Kind of Blue SACD on a whim.

That MoFi Kind Of Blue was also released on 45 RPM vinyl format and there are a number of reviews on that specifically. May want to read those to get a flavor about the reception to MoFi’s Kind Of Blue release in general. I would also spring for the hi-rez version of KOB (24~96 or 24~192, sold by HD Tracks and others). It sounds really good. Having that and the MoFi SACD to compare side-by-side will tell you a lot. Few people who love that album have just one release! But I would say you’re did pretty good with your first purchase of Kind Of Blue. 

IMHO, the Mofi SACD is an excellent version and you don’t need to try to find something better. It does play at the correct speed. You’re right that some of the earlier CD versions did not.

If you want to learn a little about what goes into finding the "best" version check out this thread from the Steve Hoffman Music Forums:

(1) Best Sounding Version of Kind of Blue | Steve Hoffman Music Forums

Those forums are where sound quality is discussed. If you go there, you may find that differences in sound quality discussed there may not be as significant to you as they are to some people on those forums.

That thread discusses both digital and vinyl versions, so that complicates matters too.

I only own three versions of KOB - early Columbia vinyl, 1995 Classic Records double vinyl (includes original and corrected speeds for Side 1 - the corrected tracks are in sequence on the 2nd disk) and the 1996 Columbia SACD.

Of these, I think the double vinyl is best in every way.  Can't help with any others.  I just wanted to stress that, if I could choose a "cost-no-object" recording, it would be KOB.  If you love the album, my advice is to spend whatever it takes to get what you believe to be the best version.  To do that with every title we want would be nuts, but some warrant it.

Thanks guys. Good info. It sounds like I didn't screw up at least. For $30 I thought it was worth trying.

Not into vinyl. And in reality I'm not super finicky in terms of being an audiophile. CD quality has always been good enough for me as long as DR was good. For whatever reason DR is my sensitive spot.

For what its worth, the Qobuz hi-res version of KOB sounds pretty good to me.

Off topic, but what would be your recommendation for further exploring Miles Davis or similar artists? I like A Love Supreme but it is a bit beyond me I think. Bitches Brew is not my cup or tea in any way. I understand it was a departure from Davis's post-bop/modal stuff.

I’ll throw out these Miles albums as essential listening: the live album “Four & More” (which btw MoFi also issued an excellent-sounding version of); “E.S.P.”; and “Miles Smiles.” 
Miles Smiles can be initially hard to wrap one’s head around but with time, it’ll open up doors to other artists and styles. 

I'm not sure if any of the digital versions of KoB matches the superb Classic Records cut.

Or even get close.

Sorry.

I'm really fond of "Nefertiti."  Wayne Shorter was in the group by that time and his compositions are fascinating.  Recorded in mid-1967, less than a year after "Miles Smiles" (mentioned earlier in the thread).  The quintet is probably the greatest ever assembled: Miles, Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.  Yikes.  Check out the title track and "Pinocchio" to start.

It's very accessible for those who can't stand "Bitches Brew," but jazz was clearly advancing into somewhat more mind-bending stuff.  Let's say there were a 1-10 scale for the "straight ahead" jazz sound and we put KOB at 10.  BB would score 1 because it's cacophonous madness.  I would put "Nefertiti" at 7 or 8.

Always good to see folks getting into this stuff!

Thanks again guys. Will look into those other albums.

@cd318   **** I'm not sure if any of the digital versions of KoB matches the superb Classic Records cut.****

The CR is amazing.  We're lucky the art of recording had come so far in the 50's.
Late 90's - a friend was excited to bring a new "improved" CD release over.  We AB'ed the CR and the CD track by track.  In your words, not even close.  Of course, I had dropped over $4k on TT/arm to get that level of playback. 

Grooves carved by sounds so a "needle" can read and reproduce them.  A very old invention, but many think it still leads the pack in sound quality.

   "I'm not super finicky in terms of being an audiophile."

That makes you the most enlightened here. Just enjoying the music. 

