What are the quintessential SACDs?

Thank you all for your suggestions!

 

That Donovan sacd that Steve Mastered is amazing
Storyteller
https://www.amazon.com/Storyteller-Donovan/dp/B0000DD76Q

 

I think he was referring to stereo playback from the 2 analog channels. If your receiver doesn't have analog for more than 2 channels, HDMI is the only way to go for 5.1. It will still sound sweet!

 

Excellent and affordable recommendation! I would like to add that although more pricey the Analogue Productions SACD reissues of Living Stereo and Decca classical music albums are superb! In my opinion they sound even better than the older RCA SACD reissues.

 

The recent Miles Davis releases on MoFi are definitive.

 

It's funny, I think there are more SACDs that I dislike than there are ones I would tend to rave about...
I like the SHM-SACD of Bryan Ferry's Boys And Girls, though. And a couple of the AF America ones.

 

Japanese SHM-SACD of Black Sabbath's 'Master of Reality'

 

I own many nice SACD's but the only one I can think of that really blew me away when I first heard it was the Japan SACD of the Stones Sticky Fingers.

 

Sinatra's Swingin' Session. Like he's right there!

 

The SHM-SACD is considered even better sounding than the original SACD in stereo, though it only covers 1969-1973.

Lots of SACDs are getting named in this thread but people should be clear about which version they are naming. Dylan for one has had two different companies issue his albums in SACD to varying results. Blood, Sweat & Tears has had four different companies tackle their assorted albums on SACD - Sony, AP, Audio Fidelity and even MFSL.

As for my own nomination, I'll suggest Dusty Springfield's Dusty In Memphis SACD as truly essential on the format. It's a great album that has never sounded better.

 

Aerosmith Toys In The Attic, great 5.1!

 

I have an Oppo and a Marantz and I use all analog; 2.0 analog cables for stereo and 5.1 analog cables for surround (different signal paths for each including different DACs). HDMI is just not an optimum way to transfer audio signals, and definitely not good for high resolution audio. If you do not mind that you are not listening to pure DSD from the SACDs and instead listen to converted and down rezzed music, then HDMI is fine.

 

Yup

 

I have the Marantz UD-5007. It only has the 2.0 analog cables and an HDMI port. So sounds like I have to listen thru HDMI for the Surround ones. Regardless I don't think my ear is that trained to know the difference to be perfectly honest.

 

I can do DSD Direct via HDMI with my Emotiva XMC-1 and Oppo 105D. Haven't really compared HDMI/DSD Direct to analog but the SQ is great either way. I should do an A-B comparison one of these days .

Roxy Music - Avalon hybrid SACD with the 5.1 mix is essential if you have a 5.1 system!
Beck - Sea Change SACD which also has an incredible 5.1 mix.
Bill Evans - SHM and hybrid stereo SACDs
Art Pepper - SHM and hybrid stereo SACDs
Bryan Ferry - Boys and Girls hybrid SACD 5.1
Chris Botti - Night Sessions 5.1
David Elias - The Window and Crossing SACDs 5.1
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow APO SACD 5.1
Jennifer Warnes - The Well stereo SACD
Keb' Mo' - Just Like You SACD 5.1
Laura Nyro - Angel in the Dark stereo SACD
Patricia Barber -MFSL, MOFI and Premonition stereo SACDs
Peter White - Glow SACD 5.1
Pink Floyd - DSOTM and WYWH SACDs 5.1
Santana - MOFI stereo SACDs
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Hurricane APO stereo SACD box set
The Doobie Brothers - What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits MOFI stereo SACD
The Isley Brothers - 3+3 SACD 5.1
The Peter Malick Group - New York City stereo SACD
The Ray Brown Trio - Soular Energy APO stereo SACD
The Steve Davis Project - Quality of Silence stereo SACD
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio - stereo SACDs

 

One other thought, can I connect my Marantz both ways? And if I do, will the stereo layer play thru the analog and the multi layer play thru HDMI?

 

I like the Quadrophenia release too along with the ones you mentioned.

 

Patricia Barber has some great sounding MFSL SACD releases... A Distortion Of Love, Cafe Blue, Modern Cool, Nightclub, Smash and Verse.

 

Is the Quadrophinia in surround sound?

 

True that.

 

The Quadrophenia SHM-SACD is stereo only. The Blu-ray Pure Audio has a 5.1 mix though.

 

Hey Rocky, I see you got an answer.

 

A Secret Wish by Propaganda. Produced by Trevor Horn. This SACD sounds pretty awesome.

 

+ more like Mardi Gras, that the Discogs search engine failed to pick up.