Ryan Adams "Gold" SACD problem

Has anyone else who has heard the "Gold" SACD had a problem with no center or no sub channel. I just bought this disc, popped it in the player and nothing came out of either of those channels. I put in the Beck SACD (also mutichannel) and it played perfectly so I know its not my system. And I did double check to make sure I was listening to the multichannel mix of the Adams disc and, sure enough, I was.

Thanks,
Bob

 

It appears to be the way this was mixed for surround: 4.0.

 

If that's true... that SUCKS!!!!

I don't even care about the center channel... but the bass???

 

Sorry to disagree - but a 4-channel mix works fine.

On the other hand, if you don't have at minimum full range speakers for front left and right, I can see where a 4-channel mix could be a bit disconcerting.

On my system everything sounds fine.

 

It sounds fine to me. I thought it was a 5 channel mix though, because when I play it the display shows 5 not 5.1 or 4. One thing to take note of with Gold is that it is not a recording with a lot of bottom in the first place. As far as the center channel, I never really took note of whether there was anything coming from it or not, but the next time I listen to it I'll check.

If it doesn't sound right, maybe you should try checking how you have the speakers configured on your player. I use a Sony C555ES and before I upgraded my multichannel setup, I had 5 small satellites and a passive sub-woofer that required I set my player and A/V receiver as having 5 large no sub. When I made the switch, I changed the settings on the player to 5 small with sub, not realizing that it could be set for 5 large with sub. I thought that all of my SACDs, especially the Ryan Adams, sounded very thin compared to DVD-As. When I started to fine tune the system a week later with a sound level metre, I got the ol' manuals out again and I realised my error. I also rediscovered that I could set the 2-channel playback mode for SACDs to either 2spk or 2spk w/ sub. So I set it for 2 spk w/ sub and 5 Large w/ sub for multichannel and there was an immediately noticeable improvement in the sound of SACD's played back in multichannel. The SACD's also sound even better played back w/ sub. As for the Ryan Adams disc, it sounds just fine.

 

My multichannel and stereo setups are now one with my Tannoy Reveals as front L/R and some new Tannoy Mercurys: Mercury MXC-M center, Mercury MX1-M surround L/R and a JBL PB10 10" powered sub handling everything 70hz and below. It sounds great and the sub works really well when playing back SACD's in stereo as well. I think the sub can work really well to add just a tad more depth to the sound, but don't get me wrong, I by no means have it booming. I've got it leveled out so there's just a little bit more punch. When I watch DVD movies, however, it really bellows.

 

Subwoofer theory says that you can use a "mono" subwoofer because you can't localize low frequencies. However the fact is this is true only for frequencies that are lower than where most subwoofers begin working, so most subwoofer setups are theoretical compromises.

I don't quite understand how the .1 channel is "supposed" to be used for music-only disks.

 

I believe low frequencies theoretically become directional above the 85hz mark, and, you're correct, many sub-woofers start working at higher frequencies than that to compliment those tiny 5.1 HT speaker packages and the like, but if you have a setup like mine (or better, as I'm confident there are many) this is not an issue. I have the crossover frequency set on both my sub-woofer (the ability to adjust the crossover on the sub itself, IMO, is a must) and receiver for 70hz and below. I do not consider it a compromise, but rather a complimentary feature and I haven't come across anyone yet who can determine where in the heck I've placed my sub-woofer.