The best SHM-SACDs (part2)

Right. I probably would have bought all of the Queen SACDs if they would have been done right.

 

thanks for posting this list. Although you're not comparing with CDs, I am curious whether you (or another forum member) has compared the Village Vanguard to the AP SACD from about 2003. If so, feel free to share your opinion. Thanks!

 

Here's my take on the disks I have heard in this series to date using Claus's metric

Outstanding
Who's Next - The Who
Liege & Lief - Fairport Convention
Argus - Wishbone Ash
Land Of The Grey and Pink - Caravan

Good
Sticky Fingers - Stones
Songs In the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
John Barleycorn Must Die - Traffic
Gasoline Alley - Rod Stewart
Exile On Main Street - Stones
Every Good Boy - Moody Blues
Its Only Rock N Roll - Stones
Goats Head Soup - Stones
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

Average
Live At Filmore - Allman Brothers
Aja - Steely Dan

 

Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby

This SACD uses the 24/192kHz transfer from the analogue master tapes done by Paul stubblebine in 2010.

Both music and sound quality are fabolous!
The great thing about a good stereo system and a great sounding high-rez disc is that it can function like a time machine. Like this when I was transported back to june 1961, into a shabby jazz club at Greenwich Village, New York City when listening to this!
How really nice life can be

 

Review by a music lover! Thanks.

 

My updated list (SHM-SACDs I own)... 2/2012

Outstanding (far superior to the original CD IMO)
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
Cream - Wheels of Fire
Bill Evans - Explorations
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn
Jimmy Smith - The Cat
Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
Wishbone Ash - Argus
The Who - Who's Next

Good
Anne-Sophie Mutter - Carmen-Fantasie
Bruckner - Symphony No. 4
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
Bill Evans - Moon Beams
Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
Free - Fire and Water
Getz/Gilberto - ST
Astrud Gilberto - ST
Elton John - ST
Elton John - GYBR
Oscar Peterson - We Get Requests
Art Pepper - Meets the Rhythm Section
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Rolling Stones - Black and Blue
Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
Sonny Rollins - Way Out West
Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Average (I like the original CD/LP better)
Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Blvd
Eric Clapton - Layla
Dire Straits - ST
Dire Straits - Making Movies
Dire Straits - Communiqué
Dire Straits - Alchemy
Kiss - Destroyer
John Mayall - Bluesbreakers
Rainbow - Rising (btw average/avoid)
Rolling Stones - It's only Rock'n Roll (better than CBS/Virgin, but a lousy recording)
Steely Dan - Aja
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley
10cc - Original Soundtrack
T.Rex - Electric Warrior (MC-SACD is much better)
Uriah Heep - Look at Yourself

Avoid (original CD/LP or remaster is much (!) better)
Allman Brothers - At Fillmore East
Asia - ST
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Moody Blues (sold)
Police (sold)
Rainbow - LLRR
Velvet Underground (sold)

 

I missed Some Girls

My updated list (SHM-SACDs I own)... 2/2012

Outstanding (far superior to the original CD IMO)
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
Cream - Wheels of Fire
Bill Evans - Explorations
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn
Jimmy Smith - The Cat
Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
Wishbone Ash - Argus
The Who - Who's Next

Good
Anne-Sophie Mutter - Carmen-Fantasie
Bruckner - Symphony No. 4
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
Bill Evans - Moon Beams
Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
Free - Fire and Water
Getz/Gilberto - ST
Astrud Gilberto - ST
Elton John - ST
Elton John - GYBR
Oscar Peterson - We Get Requests
Art Pepper - Meets the Rhythm Section
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Rolling Stones - Black and Blue
Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
Sonny Rollins - Way Out West
Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Average (I like the original CD/LP better)
Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Blvd
Eric Clapton - Layla
Dire Straits - ST
Dire Straits - Making Movies
Dire Straits - Communiqué
Dire Straits - Alchemy
Kiss - Destroyer
John Mayall - Bluesbreakers
Rainbow - Rising (btw average/avoid)
Rolling Stones - It's only Rock'n Roll (better than CBS/Virgin, but a lousy recording)
Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Steely Dan - Aja
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley
10cc - Original Soundtrack
T.Rex - Electric Warrior (MC-SACD is much better)
Uriah Heep - Look at Yourself

Avoid (original CD/LP or remaster is much (!) better)
Allman Brothers - At Fillmore East
Asia - ST
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Moody Blues (sold)
Police (sold)
Rainbow - LLRR
Velvet Underground (sold)

 

"Average
Dire Straits - Making Movies"

Too bad given the sound of the some of the CD's I had high hope this could be in the Outstanding range, but not even close apparently.

