Thread: More SHM-SACDs in October.

Posts: 10

Post by michi August 18, 2010 (1 of 10)
Including Cream/Wheels of Fire and Asia/Asia.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/rcms/music/sashmcd.html

Post by canonical August 18, 2010 (2 of 10)
The classical choices ...

Bach: Violin Concertos - Hahn/Kahane
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - Esa-Pekka Salonen

... are a bit peculiar, insofar as:

a) both are commonly available as SACDs (unlike the earlier SHM issues which had sold out as SACDs)
b) can be bought as SACDs for about US$10
c) they don't seem to be that highly regarded as performances.


To the point: Would I buy an SHM version for $50 if I can buy the SACD for $10? Nope.


I suspect the classical titles are selected on the eenie-meenie-miny-mo basis.

Post by rammiepie August 18, 2010 (3 of 10)
michi said:

Including Cream/Wheels of Fire and Asia/Asia.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/rcms/music/sashmcd.html

Of the 17 new SHM-SACD releases slated for an October release, only a handful have never before had an SACD release and Humble Pie's Smoking was just released in a superb remastering by AP for US $30. But it's still very encouraging that their SHM~SACD program is approaching the fast track. Cream's Wheels of Fire is definitely a choice disc as is John Mayall's Bluesbreakers w/Eric Clapton and they're even offering a SHM~SACD sampler (priced @ US $16 for 2 discs) which also comes with a hybrid SACD consisting of 10 selections to compare SHM to regular SACD mastering....interesting!

Post by The Seventh Taylor August 21, 2010 (4 of 10)
rammiepie said:

they're even offering a SHM~SACD sampler (priced @ US $16 for 2 discs) which also comes with a hybrid SACD consisting of 10 selections to compare SHM to regular SACD mastering....interesting!

Yes, interesting indeed. Of course they could have put both masterings on the same disc (one in the 2.0 area, the other in the 5.1 area) but that would be admitting that the real difference is in the mastering, and the material story is just snake oil (although surely some would distrust the DSD/DST difference).

Remarkable also they made (only) the non-SHM-SACD a hybrid one.

Post by rammiepie August 21, 2010 (5 of 10)
The Seventh Taylor said:

Yes, interesting indeed. Of course they could have put both masterings on the same disc (one in the 2.0 area, the other in the 5.1 area) but that would be admitting that the real difference is in the mastering, and the material story is just snake oil (although surely some would distrust the DSD/DST difference).

Remarkable also they made (only) the non-SHM-SACD a hybrid one.

Since ALL my SHM~SACDs are on hold from CDJapan (awaiting the delayed release of The Who's Next), I cannot comment on the SHM mastering (I do have some sampler SHM~RBCDs as well as Blu~Spec RBCDs). My initial impression, too, was one of skepticism (and I do have a high end system) but supposedly, according to the "experts," Single~layered, non~hybrid SACDs do sound "better." {???????}

As for the hybrid sampler accompanying the SHM~SACD.....at least one can play it in their cars and on their "boomboxes!"

Post by michi August 23, 2010 (6 of 10)
Just to let everyone know, the 8/25 releases (such as Who's Next) are beginning to ship right now.

Post by wferrari August 24, 2010 (7 of 10)
Is anyone aware of the masterings that will be used in these SHM-SACDs? If history repeats, the Police and Rolling Stones albums will use the official A&M and ABKCO masters, and I bet they'll use the AP version of "Smokin'", but what about "Gaucho"?

Post by rammiepie August 24, 2010 (8 of 10)
BTW, CDJapan is offering double bonus points on orders placed until August 31st. At the very least, depending on the size of your order, this will alleviate the high shipping/handling charges from Japan.

Additionally, all orders over 5000 yen will earn a 500 yen coupon credited to your account 2 days after the order ships.

At these prices, every little bit counts!

Post by wferrari September 22, 2010 (9 of 10)
wferrari said:

Is anyone aware of the masterings that will be used in these SHM-SACDs? If history repeats, the Police and Rolling Stones albums will use the official A&M and ABKCO masters, and I bet they'll use the AP version of "Smokin'", but what about "Gaucho"?

I'll go ahead and answer my own question: "Smokin" will be a brand new English remaster, while "Gaucho" a brand new Japanese one. Since I already own both SACDs I'll wait and see, although I can hardly believe that the new remaster will be any better than the AP one. Regarding Gaucho, the SACD is already pretty good so I'll wait for some feedback before making the decision.

Anyone planning on owning both SACD version of "Gaucho" feel free to provide a feedback ;)

Post by Jonalogic September 22, 2010 (10 of 10)
canonical said:

The classical choices ...

Bach: Violin Concertos - Hahn/Kahane
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - Esa-Pekka Salonen

... are a bit peculiar, insofar as:

a) both are commonly available as SACDs (unlike the earlier SHM issues which had sold out as SACDs)
b) can be bought as SACDs for about US$10
c) they don't seem to be that highly regarded as performances.


To the point: Would I buy an SHM version for $50 if I can buy the SACD for $10? Nope.


I suspect the classical titles are selected on the eenie-meenie-miny-mo basis.

Canonical Hi

... not to mention that both these SACDs also sound pretty crummy.

It's a bit like gold-plating -how shall we put it? - a pile of poo.

Personally, I feel they should be looking at some of the classic recordings in their archives, such as the Maag/Mendelssohn.

Do do they have access to mastertapes, I wonder? My Solti/Bartok recording, although musically superlative, sounds a good generation or two down the track.

And I agree with the other skeptic who cited SHM as 'snake oil' for SQ. A third-order determinant at best...

But I want some of those old classics!

Cheers

Jon

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