It is a pity that the cost of these discs continues to escalate; perhaps due to the currency exchange rate, Dollar verses Yen, but I am sure there is a greed component as well.
Perhaps I am not being completely objective in an attempt to rationalize the expenditure but generally, my experiences with SHM-SACD discs have lead to a greater appreciation of music in my home, which is a completely subjective assessment but nevertheless a step in the right direction in the never-ending quest of the absolute sound. "I CALL IT A BARGAIN, THE BEST I EVER HAD", not really but many people myself included spend crazy amounts of money on hi-fi equipment and accordingly, with these ridiculously expensive discs there is a return on investment.
I remember spending $50.00 each on Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UHQR LP's - Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon and The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Listening to these LP's easily elevated my systems sonic potential. A quantum leap of audio fidelity resulted causing my equipment to sound vastly improved.
It is ironic that the quality of these analogue recordings remains my point of reference. SHM-SACD is not comparable to the UHQR LP's but it offers a sound that is non-digital with an almost analogue essence in a disc that retains all of the advantages of a digital playback medium.
Steely Dan - Gaucho [SHM-SACD]
Dire Straits - Love over Gold [SHM-SACD]
These two titles come to mind as good examples of the format, but musical taste should be considered.
I think it is very possible that many people will prefer the sound of a quality re-mastered audiophile "Redbook" CD to SHM-SACD, especially for Rock and Popular titles and I sense that due to the oppressive expense of these avant-garde discs, Universal Japan is perilously close to pricing the format out of existence. The vast majority of consumers are content listening to MP3's anyway and I would wager most in this group have never heard an analogue LP.
With SHM-SACD discs, I have discovered and greatly enjoyed new modes of musical expression while experiencing a compelling musical reproduction.
Perhaps I am not being completely objective in an attempt to rationalize the expenditure but generally, my experiences with SHM-SACD discs have lead to a greater appreciation of music in my home, which is a completely subjective assessment but nevertheless a step in the right direction in the never-ending quest of the absolute sound. "I CALL IT A BARGAIN, THE BEST I EVER HAD", not really but many people myself included spend crazy amounts of money on hi-fi equipment and accordingly, with these ridiculously expensive discs there is a return on investment.
I remember spending $50.00 each on Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UHQR LP's - Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon and The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Listening to these LP's easily elevated my systems sonic potential. A quantum leap of audio fidelity resulted causing my equipment to sound vastly improved.
It is ironic that the quality of these analogue recordings remains my point of reference. SHM-SACD is not comparable to the UHQR LP's but it offers a sound that is non-digital with an almost analogue essence in a disc that retains all of the advantages of a digital playback medium.
Steely Dan - Gaucho [SHM-SACD]
Dire Straits - Love over Gold [SHM-SACD]
These two titles come to mind as good examples of the format, but musical taste should be considered.
I think it is very possible that many people will prefer the sound of a quality re-mastered audiophile "Redbook" CD to SHM-SACD, especially for Rock and Popular titles and I sense that due to the oppressive expense of these avant-garde discs, Universal Japan is perilously close to pricing the format out of existence. The vast majority of consumers are content listening to MP3's anyway and I would wager most in this group have never heard an analogue LP.
With SHM-SACD discs, I have discovered and greatly enjoyed new modes of musical expression while experiencing a compelling musical reproduction.