Which Steve Hoffman SACD Should I Buy for My Oppo 203?

Ok, I've never listened to a SACD before, in fact, I only heard about them recently! So, since I want to support Steve and his work, which SACD should I find of his to try out on my system? I'm curious to hear what a SACD sounds like!

 

Actually you should not be able to hear any difference... People who claim they do hear differences in mastering OR in how the datastream is decoded. They will never admit this though.
A very nice album would be the Blade Runner soundtrack. Although I think that's Kevin Gray's... (edit: I just checked, it indeed is Kevin's) This is one where I know for sure the redbook and the high res share the same mastering.

 

Try any of them, something you love and you know well. Compare the SACD and redbook layers of the same disk. Mastering has a much larger effect than resolution. And then please return back and report whether you hear any difference or not.

Do it with a SH disk, or with any other you know both layers share the same mastering. Most of the time masterings are different and what you will hear will be in fact differences in mastering.

 

Peter, Paul, & Mary debut.

 

And IN THE WIND PP&M.

 

Steve's mastered many and varied disks. His work can be trusted and relied upon. So, in one sense, the answer to your question is any/all of them!
However, as breathtaking listening to a well-mastered record can be, it will only get repeated plays if it is music that you are fond of. So to best help you, what are your tastes?

 

This is kind of funny. It's format that won't die, but it's been in coma for 15 of 20 years of existence. With Oppo being a big part in paying to keep the life support on, it's funny to me within this conversation that they've even abandoned it.

 

classic rock, and I saw that Steve remastered Rage Against the Machine, so I think that's my starting point!

 

You are spoilt with an embarrassment of classic rock Hoffman masterings. Good to see you have a starting point - enjoy!

 

Nat King Cole Story. You won't regret it!

 

Don't worry about the format or it being SACD. Just pick a few that are actual albums or music you like. You've got a good player and the AF's are all very well done, so you can enjoy a favorite anew.

 

There is no way to "support Steve and his work" by buying his masterings on SACD. To my knowledge none are still in print. The Audio Fidelity label went under several years ago.

 

What is your favorite genre?

 

alternative, classic rock

 

Exactly. Just buy titles you know and love already.

 

You are joking

 

This thread should help : Your Favorite Audio Fidelity releases

Steve didn't master all of the Audio Fidelity titles (and they aren't all SACDs) but he did a lot of them.

 

PPM
PPM - In The Wind
Get It On
Crank It Up
The Best of Doors
Jeff Beck - Truth
The Best of Judy

 

Nope.
Cheers!

 

Not only that, but I am fairly sure he doesn't get royalties, he was (and still is) just paid a flat fee of around $1000 to $1500, depending on the project.

 

And there are other great sounding sacds issued by people other than him still available so why should the OP limit themselves.

 

I listen exclusively to SACD format, and further exclusively to Hoffman masterings only. This limits my options considerably, but I remain content.

I enjoy the Audio Fidelity Sly and the Family Stone Greatest Hits

 

Check out any of the Creedence sacd’s.
.willy & the poor boys come to mind.

 

SACD?

Storyteller.

Mr. Leitch

 

Careful of your blood sugar levels with all that K00l-Aid you’re drinking.