It's already available for pre-order at elusivedisc, unit price: $1,499.99 http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ESOSA90021
Which website(s) have these for less than the US import prices? I can't see the Mozart Piano Concertos or Dvorak (the two I really want) on hmv.co.jp Cheers
Apparently there was a misunderstanding between Esoteric and the US importer. The US price has now been lowered to $800. http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ESOSA90021 Here's a long discussion thread, with a few posts by the head of Elusive Disc: http://www.sa-cd.net/showthread/46088//y?page=first
BTW, after starting with just one title I have over the last few weeks given in and completed my set, there is not a week link between them - the sound quality of each recording is amazing.
do some more research... supposition does more harm than good... and Proper citations HERE: http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=5085245&postcount=2
Carlos Kleiber Pray tell how Klieber Brahms 4 sounds, one of my favorites. Any reduction in glare from DG Originals edition? Hiro read that it was mastered from PCM, not the original digital tapes.
deanswift58, it wasn't a supposition, I just pointed out that their website doesn't list a A/D converter http://esoteric.teac.com/esoteric_remasters/tchaikovsky_-_swan_lake,_op.20_-_highlights/
Eddie, although they corrected the spars code to DDD on the Japanese website http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/essg90018/index.html they unfortunately forgot to make the same correction on the translated page, where the spars code for this release still indicates the SACD was sourced from analog tape (ADD) http://www.esoteric.jp/products/esoteric/essg90018/indexe.html
Have you tried contacting JVC Mastering center? they tend to be quite forthcoming albeit slow[esp. if you pose the query in english], when it comes to divulging the minutae of tech facts. In issue 136 of StereoSound, when queried on another project [XRCD-related], Sugimoto-san mentioned that he prefers doing EQ in the analogue domain as it has less artifacts and the sound is more "malleable".
I don't have the DG to compare it to but there are only a few passages where the orchestra might not be as detailed.
Interesting discussion, thanks for the link. Of the 6 releases this is the one with the weakest sound quality IMO. That being said, it is still a great recording and I don't regret buying it.
You prabably meant this (sa-cd.net multiple page thread links are tricky) http://sa-cd.net/showthread/47295//y?page=last
I have a few of these titles. No mention was ever made by Esoteric of analog masters being used in the production of these SACD's, as far as I'm aware. My decision to buy was based on feedback, which has been nearly 100% positive. And yes they are worth it (if you love the music). The sonics are awesome.
I am glad they have become honest about their sources - has someone asked them for a clarification or detailed statement about the XRCD claim on the CD layer ?
Latest releases I've haven't heard the Karajan's Decca Dvorak or Brahms, but the Mravinsky is exciting news. Forthcoming in March. Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 & Brahms: Symphony No. 3 - Herbert von Karajan/VPO Dvorak recorded September 29 - October 8, 1961 and September 1963. Brahms recorded September 29 - October 8, 1961. Tchaikovsky: Symphony Nos. 4-6 - Evgeny Mravinsky/Leningrad Philharmonic [2SACD] No. 4 recorded September 14 & 15, 1960 at Brent Town Hall, Wembley, London. No. 5 recorded November 9-10, 1960 at Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Vienna. No. 6 recorded November 7-11, 1960 at Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Vienna. And Tchaikovsky...
I'm reading at Disk Union that there is a problem with the Karajan and that it has been pulled. Apparently a couple of bars (204 and 205, first movement) are missing from the Brahms, Esoteric are enquiring to Decca and will announce how they are going to proceed. Customers being offered their money back at DU. See: http://diskunion.net/classic/ct/news/
All of Esoteric's slick advertising doesn't disguise the fact that they're working from 24/96 digital copies of the original analogue tapes and not the analogue stereo masters themselves. So, the quality of Esoteric's masterings are depending on how well Polygram's engineers transferred the analogue tapes to digital in the 1990's. Even though I was misled by Esoteric's "audiophile" advertising and have purchased all of their SACD's to date (including the Solti Ring Cycle box set), I am not going to invest further in Esoteric's doubletalk and purposely deceptive advertising. Although I'm quite happy with the sound of the Esoterics, they should have advertised these as coming from digital masters. They've lost my business by their dishonesty.
Did Esoteric claim they were using analog masters stored in England? I do not know, but I will continue to buy Esoteric titles I'm interested in -- the sound of the few I have is astounding. Btw, is it true that DG sourced their SACD releases from PCM masters several years ago?
