Has anyone heard DSOTM in SACD?

Jon,

SACD is really only worth the investment if you love Classical music otherwise I would not bother. Try Floyd on what the albums were originally mastered for, vinyl, you really do owe it to yourself. Floyd on vinyl is magical from Pipers to Animals just classy stuff.



Dean...Like A Broken Record.

Yes....but played in 5.1 surround sound.

The DSOTM SACD is really meant to be listened to that way, as a remasterted version of the original which Floyd intentionally recorded in 4 channel quadraphonic sound. Even then the SACD is not really great and certainly not worth investing in equipment specially to hear.

SACD replay in Stereo can be quite good but CD is really just as good the majority of the time so SACD is not worth bothering with.

Dean is right. Vinyl is the way to hear DSOTM.

regards
Geoff

Not heard it on a NAIM system obviously but DSOTM sounds wonderful via my Onkyo 875.

The nature of this particular album suits surround sound to a "T" ....I love vinyl and bought DSOTM on the day it was released but the 5.1 (originally Quad) version rocks!

There is an DVD-A edition of the original Quadrophonic mix, but it was never officially released.
I got it off a Torrent site (hope I don't get cut off by my ISP for that!)
Its sounds great, shame about the music

Careful beebie, certain forum members have flounced & become emotional when confronted with such views.

quote:

Originally posted by beebie:
There is an DVD-A edition of the original Quadrophonic mix, but it was never officially released.
I got it off a Torrent site (hope I don't get cut off by my ISP for that!)
Its sounds great, shame about the music

Hi beebie and welcome....I have obtained that DVD-A via bit torrent aswell. The folks that produced it declared it was for free dissemination so nothing illegal in this specific case. They claim the DVD-A version is more faithfull to the original.

I do agree these multichannel renditions do sound good but I happen to be setup to play and listen to multichannel music and DVD so no extra investment required. If I did not have that situation I would certainly not recommend accquiring all the gear entailed just to listen to a few SACD's that are meant to be multichannel by default rather than stereo.

regards
geoff

quote:

Originally posted by 555:
Careful beebie, certain forum members have flounced & become emotional when confronted with such views.

Hi folks, I'll be careful.... but wondering if I am unique in thinking that "Animals" is PF's best album?

Beebie,


Those in "the know" will agree all others will try to disprove this truth.



Dean...

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff P:

I do agree these multichannel renditions do sound good but I happen to be setup to play and listen to multichannel music and DVD so no extra investment required. If I did not have that situation I would certainly not recommend accquiring all the gear entailed just to listen to a few SACD's that are meant to be multichannel by default rather than stereo.

regards
geoff

I agree Geoff.

Coincidentally, this afternoon I've been messing about with my new Oppo BluRay player which has the ability to play both SACDs and DVD-As and I've just given said 4.1 DSOTM DVD-A a listen, along with a couple of multichannel "Hybrid" SACDs and REM's "Automatic For the People" on DVD-A.

As you rightly point out, they're an interesting and quite pleasurable listening experience, but strangely unsatisfying in comparison to the CD or vinyl versions. "Gimmicky" covers it I think, although I really enjoy multichannel music DVDs. Odd...

The DSOTM is a very different mix to the standard one though, which adds to its interest for me. Listening to REM, I can see the potential of the format - it's a quite excellent mix, head and shoulders above most other stuff on DVD-A I've heard, and one wonders what would have happened if the format had been more carefully handled from the beginning.

Sorry, off topic for a moment...

Tony,

I'd be interested to hear your opinions of any Porcupine Tree 5.1 releases you may have purchased. That is - Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia, Deadwing & FOABP.

Denis

Hi Denis,

Just had a quick shufty through & the only one I've got on DVD-A's Lightbulb Sun. Got visitors at the moment (grumble grumble...) but as soon as they're gone I'll give it a spin & tell you what I think.

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
Hi Denis,

Just had a quick shufty through & the only one I've got on DVD-A's Lightbulb Sun. Got visitors at the moment (grumble grumble...) but as soon as they're gone I'll give it a spin & tell you what I think.

Tony,

Thanks, looking forward to your impression.

The problem with SACD is that most players cannot compete with top-notch red book CDPs. I've played the SACD of DSoTM, and the DVD-A of the same and the 30th anniversary reissue beats them via my Naim CDP.

I also have the DVD-A of Animals, which is nioe.

I have a couple of HDCD-encoded disks which sound stunning, notably Roxy Musics Greatest Hits.Shame this format seems to have been overlooked.

PS the 30th DSoTM is of course dual layer - so it will play SACD or Red Book CD, depending on the player. The reissue of WYWH still seems to be some way off.

I have DSOTM in original red book CD, gold disk CD purporting to have ultra high resolution and costing £100 and the SACD 5.1 release this thread was centred on.

My impressions on listening to all three versions is the SACD version wins, followed by the gold disk, followed by the standard 'red book' version. So my conclusion is the remastering when they made the SACD version was with higher quality recording studio instruments!!!!

Jon

The SADC disk of DSOTM is a new remastered recording taken from the original master tapes with the original engineer bought into the project as a consultant for mix accuracy. The details on that are in the sleeve notes.

The SADC layer was an attempt to reproduce the intent of the quad sound record.
The CD layer is mixed to be as close to the original released vinyl as possible.
BTW - the present High St red book CD is copied off a 2nd generation 15fps tape loaded with the same mix as used in making the original vinyl. So although good, it is not a prime copy mix.

The SADC is a superb album, no matter what machine it’s played on. I only have a 2-Ch player, but have heard it on an SADC player. SADC is impressive in both 2-Ch & surround, more of everything, IMO its a shame its a format that is destined for the history books. On a 2-ch CD player it’s a step up from the red book CD, better dynamics, stereo staging & definition. Buying it to replace the red book is a no brainer. My red book now lives in the car.
I am not a believer in discussing merits on what version or machine is best, I am a musician and a listener, enjoy the music and not the machinery. But I do prefer my vinyl copy but am afraid that one day it will be too worn to enjoy.

quote:

Originally posted by DenisA:
Sorry, off topic for a moment...

Tony,

I'd be interested to hear your opinions of any Porcupine Tree 5.1 releases you may have purchased. That is - Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia, Deadwing & FOABP.

Denis

Hi Dennis - I have 5.1 copies of Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia, & FOABP ....I'll get back to you!

quote:

Originally posted by Jet Johnson:

quote:

Originally posted by DenisA:
Sorry, off topic for a moment...

Tony,

I'd be interested to hear your opinions of any Porcupine Tree 5.1 releases you may have purchased. That is - Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia, Deadwing & FOABP.

Denis

Hi Dennis - I have 5.1 copies of Lightbulb Sun, In Absentia, & FOABP ....I'll get back to you!

Jet, Tony,

I have started a new thread on Surround Sound Recordings and ask if you post your feedback there, thanks.

Denis

quote:

Originally posted by Consciousmess:
I have DSOTM in original red book CD, gold disk CD purporting to have ultra high resolution and costing £100 and the SACD 5.1 release this thread was centred on.

My impressions on listening to all three versions is the SACD version wins, followed by the gold disk, followed by the standard 'red book' version. So my conclusion is the remastering when they made the SACD version was with higher quality recording studio instruments!!!!

Jon

Is that the Cd layer of the Sacd, Jon?



Dean...

I'd guess not - Red Book = standard CD.

Jon,

Sorry for hijacking your thread, I've started another one.

Denis

Back on topic, here is an interesting SACD review of DSOTM.

I've heard it on SACD on a Teac Esoteric - it sounds better on red book and even better on vinyl - now there's a surprise!