Claus you are one of few SHM-SACD regular posters without bias thank you as you have saved me money.


Here's hoping SAbbath Bloody Sabbath is like MOR!

 

Well, if the original tapes are in a good shape... maybe

I cancelled my preorder of Sabbath's H&H, when I heard they used the local tape copy. The Andy Pearce remaster sounds very good... I can live with the Deluxe Edition.

 

But you agree that half of your albums on your "Oustanding list" are from local tape copy?

 

Yes, I know... but why I should buy the SHM-SACD, when the standard CD sounds so good? If the SHM-SACD sounds better... I do not hesitate to buy another copy

 

Ok. My point was just that it is a bit un-logic of you to cancelled your Sabbath H&H because of use of local tape when the history has shown you that you can be pretty satisfied with the sound of local tapes.

But if you bought H&H and I should predict something, it will be that you will not place the SACD on your outstanding list.
But that's just a prediction from me.

 

Claus, don't forget to list your Anita O'Day disc (..or discs).

 

Claus, what's wrong with Some Girls? It has gotten pretty good reviews here.

 

Well, nothing wrong with Some Girls. Better transfer than the CBS or Virgin CD. But (!) the original UK is slightly better IMO. Doesn't sound so dry and has a better punch. The SHM-SACD is the best digital pressing, but only the 2nd best compared to the original LP.

 

Exactly. Ignore them.

 

Why did Exile on Main St. get dropped? It was on the Good list.

 

If you can tolerate the inconsistency due to it being worked on from multiple sources and by different mastering engineers, the Who's Singles SHM-SACD is above average at a minimum. Not quite as good as the Cream SHM-SACD or Who's Next, but definitely worth a listen.

 

I have the same hopes for this title.

I was close to pre-ordering the Dire Straits titles but will not get them now.

 

Sorry... copy & paste error by myself


Updated list of my SHM-SACD collection... 2/2012

Outstanding (far superior to the original CD IMO)

Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
Cream - Wheels of Fire
Bill Evans - Explorations
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn
Jimmy Smith - The Cat
Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
Wishbone Ash - Argus
The Who - Who's Next


Good

Anne-Sophie Mutter - Carmen-Fantasie
Bruckner - Symphony No. 4
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
Bill Evans - Moon Beams
Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
Free - Fire and Water
Getz/Gilberto - ST
Astrud Gilberto - ST
Elton John - ST
Elton John - GYBR
Oscar Peterson - We Get Requests
Art Pepper - Meets the Rhythm Section
Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Rolling Stones - Black and Blue (best transfer)
Rolling Stones - Tattoo You (best transfer)
Sonny Rollins - Way Out West
Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions


Average (I like the original CD/LP better)

Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Blvd
Eric Clapton - Layla
Dire Straits - ST
Dire Straits - Making Movies
Dire Straits - Communiqué
Dire Straits - Alchemy
Kiss - Destroyer
John Mayall - Bluesbreakers
Rainbow - Rising (btw average/avoid)
Rolling Stones - It's only Rock'n Roll (better than CBS/Virgin, but a lousy recording)
Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Steely Dan - Aja
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley
10cc - Original Soundtrack
T.Rex - Electric Warrior (MC-SACD is much better)
Uriah Heep - Look at Yourself


Avoid (original CD/LP or remaster is much (!) better)

Allman Brothers - At Fillmore East
Asia - ST
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Moody Blues (sold)
Police (sold)
Rainbow - LLRR
Velvet Underground (sold)

 

Thank you for your very helpful list.

I will only pay the high price of a SHM-SACD when I have reason to believe that it is the best digital version. From this point of view I think that if it really is the best digital version it should be at least in the good category.

To compare with vinyl is a whole different thing. Some members here would argue, that in a lot of cases there is a better sounding vinyl version. Others don't even have a TT. Therefore I think remarks regarding the comparison with LP versions would best be added in brackets. Of course it would be most interesting to know, when the SHM-SACD is considered to be definitive, bettering every vinyl version.

 

Well... from my "Outstanding" category: Black Sabbath, Gentle Giant, Mike Oldfield, The Who beat the LP version IMO

 

Claus, thanks for the list. Does the fact that it's only rated Good mean that
the upgrade over the CD of Live Over Gold is not worth doing?
Thanks in advance. You've saved me lots of money!

 

It depends of who you ask. If you ask our our Host, he could save you even more money, I think.

(sorry, could not resist...)

 

Anybody wanting to pick up Ommadawn or Tubular Bells can be rest assured that these are without doubt the definitive editions on CD.

They are simply in another league.

Regards