Post by Claude July 30, 2012 (33 of 35)
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current93 said:
No thanks. JPC prices for SHM-SACD are a good 30% higher than of CDJapan. 60EUR instead of 4250Yen.
That is not a fair comparison. The CDJapan price you quote is the tax-free price, while the JPC price of 60 Euro includes 19% VAT. The VAT-free price at JPC (for people outside the EU) is about 50 Euro, which is closer to the CDJapan price (45 Euro)
For german residents, the JPC offering is interesting, because they would have to pay customs fees on the CDJapan order (+20%) and shipping, while the JPC order includes tax and has free shipping in Germany.
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Post by akiralx August 1, 2012 (34 of 35)
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RWetmore said:
OK, I finally got my order. Now, I have not owned or listened to these performances for at least 10 years (probably more like 15 years). Originally, I think I had the first CD release on DG from the early 1990s.
I listened to the 5th and overall the transfer sounds excellent with a full dynamic range. Plenty of 'air' and nuances present. Tape hiss is relatively low.
I wish I could offer a more direct comparison to the current CD and prior SACD release, but I can't. However, I can say I'm glad to have these and don't regret buying them.
That is pretty much my reaction.
The value will be remembered long after the price is forgotten...
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wolfE said:
I compared the 4th and the 5th. The result is, what could be expected. The DSD-mastered new SHM-SACDs sound a bit better, clearer, more analogue-like timbre, more space between the instruments.
Agreed. Actually, I find there to be quite a clear difference in the sonic presentation, or character, between the Universal and the Esoteric releases of these. The latter is more massive and voluminous in the sound image, more forward and muscular in certain ways, which translates into not just room-filling, expansive LF but also boomy, less well defined bass, whereas on the Universal discs everything is clearly more precisely delinated, including instrumental textures, separation, tone, and color, with more details and depth impression thanks to the better separation and clarity. The sometimes almost-screechy upper violins in the Esoteric are very pleasant to listen to in the Universals, and there is clearly more differentiation to be heard in the tutti passages than before. The Esoterics give what seems at first impression like a bigger mass of powerful sound, but you hear more on the Universals and realize that that big sound mass was rather homogenized and blurry in fact, covering underneath it things you never could hear before.
You might prefer one or the other, but for my ears the increased transparency and clarity that the Universals offer is the thing to be gone for. I previously much enjoyed the Esoteric set, but these Universals, I have to say, clearly outclass it. Very fascinating listening with these well-known works, once more...
I think I'm starting to detect a certain "Esoteric House Sound"...which is not bad, just different, but at any rate not as refined and transparent as the Universals sourced from the original tapes.
Not a big wonder, I guess.
[Copying this under the appropriate titles.]
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