|
Review by lucevans March 16, 2006 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
|
Performance: Sonics (S/MC): / |
I hesitated after reading some of the reviews here, but eventually decided to get it and make my own mind up.
I initially listened to the 5.1 layer, and was rather disappointed - I accept that the source tapes are old and the original studio recording was made with a 2-channel master in mind, but I couldn't help feeling that the multi-channel mix didn't make the most of what was available; it sounded dull and murky with very little distinction or punch: the separation was, I'm afraid, probably the worst of all the multi-channel SACDs that I've heard to date.
However, I love the content so much that no sooner had the last strains of "Rock'n'Roll Suicide" faded, I started again from the beginning with the Stereo layer. and, oh boy, what a difference!! I was immediately transported back to the excitement and energy I felt listening to it for the first time. While not particularly Bassy, the 2-channel mix has remarkable clarity compared with the multi-channel version. The presence was so much more immediate that one could be forgiven for imagining that it was being played on completely different equipment. Just for good measure, I listened for a third time in stereo on headphones, and my initial impression of the stereo layer was borne-out: a superb job. I was left with the feeling that what I was hearing was what Bowie heard through the monitors in the studio all those years ago, and that I was hearing it exactly as it was originally envisaged by the artist. Don't get me wrong - I'm not a stereo-purist; I love multi-channel when it's done well (Beck-Sea Change) but I'm finding that engineers are still investing more time and effort in producing sublime stereo SACDs than 5.1 - maybe because they have more experience in mixing to 2 channels, maybe because it's actually much more difficult to produce a good-sounding 5.1 mix, or maybe it's simple economics...far more consumers continue to listen in stereo than 5.1, so it's not cost-effective to spend much time on the more complex 5.1 mixing process.
Would I recommend this SACD? Yes, but even those with 5.1 systems will probably enjoy the stereo mix more.
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
Review by FivePointOne October 23, 2003 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
|
Performance: Sonics (MC): |
This is the best Bowie album, from start to finish.
The multichannel effects are pretty good--a bit more than "ambient," yet not as "placed" as you hear on "DSOTM" "Avalon" or "Sea Change."
Fun stuff.
---------------
After a couple of listens, and listening to other stuff I have, I'm going to have to downgrade the Sonics rating to 3-1/2 stars.
I still think it sounds good, and I would certainly recommend getting it, but they could have done a whole lot more with the placement within the 5.1 soundfield
|
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
