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SHM SACD's need to be burned in

I recently purchased Aja on a SHM sacd. I have never purchased any single disc at this price,but the chance of aquiring one of my favorite albums on SACD made me go for it.
I was so excited the day it arrived. I warmed up my system for a half an hour and popped it in. WHAT A DISAPOINTMENT!
The bass was bloated and the highs rolled off. It was inferior to my two redbook copies sonically(MFSL ultradisc and 1999 remaster).
I went on various forums to see if others had the same opinion as mine. To my surprise what I gathered was that playing these SHM SACD's about ten times to burn in improves the sound. I didn't beieve it but I had the disc already so .....
I played it on repeat on my cdp for two days straight. I then warmed up my system the same way and expected little change.
Much to my surprise the base tighten up,the highs improved and the soundstage organised itself. If I hadn't heard this for myself I never would have believed it.The mofi wasn't in the ballpark anymore!
Anyone else with a simular experience?

Regards,
montejay
montejay OP
285 posts
 
Bar81- Thank you for the feedback regarding the SHMs.Based on what you have said,I will buy a couple more.I chose Aja because it is not available on SACD any other way and I enjoy the format when done right.
Rrwear-Perhaps you are right,but the difference is significant enough that I'm perplexed now.
Audiofeil-My carpets have about 2000 hours on them and my drapes the same. I'm was using only a 20 spf at the beginning but I upgraded to a 50 on the jewel cases.
Do you think that was the reason?

Regards,
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Yes I wanted to ask about the effect that Squishy Wetware has on Hardware myself. This could be important to maintain fidelity between them.
zoya
120 posts
 
I don't want to insult you, but maybe you had your ears washed?
:)
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,598 posts
 
You heard what you heard.

How we perceive sound has to do with a lot of factors other than vibrations passing through the air.

I wouldn't go out and buy SHM versions of all my favorites based on one experience but I would buy another SHM-SACD and see if the same thing happens again.
rja's avatar
rja
2,372 posts
 
1. Assuming Montejay is not trying to pull our leg and this is not a joke, we have to take the difference he heard at face value.
2. The question then is what caused the difference in sound he heard.
3. IMO: Montejay is assuming that SHM-SACD burn-in caused the difference he heard. Personally, I find this explanation implausible because we would have heard of this phenomenon before if it was relatively common. The fact is, as far as I can tell, none of us here have heard of SHM-SACD burn-in before.
4. Then we are left with speculating on other possible causes.
PS: SHM-SACDs are relatively new so probably not that many in USA yet.
PSS: I have a number of SHM-CDs and have not noticed this situation with them.
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