Japanese Import SHM-SACD

cmalak

cmalak

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How good are these Japanese import SACDs? Looks like MusicDirect has them on sale ($39.99 instead of $59.99). Can one hear the difference on a crappy Oppo SACD player or does one need a more accomplished SACD player to appreciate the SQ difference from the SHM mastering process?
 
Don't know about the Oppo vs SACD player, but on my Sony XA-5400ES they sound fine. However, I suspect a good part of the price is the packaging, plus they are only single layer which means no CD version.
 
Which ones are you considering? I've bought a whole bunch of then, and have been generally pleased.
 
Some (such as Layla, GBYBR, Aja, and more) are generally acknowledged to be the best sounding digital versions around, more because of the mastering than any other single attribute.
 
rbbert said:
Some (such as Layla, GBYBR, Aja, and more) are generally acknowledged to be the best sounding digital versions around, more because of the mastering than any other single attribute.
Click to expand...

I have a bunch, of both SHM-CDs and SHM-SACDs; and that's my take as well. It's not so much, or as much; the "Super High Material", as it is...at least in some cases...the better re-mastering.

In other cases...there's no putting lipstick, on that pig :snicker:
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. Was just curious. Noticed the sale on MD.com so thought I'd ask. Still at $40 a pop after the sale price, they are not exactly cheap :D
 
rbbert said:
Some (such as Layla, GBYBR, Aja, and more) are generally acknowledged to be the best sounding digital versions around, more because of the mastering than any other single attribute.
Click to expand...

That might be true, but I know for sure the SHM version of Aja isn't the best sounding version of Aja around. I went to a fellow 'philes house who has a mega McIntosh system with nice VS speakers. At the time I visited him, he was primarily a digit head. He did have a lower-end Rega table and arm built into a cool looking plinth with a nothing special cartridge though. He was quite proud of his SHM version of Aja and told me it was going to blow my doors off. It blew alright. You know how when you hear a version of an album and something is wrong? Something was wrong. I asked him if he had a copy of Aja on LP. He did. I put it on this VPI 16.5 RCM and cleaned it and then we played it. His copy of Aja was a nothing special pressing, but it sure sounded special compared to his SHM version. He heard it right away too and I think it surprised him more than a little. Right after that he upgraded his tonearm and cartridge. Bottom line is if that is how those SHM discs sound, I'll pass.
 
Well, I think it's best to get into specific titles then...
I liked the Dire Straits - s/t, compared it to my old redbook CD, and it's better, more detail, more relaxed too.
The Stevie Wonder titles I got were *very* different from the recent remastered CDs. While the CDs had gobs of top end (to be point of fatigue), the SACDs lack a bit of sparkle. But overall, they're more relaxed, better souding, and most likely more like the original tape (as I find it hard for a 70s recording to have that much treble).
Rainbow - Rising is the proverbial "pig" with the lipstick. It's no better than the CD. Horribly compressed and strident, borderline unlistenable.
The other prog titles I got, Camel, Caravan, Gentle Giant, etc, are all nice, like the Dire Straits above.
Oh, I heard the Steely Dan SHM-SACDs, and I concur with Mark. Any ol' vinyl pressing will be better, more extended and detailed, than the SACD.
 
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