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Must -have SACD's

While the new format holds quite a bit of promise a lot of the recordings currently available can sound 2-dimensional and sometimes shrill on the top end. This thread is for SACD's that are all around better recording wise than the best of redbook CD. My suggedtions are the Eric Bibb SACD on Opus 3, the Rebecca Pigeon SACD on Chesky, the Tony Bennett Unplugged on Sony, the Carmina Burana on Sony. These SACD's seem to be better than redbook CD's in pretty much every aspect and should be considered must-have's. Please list other SACD's in this category for current owners of this format so we can avoid wasted purchases of inferior quality recordings.
pugstub77b1
njonker
107 posts
 
Drubin: Thanks. I clearly hear the difference, as evident from my 13 out of 15 listening test success. I tried to distinguish between 'different' and 'better'.

Quantifying exactly what is better is what I was having some issues with, but I have that one worked out as well now. The bass is tighter, the piano sounds more real, the stereo image is better. Overall, the music is more engaging and has more presence. So, I will on record now as saying SACD does sound better, a lot better. The piano is probably the most obvious example. The drum solos are just 10 times better on SACD, the detail in the cymbals is very much more present.

(And in all honesty, I have plenty of SACD's that I do not care for, the recordings are just not that good that they utilize SACD to the fullest. The last thing I need is even higher quality tape hiss... :)

Niels.
jsbail
368 posts
 
Can anyone point to a site that has a complete list of SACD recordings?
drubin
3,277 posts
 
Good question. Sony and Philips should have such a site, as Pacific Microsonics has for HDCD for years. Acoustic Sounds, the audiophile software retailer in Kansas, has a pretty good list, but not exhaustive.
drubin
3,277 posts
 
I checked out Music Direct online today and their list is also pretty good. http://www.amusicdirect.com



Again, Sony and Philips are damn fools to not be aggressively promoting the library of software. There should be a web site, even a weekly email push, with the titles of new and upcoming releases.

jadem6's avatar
jadem6
1,074 posts
 
Mingus; Ah Um on SACD
This is an incredibly smoooooooooth example of SACD! The background is pitch black, space between horns, percussion, piano and Charles' bass is evident and easily placed with great depth and width on a huge sound stage, with superb detail throughout. This was the first time from vinyl or digital that I felt I could sense the reed vibrating on the woodwinds. I've owned Miles Davis "kind of blue" for a while now in SACD and as good as it sounded I've felt the drums a bit forward in the presentation. Not so with Mingus, everything is wonderfully naturel. This is far and away the best SACD I've heard from the Sony vaults, and will rival my favorites from Water Lilly and Mobil Fidelity's Duke Ellington "blues in orbit". If you like jazz from the late 50's and early 60's this will become a favorite. J.D.
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