betters the MOFI SACD IMO. So many aspects make this SACD better from the very accurate high end without any brightness, deep bass, life like vocals with a wide and deep soundstage. I found at times with the MOFI SACD that the high end just seems too bright with a bit of sibilance at higher volumes. On my system anything above a volume level of -15 is fairly loud. I have the volume at -11 and it sounds excellent without a hint of strain or distortion. I highly recommend this SACD
smile.gif
!

Bill
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stoutblock said:
Sounds like it is worth getting. Hopefully it will reduce the price of the MOFI version also...
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No way, I am planning on selling my Patricia Barber & Dead Can Dance MOFI SACDs when I need extra cash for my retirement! :biggrin:

I just listed to the UnMastered for the first time, but it was the redbook layer and it was on headphones. What I first noticed was a lack of sibilance on her vocals, almost like she moved back a couple if inches from the mics. The bass is also more natural sounding in that there seems to be a bit more woody, with more body or natural resonance. Also seems to have great dynamic range. I certainly enjoyed it and am looking forward to hearing on my speakers.

@stoutblock
 
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