the SHM CD Experience

Got a CARE package yesterday, 6 SHM-CDs and 2 Blu-spec. Just listened to Nightfly, awesome!
I'll be the first to admit that not every one of these is spectacular but some are the best I've heard on CD.

drubin, I think your post is as close as damnit is to swearing..a more exact read, less laser splash.

I don't think anyone thought shm-cd's were remastered. since sacd is tanking(not because they're not better, but because the hardware isn't selling), the emphasis on manufacturing(which has been known to have an effect positive or negative on cd or dvd quality) is now an option for those with redbook players. I just received some japanese van morrison and rolling stones shm cd's from japan and they play as fine as my original lp pressings. since the compact disc was originally intended for mass consumption, it has always been limited by the cost of manufacturing(about 50 cents today). using more expensive materials(neary tripling the cost) does improve the sound. as far as remastering goes, improvements are still on a title by title basis. todays vinyl revival is still(in many cases)relying on masters that are a decade or more old, and many of the sources are digital. Here too, the manufacturing makes a lot of difference. In order for sacd to be commercially viable(given the production expense), it has to sell well over a threshold thats just not there today for most titles other than the biggest sellers. think of blue spec and shm as 'plan b'. tiny runs for those who covet cd collections, and want the final word for the format quality wise, and the tiny LP replica covers that some have are cool as well.. sort of a 'festivus for the rest of us'

I don't think anyone thought shm-cd's were remastered. since sacd is tanking(not because they're not good, but because the hardware isn't selling), the emphasis on manufacturing(which has been known to have an effect positive or negative on cd or dvd quality) is now an option for those with redbook players. I just received some japanese van morrison and rolling stones cd's from japan and they play as fine as my original lp pressings. since the compact disc was originally intended for mass consumption, it has always been limited by the cost of manufacturing(about 50 cents). using more expensive materials does improve the sound. as far as remastering, improvements on still on a title by title basis. todays vinyl revival is still(in many cases)relying on masters that are a decade or more old, and many of the sources are digital. Here too, the manufacturing makes a lot of difference. In order for sacd to be commercially viable(given the production expense), it has to sell well over a threshold thats just not there today for most titles. think of blue spec and shm as 'plan b'. tiny runs for those who covet their cd collections, and want the final word for the format quality wise. sort of a 'festivus for the rest of us'