I own the recent MOFI 45rpm KOB release. Love it. Sounds like you are interested in venturing further into the era of classic jazz. Might I suggest Cannonball Adderley's "Something Else" as your next purchase. Miles appears on trumpet and Cannonball is from the KOB gig. Wonderful rendition of "Autumn Leaves". Fantastic next pick that will pull you into the late 50's jazz scene.

@tablejockey Yep. I just haven't been able to pull the trigger on a couple bottles of this stuff:
https://www.highfidelitycables.com/Nanoparticle/NPS1260.php?utm_source=audiogon&utm_medium=banne...

@cd318: Thank you for sharing your insight that the Classic Records release is much better than any digital version. There’s nothing to be sorry about. 

@tablejockey

**** That makes you the most enlightened here. Just enjoying the music. ****

2,000+ posts and you think non-audiophiles enjoy the music music more?  C'mon.

If you have Qobuz, and you want to ease into jazz, some accessible, great sounding jazz albums I’ve been listening to lately are:

Lisa Hilton - Nocturnal

Lara Driscoll - Woven Dreams

Curtis Stigers - Gentleman

Ron Carter - Foursight - The Complete Stockholm Tapes

Artemis - Artemis

Charles Lloyd - Voice In the Night

There should be something in there you like. If not, that’s what Qobuz is for, no commitment.

@n80

Probably much more reaction than you bargained for today (i.e., TMI).  I"m sure you'll love the SACD - you have an Oppo, so maybe you'll look for more.  If streaming is good for you, no need.  You'll know soon.

Unfortunately i do not have any LP or CD to compare but the first release on SACD, Columbia, stereo, single layer, is very good, as most of first SACD releases from Sony.

G

"I just haven't been able to pull the trigger..."

n80-there is someone using that stuff. Hopefully they hear everything the website claims! I bet there is  someone  using it on cables that cost LESS than the actual product.

The best way to discover Jazz is to go backwards in time. Find out who Miles and company played with and their inspiration.  It's limitless.

keegiam-
"2,000+ posts and you think non-audiophiles enjoy the music music more? C'mon."

Where in the post or the 2K+ do I  mention such claim? The OP appears to interpret  my comment as  intended. 

@tablejockey I didn't (and don't) intend to start an argument about what works and what doesn't. I am pretty jaded about a lot of claims aimed at audiophiles but I do have good equipment and expensive cables. BUT, the claims made in the ad for that $600 liquid read just like claims you see on literal snake oil. The claims are also quite inconsistent.

Having said that, I'm sure there are people buying that stuff and I'm sure there are people who hear a world of improvement with it and swear by it. And more power to the folks that make it and sell it. They certainly aren't hurting anyone by doing so unless it is made out of baby kittens.


And yes, your point was well taken about being finicky. I think each of us has to find the point where the music and the quality of its reproduction meet in a way that we enjoy it the most. That point is going to be very different for different people. I can't claim to be immune to the pursuit of quality (or why would I have purchased a SACD while at the same time using Qobuz?). But, I genuinely do not have the ears or the necessary refinement for the next level of quality (and the cost that goes with it) to be meaningful to me.

n80-

I'm in $20K deep... No mas!

I direct all my audio OCD toward finding the best used LP these days. Since you're just getting your feet wet with Jazz discovery, you made a good choice with KOB.

Just be prepared  if you ask for Kenny G recommendations.

@tablejockey 

No big deal.  My apologies, but when you stated:

That makes you the most enlightened here. Just enjoying the music.

my inference was that those who eschew vinyl or high end gear are more "enlightened" than those who are into more faithful (and expensive) reproduction.  I'm sure that's not exactly what you meant, but I've gotten that kind of feedback from some over the decades.  Should just bite my tongue as I usually do.  Enjoying the music is the ultimate aim of most of us here, whether it's on cassette tape or a $100k turntable.

