Format determines the potential for sound quality, not the actual realized in any particular case/recording. Any mastering on most any decent format might be determined to be best in any particular case. More hi res formats should have the advantage overall though if done well.
Wish You Were Here, 3 Different Versions
I have 3 different versions of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". The original is the gold cd on the Mastersound label using Sony's Super Bit Mapping. I also have the sacd 5.1 version from Acoustic Sounds as well as the Blu-ray version from the newest box set. Since I do not have surround sound, the Blu-Ray and sacd 5.1 were played back on the high rez stereo layer.
Here are my observations. The 2 channel Sony Mastersound is the best sounding of the three. It sounds much more relaxed and the bass is simply thunderous. I am not very impressed with the 2 channel sacd version. Perhaps if I was playing it in the surround mode in a good surround system I would like it better, but to me the vocals sound distant and everything seems slightly out of focus. The Blu-Ray is a tossup. While the instruments are all well defined, the bass is not as deep sounding. On all 3 versions, the mids and highs are exemplerary.
I am using an Esoteric UX-3 for my sacd and redbook cd listening. I have the player set to read the 2 channel sacd layer. My Blu-Ray Player is a very expensive Pioneer Elite player which plays sublimely through my system.
I keep asking myself how I could possibly like the 2 channel Mastersound cd better than the other 2 high rez versions, but I have gone back and forth many times on many different days and my ears aren't lying. Any thoughts on why I prefer the Mastersound cd? It is an audiophile quaslity disk and I think it was one of the first Sony produced using their Super Bit Mapping although I have also heard it referred to as super bullshit marketing. Thoughts?
Here are my observations. The 2 channel Sony Mastersound is the best sounding of the three. It sounds much more relaxed and the bass is simply thunderous. I am not very impressed with the 2 channel sacd version. Perhaps if I was playing it in the surround mode in a good surround system I would like it better, but to me the vocals sound distant and everything seems slightly out of focus. The Blu-Ray is a tossup. While the instruments are all well defined, the bass is not as deep sounding. On all 3 versions, the mids and highs are exemplerary.
I am using an Esoteric UX-3 for my sacd and redbook cd listening. I have the player set to read the 2 channel sacd layer. My Blu-Ray Player is a very expensive Pioneer Elite player which plays sublimely through my system.
I keep asking myself how I could possibly like the 2 channel Mastersound cd better than the other 2 high rez versions, but I have gone back and forth many times on many different days and my ears aren't lying. Any thoughts on why I prefer the Mastersound cd? It is an audiophile quaslity disk and I think it was one of the first Sony produced using their Super Bit Mapping although I have also heard it referred to as super bullshit marketing. Thoughts?
4 responses Add your response