SHM Universal Japan SACDs

Hi Achilles,

I am a fan of DVD-A discs as well and I agree with your opinion of the Goucho DVD-A disc, it is certainly an exact reproduction of a methodically produced (digital?) recording; actually, I am not certain it was recorded digitally.

Like you, my format of choice was and still is to a degree DVD-A. Given the choice, I would opt for the DVD-A version of a title, although it is rare to find competing high-resolution formats of the same release. While certainly not true of all SACD discs, it seems many are a bit rolled-off on the top and lack the visceral, impactful bass response found in many of the DVD-A titles. I passed on the SACD version of GYBR and purchased the DVD-A version a few years back and in retrospect, I enjoyed the disc very much, taking into account the limitations of my audio system at the time.

Since then my system has changed considerably. The addition of an Ayre Acoustics amplifier, a Krell pre-amp, and a speaker upgrade (from Vandersteen Model 3 to Model 3a Signature) has proven to be a revelation. I was inspired to get serious about the power supplied to my components so I purchased a high quality power conditioner and quality AC cables in addition to well matched interconnects and speaker cables. Someday I would love to get into tubes, at least a tube preamp but that will need to wait for a while.

Knowing so little about your audio set-up, I should not try to give advice but it sounds like you have quality CD players. Could your integrated amplifier and cables be a week link? My Ayre Acoustics amplifier matches well with the Vandersteen speakers and the Krell preamp / Ayre amp combination may accentuate the capabilities of the SACD format, as you speculated.

SHM-SACD discs should be considered in a different category to all other high-resolution formats. The first time I listened to one I initially thought something was wrong with my (new) system; what happened to the high-end shimmer I had come to expect from all digital recordings? The high-end was eerily open and ready to respond when called on by the source material, all without a hint of grain at volume levels that would be painful for the vast majority of formats. Little or no equalization is utilized when mastering these discs! I doubt that there is anything wrong with your hearing; you are just experiencing the lack of high-end sparkle you have come to expect. It is obvious the focus is to reproduce as faithfully as possible the source recording weather it be first second or third generation master, and attention to the midrange is paramount. It is a very “analogue” sound, like that from dare I say a low generation copy of a master tape or only the highest quality turntables playing MFSL UHQR LP's, and of course, there is no surface noise.

The first disc I heard was Gentle Giant – Octopus; that is very unusual music with dynamics to the extreme and vocal or instrumental syncopation at every opportunity. Without the artificial high-end energy found on other digital medium, I was able to increase the volume while maintaining a comfortable listening level; I was even able to communicate verbally with others in the room while hearing deeper into the music than ever before.

Octopus is not one of the better SHM-SACD’s but I have heard it in various formats many times through the years but never had I approached the fringes of the recording session and peered over the shoulder of the audio engineer at the mixing desk as I did when listening to this SHM-SACD.

All the best,

MikeC

MJC, did you listen to the Repertoire (3,000 copies made sticker) version of Octopus (redbook format)? That recording was one of the high water marks for me in redbook. I'm curious how you feel it does, or would, compare to the SHM-SACD of the same title.

Mr. Fripp1,

Thanks to your reply I decided to purchase the last remaining Repertoire Octopus CD at my local Amazon dealer. I have reason to suspect that Repertoire has given Octopus the deluxe treatment due partly to your assessment and the fact that I enjoy Repertoires version of Renaissance-Scheherazade. Although it exhibits much of what we have come to love and hate about the Redbook format I think it is the best digital version available, at least until someone decides to master a proper high-resolution rendering. I will post my comparisons of the two Octopus discs soon… I hope.

On a different but related subject, I question the “Limited Edition” assertions found on some recordings; you mentioned that the Repertoire disc has a “3,000 copies made sticker.” I doubt it would still be available on Amazon close to 3 years after its release, and the SHM-SACD discs remain available.

Perhaps I am wrong and or cynical.

All the best,

MikeC

MJC, PLEASE do a comparison and report back. It would be hugely appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Fripp1,

Regarding the comparison of the two Gentle Giant-Octopus discs, the sound is quite different. On reflection, I am amazed at how an identical performance can be depicted in such a dissimilar way.

The Repertoire disc is much louder so on first assessment the SHM-SACD disc sounded lifeless but compensating for the disparity in volume revealed an amazing transformation. The SHM-SACD disc exhibited three-dimensional information and warmth not revealed by the Repertoire CD and the bass was greatly improved on the SHM-SACD as well. On the top, it seemed the sky was the limit. A very free and open audio spectrum remained for the artists to reproduce their aural images. In contrast, the CD sounded compressed, as if an attempt was made to control the wildly fluctuating dynamics of the original recording.

At realistic volume levels, the SHM-SACD produced scarcely a trace of listening fatigue but the same cannot be said of the Repertoire CD; after just a few songs I grew tired of listening to it at such high volumes.

I remember purchasing a 45-rpm single of a John Lennon song, it was either “Instant Karma” or “Cold Turkey” and stamped on the label were the words, “Play Loud”. This is good advice in the world of SHM-SACD.

All the best,

MikeC