@n80-jazz, perhaps more than any other type of music, affords you the ability to explore based on the performers. Many of the sidemen who worked on albums for a featured performer appear either as featured artists or sidemen on other recordings, so you can "surf" an artist and find a wealth of material.
I had lost interest in straight ahead jazz a while ago and got hooked by venturing into so-called "spiritual" or soul-jazz typically recorded in the ’70s. Cecil McBee, who shows up on a number of the releases from Strata-East, is an amazing bassist who has recorded a huge number of albums, some famous, others fairly obscure.
This sort of free-wheeling exploration can lead you down many different paths--from the relatively rare Jothan Callins’ Winds of Change to Art Pepper Today (where Pepper reprises "Patricia," a track that got a boost from the popular TV show Bosch).
Coltrane was a huge influence on a lot of the people who were responsible for this movement, but there were other reasons too-- the change in popular music that left jazz in the rear view mirror, greater self-awareness within the black community and a fair number of small labels that acted as collectives for musicians, among them Black Jazz, the aforementioned Strata-East (with some stratospheric prices these days) to Nimbus West, which released output from Horace Tapscott, Nate Morgan and others. (Nate Morgan had an amazingly strong left hand, and had the chops of a McCoy Tyner with a little funk thrown in).
In the course of my own self-education, my ears became more accustomed to what I probably would have regarded as cacophony ten years ago-- I’m not much for so-called "free jazz" (where 4 different people are playing 5 different songs simultaneously), but just like your palate changes after exposure to food, wine or other consumables, your ears for this stuff can become different through exposure.
Best advice I could offer is to explore and if you identify a player you like, search through their discography for more of their work. You may find that rewarding, and along the way, will enjoy the experience of learning.

@tablejockey I’m also at a happy point as far as systems go. And as with other hobbies, once I get to that point gear no longer interests me. I decided a while back that vinyl was not my thing. Not a knock on anyone who loves it but the level of commitment it takes is simply not worth it to me. So I spend a lot of time exploring stuff. Like jazz. I also search out and buy the best quality CDs I can find for music that is important to me. I just like having some sort of ’hard copy’.

@keegiam I’m sure you’ve probably noticed that A’gon is often a place of strife between the believers and the deniers...across the audiophile spectrum. I used to wade into those pig wrestling matches but I don’t anymore. Its pointless unless you like that kind of sparring. But, a lot of folks like it and a lot of folks like inciting it. I sometimes find myself doing that and immediately wishing I had not. I should not have mentioned that $600 liquid you paint on your terminals. It was not relevant to my original post.

@whart I’m pretty much of a Philistine when it comes to jazz. Watched the whole Ken Burns series and was intrigued. The story of jazz is a great story. So is the story of the blues, which I love, and country music too, which I generally cannot tolerate. I like the interconnectedness of jazz and even in my brief foray into it that aspect is fascinating and as you say, a great basis for exploration.

Thanks to everyone for great conversation. Looking forward to the SACD arriving. In all honestly, given my not-so-golden ears, I doubt I’ll notice a big difference from Qobuz but I will still be happy to own a quality hard copy of that album. Also looking forward to continuing to explore jazz in my own slow way.

@n80
@whart 

Great posts today.  Everything very well said. 

Enjoy your journey n80.  Obviously many in the jazz crowd are very passionate about the art form.  Hopefully you'll let us know in 6-12 months how your exploration went.  (You'll get the most attention and best advice on "Jazz for Aficionados" - 26,000 posts.)

Thanks. I started the journey about 12 months ago but it just sort of faded away but now its getting rev'ed up again so who knows, maybe it'll take this time.

Just listened to Cannonball's "Somethin' Else" and really liked it. Miles shines on this one too.

I've lurked in the Aficianados thread a bit. Waters a little deep for me there. Jazz, like any other genre I suppose, is so broad and it is tough to just jump into random stuff. I think I'm going to follow the connections of the late 50s for a while. Late bop/early modal. Need to give A Love Supreme a few more critical listens. I like Blakey's "Moanin'".

n80
there is the current MoFi SACD as well as the Columbia late 1990's SACD (stereo only version). Both are excellent to my ears. It is simply a preference.

Happy Listening!

