Can someone tell me which DSOTM I have?

Posted by: Steve S1 on 04 August 2006

I have just purchased what was advertised as a 30th anniversary edition of DSOTM on CD. There is nothing to say so on the cover, although the cover is a different looking prism on a lighter blue background.

The CD case spine is a yellow brick effect and looking very hard on the disc I can barely make out the letters SACD on it, although there is no mention of 5.1 layers or anything like that.

On playback (CDS2) the disc sounds significantly better than my original CD copy, richer, more space and a deeper bass.

I have heard of a dual layer disc but this doesn't appear to be it. Was there a SACD stereo only release? If so, I guess this is it. But given that the CDS2 is not SACD I'm struggling to see why it should sound better.

Steve

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by Mike1380

You have the same disc as I.

It's a dual layer hybrid SACD

There's a cd layer that your CDS2 is reading

There is also an SACD layer that an appropriate player would be able to see. On that layer there is a 2 channel DSD bitstream version and a 5.1 mix.

The reason it sounds better has nothing to do with the SACD layers, but is all in the remastering!

When they produced this disc they also did a vinyl from the same remaster.

I have both, and each format considerably outperforms the 20th anniversary version on the respective silver and black discs.

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by Steve S1

Nice one Mike, thanks.

Any reason why there is so little information on it? Can't see anything about dual layers. Could it be that there is an outer cover or sleeve that I'm missing?

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by Mike1380

Can't remember of the top of my bonce.... will have a lookie when I get home.

In the meantime, and for your info, the 5.1 mix is quite funky and I have listened to it a couple of times on my AV setup... BUT it's really just a toy on that disc.

If you've got a 5.1 setup then disc 2 of the pulse dvd is DSOTM live, but with the same style of surround mix as the SACD, and 3 encores thrown in for good measure.

It's a crowd pleaser I suppose.
You can tell that both were mixed by the same guy, James Guthrie, who's a self confessed analogue nut.

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by Steve S1

Ok I'll give it a go in the AV set up. Cheers.

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by Guido Fawkes

I have this DOSTM

Mine is not the japenese pressing though.

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by J.N.

quote:
It's a dual layer hybrid SACD

Hi Steve;

These hybrid jobs sound crap on a Naim CD player in my experience.

Can you compare it with a standard remaster? I have a 1992/1994 remaster, made in Holland, and it sounds pretty good.

Catalogue number 7243 8 29752 2 9.

John.

Posted on: 04 August 2006 by a529612

Which redbook CD version is considered as the "holy grail" of DSOTM if you are only going to buy 1 copy? Thanks!

Posted on: 05 August 2006 by Mike1380

quote:
These hybrid jobs sound crap on a Naim CD player in my experience.

Bit of a generalisation... Not in my experience...
A great mastering/re-mastering can shine on these discs... Brothers In Arms is another example.

quote:
Can you compare it with a standard remaster? I have a 1992/1994 remaster, made in Holland, and it sounds pretty good.

Err... as I said earlier......

quote:
I have both, and each format considerably outperforms the 20th anniversary version on the respective silver and black discs.

I'm prepared to accept that a dual layer disc is inherently flawed...
BUT
The remastering is the key here.
It is so vastly superior (as can also be confirmed by listening to the two vinyl examples - which I have!) that it still produces the better silver disc experience, DESPITE being a dual layered disc.

Don't buy it because it's a funky format.
DO buy it because it sounds better!

Posted on: 05 August 2006 by Steve S1

JN said

quote:
Hi Steve;

These hybrid jobs sound crap on a Naim CD player in my experience.

Can you compare it with a standard remaster? I have a 1992/1994 remaster, made in Holland, and it sounds pretty good.

Catalogue number 7243 8 29752 2 9.

John.

Hi John,

My old CD was Harvest CDP7 46001 2. The SACD is 7243 58236 2. I can now confirm that it is the hybrid (the writing is on the disc but I needed a jeweller's eye piece to see it!).

It is significantly better than the CD, as Mike suggests. It is the best CD copy of DSOTM that I've heard.

Is there another I should try?

Steve.

Posted on: 05 August 2006 by liam

i have just purchased mfsl on harvest udcd 517.
i will let you know how this compares to the 1994 remaster i have.
i to am interested in hybrid disc. i see japan have there own version of sacd and are soon to put out a reissue cd, anyone know if thease are worth going for.

Posted on: 05 August 2006 by Mike1380

quote:
Is there another I should try?

yeah.....
Buy the same 30th anniversary remaster on vinyl and shove it on a good spinner!

Posted on: 05 August 2006 by a529612

Someone over at AA said the Toshiba version sounds best...

DSOTM shoot out