Thread: Is Alice in Chains SACD as bad as Duran Duran's Astronaut SACD?

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Post by Barbazul May 17, 2011 (1 of 34)
The reviews in this site about Alice In Chains "Greatest Hits" SACD are really bad (one star). I bought recently Duran Duran's Astronaut (fortunatelly just for 25 USD, brand new) but I really can't believe how bad this SACD sounds. As someone wrote somewhere, redbook layer sounds far superior than the stereo SACD layer. Multichannel version has an interesting mix but I just can't stand how it sounds: lifeless, opaque, sounds like I'm listening to it through layers of veils.

Any opinions about Alice In Chains SACD?

Post by rammiepie May 18, 2011 (2 of 34)
Barbazul said:

The reviews in this site about Alice In Chains "Greatest Hits" SACD are really bad (one star). I bought recently Duran Duran's Astronaut (fortunatelly just for 25 USD, brand new) but I really can't believe how bad this SACD sounds. As someone wrote somewhere, redbook layer sounds far superior than the stereo SACD layer. Multichannel version has an interesting mix but I just can't stand how it sounds: lifeless, opaque, sounds like I'm listening to it through layers of veils.

Any opinions about Alice In Chains SACD?

I love a challenge. After reading the wretched reviews on the Alice In Chains I played the disc through my mid~fi system and was pleasantly surprised that it was not all that bad. Since I am the resident tweakster on SA~CD net, I took the disc (which I paid peanuts for way back when) and applied Mapleshade Polish and two coats of ultra vivid enhancer and played it on my main system. I am really NOT a fan of AIC, but it sounded like a good grunge album....some tracks almost had audiophile pretensions. The surrounds were active but subtle and when called for were very active.

I would certainly not pay the outrageous prices this OOP album is commanding on Amazon and E~bay but if you can find it in a bargain bin and are willing to apply some much~needed tweaks (as outlined above) then go for it.

As I type this, I am playing my tweaked version of Astronaut on my mid~fi system......it sounds much better than the reviews I have read on this website but don't consider the album Duran Duran's masterpeice. Again, if you get it for a good price, take the plunge.

Again, the better your player and ancillary equipment, the better the sound.

Post by Barbazul May 18, 2011 (3 of 34)
rammiepie said:

...some tracks almost had audiophile pretensions. The surrounds were active but subtle and when called for were very active.
... I am playing my tweaked version of Astronaut on my mid~fi system......it sounds much better than the reviews I have read on this website but don't consider the album Duran Duran's masterpeice...

Rammiepie thank you for your answer. Every time I want to give a chance to Duran Duran's SACD I always give up in the second track. Maybe I keep this disc just because of the scarcity (almost a museum piece) and not for the quality itself.

By the way, a found earlier opinions about the 3 worst rock/alternative SACD ever (included the 2 mentioned here):
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-153999.html

..just for the record.

Post by rammiepie May 18, 2011 (4 of 34)
The sad thing is there are so many great sounding pop/rock albums and why they select anything but the greatest sounding masters is another reason most people can't tell the difference between RBCD and SACD.

My tweaks, outlined above, have saved many less than stellar sounding DVD~As and SACDs from entering the garbage (or E~bay) bin.

And as my equipment has gotten better, the once poorer sounding SACDs/DVD~As have taken on a renewed interest on my part.

MoFi's recent Pretenders II SACD took a direct hit from posters who hated the sound and wondered why this album ever made it onto SACD. I have it, have treated it and it does sound a lot better than the untreated version but I would never use it as a demo which is a shame considering the price.

There are millions of masters floating around and only a VERY miniscule amount of SACDs being produced: Ya think the record companies would've learned by now that crap doesn't sell and sometimes why bother in the first place.

Addenda: Just read the Steve Hoffman Post. A few thoughts: AIC is NOT compressed in any way and someone also posted that Brothers In Arms was compressed........don't believe that. It is one of the best sounding DVD~As/SACDs on the market. Which is why I stress that a good, capable SACD player and good electronics are important.

Post by DSD May 18, 2011 (5 of 34)
I thought the Alice in Chains SACD was really poor sounding, I have not heard Duran Duran's Astronaut but my vote for the worst sounding SACD of all time is Ozzfest 2002 Live Album

Post by rammiepie May 18, 2011 (6 of 34)
DSD said:

I thought the Alice in Chains SACD was really poor sounding, I have not heard Duran Duran's Astronaut but my vote for the worst sounding SACD of all time is Ozzfest 2002 Live Album

Ozzfest is atrocious but the RAM~ treated Alice In Chains is surprisingly listenable as is Duran Duran (although neither album is in any way "collectible..." just so happens they were cheap and I sprung for them).

My post above sums it up.......why even attempt to remaster less than stellar recordings onto SACD when in the end it's only going to come and bite you in the arse!

As I've posted before Mapleshade Polish/Ultra~Vivid have saved many an SACD (and RBCD/DVD~A) from E~bay infamy!

Update: Just played Alice In Chains on the Marantz SA112s (Stereo). Wow.........had to lower the volume considerably. As a result, became a Alice in Chains FAN. A solid 7.5 approaching 8, at times, across the board, performance and sound. Played it again on the Sony 5400ES (mch) and raised the volume considerably.

You heard it here..........a solid recommendation for Alice in Chain's Greatest Hits. Just needs some tender, loving care.

Duran Duran sounded horrible in stereo on the Marantz but the mch layer was a solid 7 ~ 7.5, sometimes approaching 8 on the Sony 5400ES (mch) The album was not involving never approaching Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf and Girls on Film, etc.

Pre~amp used was the Meridian 861 v.6: electronics: Krell Monoblocks: Transparent cable: Genesis and B&W 802 Nautilus speakers(rears) with Krell amplification (2000 watts of bass through Genesis sub modules)

Post by Lee Scoggins May 19, 2011 (7 of 34)
It is imho horrible. Almost unlistenable to my ears.

Post by depeche76 May 19, 2011 (8 of 34)
no, is worst, one of the worst sounding sacd´s made.

Is better to listen to "music bank, the videos" dvd, althoug is only Dolby Digital 5.1.

Post by Ernani71 May 20, 2011 (9 of 34)
rammiepie said:

The album was not involving never approaching Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf and Girls on Film, etc.

The first music video I ever saw was Duran Duran's "Girls on Film (Night Version)." Boy was I disappointed with all music videos after that one!

Post by rammiepie May 20, 2011 (10 of 34)
Ernani71 said:

The first music video I ever saw was Duran Duran's "Girls on Film (Night Version)." Boy was I disappointed with all music videos after that one!

I used to own the Japanese pressed laserdisc of Duran Duran's greatest hits video and always used it as a demo disc. One video was better than the other and I saw Duran Duran Live at Madison Square Garden some years back and Simon was so bloated and out of shape that he tripped and fell on stage.

Astronaut was a sell~out or perhaps a contractual obligation because as much as I wanted to like it, there was nothing remotely satisfying.

Just makes one appreciate the longevity of the Rolling Stones that much more. Mick Jagger, as far as I was concerned, was the highlight of this years Grammy Awards Show......and the man's approaching 70!

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