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SACD remasters- any better than CD version?

I have recently changed from an Ayre CX-7 to the Oppo 105 in my system which is straight forward balanced stereo into an Ayre AX-7 with Proac's 2.5

I have a variety of SACD hybrids and indeed the new and very expensive SACD version of Floyd's Wish You Were Here.

That particular disc is imho not as pleasing sonically as the Gold Mastersound version from years ago...came in the long box...and it is not as good as the last remaster either-smoother yes but lacking in dynamics imho.

The new Mobile Fidelity version of Dylan's Blood On The Tracks is probably the best digital version of that album but the differences between the CD layer and SACD layer are marginal-just different not better.

And that's a theme I hear time and time again...SACD doesn't really seem to bring anything to the party other than a smoothness and I would say that actually sounds a tad dull in most cases.

Indeed I think most interesting on the Oppo through my system is that HDCD's seem to give the best sonic replay-deep sound
stages and loads of detail.

Is it fair to say SACD has not made any of the classic recordings of the rock era sound any better?

Or are there discs I am missing out on?
ben_campbell

Showing 2 responses by stereo5

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,524 posts
 
I agree that the Acoustic Sounds SACD of "Wish You Were Here" is not as good as the Mastersound version. I get the same feeling using my Esoteric SACD player so it isn't the Oppo's fault. I think in this particular case, it was remastered more for the surround sound than the 2 channel sound. I have about 50 SACD disks and I would say there are at least 15 or so that do not sound up to SACD standards, actually they sound below Redbook standards. Off the top of my head, I have an Alice In Chains disk that sounds like crap and also an Aerosmith "Oh Yeah" that is a real stinkeroo regarding sound quality.

On the other hand, I have Black Sabbath "Paranoid" which is a SHM SACD and it sounds wonderful. I think it all boils down to who remastered it, how the person felt on the day of the remastering (Did he have a fight with his wife?), weather the stars aligned properly and lastly, if they used the original Master Tapes.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,524 posts
 
I just compared the SHM sacd version of Quadrophenia by The Who with the Mobile Fidelity version and the original version on MCA Records. I found the MoFi to sound the best with the original version coming in a close second. The SHM SACD came in a far away third and sounded distant, almost like it was 5.1 channels and only playing the front speakers. I listened to the 2 channel stereo version on the SHM SACD.. Although the drums in particular sounded better on the sacd, the overall sound was hollow and distant. I am quite disappointed I wasted my money on the sacd version. NOT recommended..
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