SHM-SACD - anyone tried any?

Posted by: Zepfan on 13 September 2010

Universal Japan have recently released a number of catalogue titles on SHM-SACD. These are single-layer, not hybrid discs and many have received very positive reviews on the Steve Hoffman forums (particularly "Who's Next"). Most have been newly remastered. They are, however, expensive (c 60USD incl. shipping!!)

Anyway, has anyone tried any of them and care to comment on the SQ?

Posted on: 13 September 2010 by Todd A

I have some SHM CDs and can't say that they're anything special. But then I can't hear any difference between regular CDs, "gold" CDs, CDRs, or other types of CDs. I'm skeptical that SACDs are any different.

Posted on: 14 September 2010 by Hot Rats

I haven't heard any od these discs played as SACDs but I have heard several 'Red Book' SHM discs. To my ear, they sounded compressed and inferior to standard versions.

Posted on: 14 September 2010 by Zepfan

I've heard a few SHM redbooks and would agree that they are not worth the money as they most seem to take existing masterings and "tweak" them further - usually for the worse!

However, the reports I read of the SACDs are that they are usually new masterings without a great deal of EQ or any compression. Indeed, John Astley's 2010 remastering of Who's Next was a flat transfer (confirmed by the man himself) which may or may not be a bad thing of course.

I imagine that these would still not sound as good as a decent redbook mastering on my CDS2, nevertheless I am curious!