"I'm going to follow the connections of the late 50s for a while."

n80-
50'-early 60's might be "the pocket" of the "straight ahead" heavy hitters. Enough to keep you busy for sometime. After that period, many supporting sidemen  ventured on their own-post Bop, Fusion....

I own it and enjoy it very much.

I have zero issues with it and only pure enjoyment.

I almost always listen to it in my studio on the mastering system and it holds up really well techniquely and the performance is stellar.

You made a great purchase.

When you start a thread with "Miles Davis" in the title, you're going to get plenty of discussion.  This has been enjoyable.

Just want to reiterate - let's always be thankful that the art of recording had been nearly perfected (at least for small combos) by the time all this great music was laid down in the 50's.  Here we are (60+ years later) marveling at what we hear.

Indeed!

Got the SACD today. It sounds great. DR is stellar as expected. And if it was anything but stellar this type of music would be ruined in my opinion. At moderately loud volume this SACD sounds fantastic. To me, low and marginal DR music sounds worse the higher the volume.


As mentioned I'm no jazz expert and I do not have golden ears but I'm pleased. The separation of the instruments is excellent. Coltrane's sax during several solos is pretty far to the right but I suspect that's what it would sound like if he was in the room. Davis' horn is dead center. Bass is pretty well centered and fills the room. Drums just right of center. Piano to the left. Adderley's sax is center-left.

In All Blues during Davis' quiet solo you can barely hear Cobb swishing the brushes on the snare and later just barely tapping the ride. Very cool.

Can't really compare this to anything else other than Qobuz, which I don't intend to do. No need for my purposes. I'm happy.

Correction: My reference to All Blues above should have read Flamenco Sketches.

@n80

Fantastic news.  It's always great to hear that someone is thrilled by the combination of outstanding music and amazing SQ.  Nice job on your description of the imaging as well.

I'm beating a dead horse, but this was recorded in Spring 1959 - 62 years ago.  There are so many more jaw-dropping recordings from that era, all using reel-to-reel.  Welcome to what many consider the golden age of jazz.  Again - hope you enjoy the journey, however far you go.

n80

what gear is in your system?  Happy Listening!

@jafant My main system: Audio Research LS-15 tube pre-amp, Proceed Madrigal HPA-2 amp (Levinson), Oppo BDP-105D player, Aerial Acoustics 7B towers with Transparent Super Bi-wire cables.

@n80  Funny, I have 10T's.  7B's - no wonder you heard such good imaging.

I have a pair of 6Ts in my living room. They sound pretty good too.

n80, I thought you had the newer AR LS-16 pre..........Of course, Kind of Blue set a standard for musical writing, arrangements, band leadership and musicianship. Genius, in fact. Miles went through many " changes " during his career ( as many musicians / bands did / do ). Another favorite MD recording for me is " A Tribute to Jack Johnson ", recorded in 2 sessions in 1970, released on cd in '92 ( Columbia Jazz 47036 ). Miles was an amateur boxer, and the two tracks on this recording tell the tale of a boxing match and recovery of a fighter ( based on a movie documentary ), of his favorite boxer / fighter, Jack Johnson. IMO, everything I indicated above about KOB, has been applied here. In fact, my buddy who got me into Miles so many years ago ( wow, I am old ), only, many years later, heard of the " Tribute " album from me....lol. My best, and enjoy !

@mrdecibel It was a typo. You are correct my pre is the LS-16 (earlier version) not LS-15. The later model LS-16 MkII had a different tube configuration.


I will definitely look up "A Tribute to Jack Johnson". Thanks for the tip.

Indeed, "Jack Johnson" is riveting.  I play it nearly as often as "Nefertiti."

Texas-born Jack Johnson, the legendary black boxer, was crowned "Heavyweight Champion of the World" over a hundred years ago.  Pretty amazing, considering Jim Crow America.

n80

Very nice system. Your ears will not have any Aural issues/problems regarding CD/SACD playback. I once owned Transparent Super IC and SP -MM2 series. I have not auditioned the newer GEN5 series.

sidenote: I picked up the 2007 SACD edition of K.O.B.
Happy Listening!