Some Relatively Recent SACDs

[Alexander]

Don't know if I mentioned this or not, but I picked up an SACD player a couple of months ago (actually, it's a DVD player that ALSO plays SACDs). Anyway, since then I've been listening to the SACD layers on the hybrid discs I own and enjoying them thoroughly. This past week, I decided to pick up SACD versions of a couple of albums I know well and see how they sound. I got the SACD (actually a hybrid) editions of "Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet, "Cannonball Adderley in San Francisco," and "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman." Having A/Bed these with the previous CD editions, all I can say is: "Oh MY GOD!!!" These sound EXCEPTIONAL. I've never been happy with the sound on "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman," which has always seemed muddy to my ears (even in the late 90s reissue). The SACD edition explains why this is the case. RVG recorded the original album in both mono AND stereo. The mono version (which was originally released) was balanced in the studio. The stereo version was unmonitored. When record companies switched over to stereo, the unbalanced stereo tape was used on all subsequent issues. The SACD presents the album in both mono and stereo, and the difference is clear. It sounds SO much better in the original mono. "Lush Life" no longer sounds as though it's been recorded at the bottom of a well! The Miles and Cannonball discs sound amazing too. Paul Chambers' bass, for example, on the Miles disc has a resonance I've never heard before. Philly Joe's drums sound more natural as well. Although I've lately begun to come around to the fact that vinyl generally sounds warmer and more natural to my ears than CD, SACD rivals (and perhaps bests) vinyl in every respect as far as THESE albums go.

I'm a believer!

[Claude]

I'm a believer!

In SACD technology or superior remastering? Have you listened to the CD layer of the discs?

[wolff]

Mastering engineers?

[mikeweil]

Yes, advances in mastering techniques or in playback equipment - or both?

[Alexander]

I'm a believer! 

In SACD technology or superior remastering? Have you listened to the CD layer of the discs?

Yes, I have A/B'd the SACD and CD layers, and while the CD layer sounds excellent, the SACD layer reveals more "depth" (for want of a better word). I don't know what it is that makes it sounds so dang good, but I think it has to do with the increased storage space on the SACD layer that allows for better sound reproduction.