Just got Beginnings and Zenyatta Shm sacd's in this morning from CDJapan. Picked up that out of print "Dylan" cd that used to cost a bundle on Blu Spec 2 before it disappears as well. Time to crank them up.
Of that lot, I would agree that the SHM-SACD is the best of them, but the early MCA MCAD CDs pressed in Japan and the European MCDL and DMCL discs pressed in the U.K. by Nimbus are better in my opinion.
My copies of Beginnings and Zenyatta Mondatta are waiting at home for me. They arrived this morning. I was not aware of the Dylan Blu-Spec 2 CD. Thanks for the tip.
Just finished listening to the Carpenters SHM SACD, and what a wonderful experience...thanks a lot to everybody that chimed in recommending it (Claus, Espen R, and all the others).
Finally had a chance to compare the Rain Dogs SHM-SACD to my Island redbook. I like the Island a lot. It has a nice open sound, a little rough around the edges,just enough menace in the low end. Is the SACD an improvement? You could make the case. The differences are slight, but my impression is that they tightened up the soundstage a bit. Percussion is a splash more palpable. The overall sound is creamier and more coherent. This is a very enjoyable version of Rain Dogs and I am happy to have it. But I dunno. The Island sounds just a bit more like 'Tom Waits', a scootch more grating, disconcerted and real. Is the SHM-SACD worth $40 or $50, especially if you already have a copy? Of course not! The differences are minor and you well may prefer your original. Unless you're the kind of guy who would lie awake nights knowing there might be a better copy of Rain Dogs out there... What a great freaking album
Thank you for your review. I was on the fence getting this, but since the SACD doesn't seem to be a big upgrade, I'll stay with the original CD, which sounds pretty good as it is.
I have not heard this. But all other things equal, knowing what kind of resolution the original CD has, and what kind of resolution the SHM-SACD should have, there is no way I could be satisfied with CD. I hate that cut-off in decay, room ambience, less textures in sound and so on…
Good timing on your review, as I was about to pull the trigger on the SHM-SACD. Here's an instance in which the opportunity cost of the Japanese upgrade may not be worth it..... I'm tempted to feel regretful about that, but the original CD reissues of Waits' material were not bad at all. It doesn't surprise me that the CDs stack up pretty well.
Possibly some good news... CDJapan has re-listed Crime of the Century after a few weeks of hiatus. It says "release postponed" with a date of November 1st, 2014. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UIGY-9550
Good news. Now there is hope…… Please Universal, I need a good sounding digital version of "Even in the Q M", please do it!
So lately I've been doing a lot of listening sessions, and it occurs to me that most early SHM-SACD's were simply disappointing... some of them downright bad. The latest batch of Platinum discs is proof of that, with practically every one being an improvement. I really wish Universal Japan would release these new transfers on SACD, or at the very least offer them as digital downloads, seems like a no-brainer to me.
