An afternoon of SACD listening

Posted by SoftwireEngineer (A) on December 3, 2005 at 18:11:27

This afternoon I listened to about 10 SACDs. The kids were upstairs asleep and it was very quiet except for the ticking sound of the clocks.
Overall, almost all SACDs I listened to, sounded dynamic, extended and spacious, without any edginess of CDs. Actually, only today, listening SACDs back to back did I realize there was ever an edginess to CDs. Even though, I have an analog setup, I always thought analog was different (actually, I think analog sounds better) than CDs and did not bother to compare.

The best sound quality, I heard, was from SACDs made from analog masters viz RCA Living Stereo Dvorak New World Symphony, Picturs in a Exhibition, Sibelius/Prokofiev concertos, chopin ballads and Verve's Ella and Louis, in that order. One exception was, Sony's Late Vivaldi Concerto's - a pure DSD recording, which had exceptional highs and very realistic space/ambience. Telarc's 1812 or Rainbow Body or Pentatones sampler were nowhere near. These SACDs sounded muted/rolled off to me. Maybe they are too squeaky clean for me. Alison Krauss's New favorite was the worst sounding SACD layer to me. I feel it is a PCM recording transferred to CD.

I really enjoyed Dvorak's N W symphony the most. It was a blast. It was like orchestral party music. Having an indian background, I have a weakness for strong tunes/melodies. Dvorak's had that lyrical quality to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Similarly, the style of singing in Ella and Louis was completely captivating of me. This recording was so 'analog' like with Louis voice so palpable with that reach out and touch reality.

Still, I feel SACDs have a sense of spaciousness which seems too much or too unreal to me. But this sounds okay with classical music and I enjoyed the afternoon very much.

I can understand if somebody were listening to SACDs most of the time, it would be difficult for them to go back to CDs. I did try switching to the CD layer now and then, and the difference is not that difficult to spot. Once this difference shows up or manifests as restricted dynamics, the CD sound is not going to be attractive anymore.

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Topic - An afternoon of SACD listening - SoftwireEngineer 18:11:27 12/03/05 (25)

Is the highs of SACD real ? - SoftwireEngineer 18:42:17 12/05/05 (2)

Re: Is the highs of SACD real ? - milpai 15:01:24 12/06/05 (1)

You can't get a copy of all three formats mastered and produced exactly the same. (nt). - orpheus 23:35:13 12/07/05 (0)

"CD sound is not going to be attractive anymore" - Robertc88 03:50:10 12/05/05 (0)

Mine was a only a few minutes (had to go in to work) or so... - docw 14:50:34 12/04/05 (0)

Opposite impression - SalD 10:07:18 12/04/05 (0)

You need a better CD setup. n/t - SE 06:54:14 12/04/05 (0)

I have a different experience - Sordidman 20:24:00 12/03/05 (15)

Re: I have a different experience - Retsel 08:56:55 12/07/05 (0)

Do not need to aim so high - Panelhead 11:59:22 12/04/05 (2)

well, kind of.... - Sordidman 12:56:18 12/05/05 (0)

Re: Do not need to aim so high - Ozzie 10:04:00 12/05/05 (0)

Re: I have a different experience; sibilance - Dave Garretson 08:38:38 12/04/05 (9)

Re: I have a different experience; sibilance - Retsel 09:12:49 12/07/05 (0)

I hear you, but.... - Sordidman 12:45:48 12/05/05 (2)

Re: I hear you, but.... - Ozzie 16:08:43 12/06/05 (0)

Re: system matching - Dave Garretson 14:47:54 12/05/05 (0)

Re: I have a different experience; sibilance - Ozzie 10:05:27 12/05/05 (4)

Re: Sibilance & interconnects - Dave Garretson 11:51:31 12/05/05 (3)

Re: Sibilance & interconnects - Ozzie 16:07:07 12/06/05 (1)

Re: Sibilance & interconnects & 777ES mods - Dave Garretson 19:48:10 12/06/05 (0)

Really good point - Sordidman 12:49:14 12/05/05 (0)

Very true for the APL -1000 - LWR 20:38:55 12/03/05 (0)

Yeah, I hate to listen to reg. CDs except in the car. - edta 19:00:07 12/03/05 (0)

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