| Review by Zappaien February 24, 2012 (5 of 6 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics: |
As for tubular Bells, Universal Japan got the very good idea to reissue this Fantastic album from MO and give it the Shm-sacd treatment.
DSD transfered from Master Analog tapes by Richard Whittaker, FX Copyroom, 2012
Sound Quality is Totally Outstanding, We got a fantastic Smooth sound, level volume can be raised to nirvana without getting hurted. Dynamics on this release are perfect, really. Even better than Tubular Bells.
This is on my top 3 Shm-sacd in rock section. And 2012 is not finished !
You can't hesitate to spend this bad price on this gem. Just go :)
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| Review by Epsilon March 14, 2012 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
| I agree with Zappaien. This is my first SHM-SACD and I am totally amazed. Clarity and dynamics are unbelievable. I have an RBCD version of Ommadawn and listening to that always used to put me to sleep (because it had a murky quality, melting the sounds and dynamics into one unified mass). Now, the DSD transfer is absolutely wonderful. Really, you can actually see the same musicians sitting in your listening room that are pictured on the inner sleeve. I am a big fan of MCH music but this one is absolutely satisfying in stereo as the music fills the room with such realness that enchants the listener, demanding full attention (i.e. never letting you fall asleep again...) Stand up and touch the guitars, flutes, recorders, bagpipes, timpani...! This technology is a gift from the gods to those who love music from the 70s bit who did not have the means at the time to listen in high quality (I mean top end turntables and amps, speakers...) I am glad that I dared to take the big step and bought an SHM-SACD albeit the price is higher than an ordinary SACD. BTW, the packaging is first class.
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| Review by Deadwing March 14, 2012 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
| Cannot recommend this highly enough. I have listened to this on LP and CD since I was a kid (I'm 40 now) and although I loved the music, always thought the recording / production quality let the whole thing down. I bought this CD with confidence after being blown away by the SHM SACD version of Tubular Bells, and I was not disappointed. The first cymbal crash after the first two minutes (just before the electric guitars kick in for the first time) was always drowned in distortion and clipping - even on high res vinyl rips I had heard. But now, everything is so clean, no distortion, excellent detail and soundstaging. I am hearing new details never before heard on my previous 100-plus listens. Excellent!
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| Review by SnaggS March 30, 2012
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Performance: Sonics: |
From Wish You Were Here to Ommadawn, always one of the best sounding disks on Vinyl and so its not suprising the SACD sounds as good as it does. Not as warm, as Wish You Were here but the recording always had more sparkles than others. Still, that doesn't mean fuzzed electric guitar doesnt sound suitably 70's.
Wonderfull recording and sublime music. Watch this go to $300 when supplies sell out!
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| Review by ScienceGuy October 14, 2012 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
I wholly concur with Zappaien, Deadwing and Espsilon, in that this SACD is absolutely outstanding in every way.
I have just carried out comprehensive direct comparision testing between this, the 2012 SACD Version by Mercury Records, and the 2010 (so-called) Deluxe Edition CD, which includes no less than THREE versions, namely 2010 Stereo Mix on CD, original 1975 version (same version as SACD) on CD, as well as 2010 Mix in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
In short, IMO this is the ranking of the different versions regards to which offers the best audio quality, in descending order:
1) 2012 SACD by Mercury Records (i.e. This version)
2) 2010 Deluxe Edition, Original 1975 Mix, CD Version
3) 2010 Deluxe Edition, 2010 Stereo Mix, CD Version
4) 2010 Deluxe Edition, 2010 Stereo Mix, DVD Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Version
Without a doubt the best version of OMMADAWN is the 2012 SACD Version by Mercury Records.
Specifically, the audio clarity, dynamics, soundstage, frequency range, compression, distortion and depth are all significantly superior than the other versions.
This is most noticable at 1:15 of OMMADAWN Part 1 when the deep bass begins, wherein it is so much deeper than the other versions; and 12:27 when the african drums start, wherein the considerably superior clarity and realism of the drums stands out versus the other versions. The 2010 Mix in my opinion is a huge disappointment, in that it is as if LOUDNESS has been applied producing a muddy, boomy and imbalanced bass / lower end, such that the african drumming is a blurry mess; whereas with the SACD version the drumming is astonishingly real.
In my opinion there is absolutely no contest; the SACD version is irrefutably the best version. Period.
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| Review by Bicman March 3, 2013 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
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Performance: |
I find with all the updating I've done to my entertainment system over the years, the only thing truely holding me back from my systems full potential is the quality of the source. Be it CD, SACD, DVD Audio or Blueray, it's the duplication of the recording that I find really makes a huge difference.
Well, come on in and take a seat because I'm about to treat you to a fantastic musical experience. Mike Oldfield on SHM SACD.
Ommadawn really shines here and takes me back to when I was a teen. I know this LP so well, I can hum it in my sleep. But, you would think I was listening to this for the first time. Each instrument and vocal arrangement are so well separated. Lower frequencies have the power and articulation I've never heard before. It's a real treat for the senses.
I highly recommend this SACD not only for Mike Oldfield fans, but anyone who appreciates a fantastic listening adventure.
Whoever does these SHM SACD's, please keep them coming. My ears haven't quit on me yet.
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| Review by Sergey June 6, 2013
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Performance: Sonics: |
| Recorded so delicious that it is hard to believe that this record 70s for well-made original recordings as it turned out simply did not have this format.
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