Post by Lute December 14, 2014 (21 of 63)
|
|
Kutyatest said:
... I'd really have liked them to offer a multi-channel audio option. It's such a wasted opportunity,
+1
|
|
|
Post by rammiepie December 14, 2014 (22 of 63)
|
|
Brett, I believe the main excuse for not going multichannel besides space and financial consideration is that it forces the listener to sit at rapt attention in a sweet spot in front of the speakers and listen INTENTLY.
With "exceptionally" waning attention spans and the fact that everyone seems to be on the go, it makes sense for most people to load their portable devices with MP3 quality music and skidoo.
I usually have music playing in my house all day long but I've never in the same room and it serves as background. At night, after my work is done, I descend into my bat cave, fire up the amps and dedicate an hour or two to some serious sounds.
But sitting smack dab in between my front speakers is a rather large projection screen so as the spirit dictates, I fire up the OPPO or the FIOS and watch a movie or a DVRed broadcast.
I live alone so there is NO such thing as "quiet time" in my house but as most people do co~habit, It IS a consideration. My man cave is bullettproof and even when I'm outside at night smoking a "nasty" butt, I cannot (thankfully) hear that ruckus emanating from my music room. But then, a lot of listeners don't have that luxury, either.
I have only one friend within a ten mile radius who has a multichannel set~up, but it doesn't include DVD~A or SACD: Just VERY loud noise generated by music videos from his Apple TV and of course BAD 3D from a not well calibrated JVC projector. In all righteousness, I can't tell him that his audio dealer (who is also a friend of mine) took him to the cleaners.
|
|
|
Post by Lute December 14, 2014 (23 of 63)
|
|
rammiepie said:
All valid reasons to take into consideration. But... The emphasis on the group is overwhelming here. I notice it every day when I talk to people. Individually Japanese will express a wide range of opinions, but get in a group situation (let alone a corporation!) and everything changes. Every society does this of course, but Japan is known for this more than most.
As for cohabiting and driving the neighbors crazy...I find that I can play a well mixed, discrete surround mix at lower levels and still have the room filled with music. Actually, I need to turn up my 2-ch recordings louder to get a satisfying experience. I am listening to Philip Bailey: Soul On Jazz as I write at a modest level, but getting maximum enjoyment. :)
And with attention spans supposedly waning, what's the deal with the young crowd getting into vinyl!? Talk about a time consuming mess! You might as well trade in that nasty butt for an old-fashioned pipe with cherry flavored tobacco... Emptying, cleaning, packing, lighting, repacking, relighting, re-emptying and ready for round 2. LOL! :-D
Fiddle faddle fiddle faddle... http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6FoDrDdR0Yg
|
|
|
Post by Kutyatest December 15, 2014 (24 of 63)
|
|
rammiepie said:
As mentioned in a previous post, Steve, NO mch tapes exist for any of the Tangerine Dream albums save for Atem and Alpha Centauri. Bummer, I know, but we won't get mch from Universal Japan probably EVER!
Regarding the SHM~SACD packaging: Hey, they're almost half price and probably the cost of shipping those neat little boxes was a bit much.
Hey, everyone was kivetching about the artwork for Pentatone's DGG Quad remasters. Well, lo and behold I just received the Pinchas Zuckerman Brandenburgs and IMHO, VERY classy packaging. A genuine SACD jewel case enclosed within a matte finished slip cover with nice glossy artwork contained within.
I enclose all my digipacks within those resealeable Japanese sleeves. Works for me. Could NOT be bothered repackaging all those non standard containers.
Yes Ralph, you're probably right that we're not likely to see MCH discs from Universal Japan. Of course, it might theoretically be possible for someone to create a MCH audio option from whatever 2 channel sources exist, but I realise that this is unlikely to happen, if only for reasons of cost.
Although I really don't like the packaging of these SHM-SACDs (or even Digi-packs in general), it's just something for me to moan about. I'm happy to re-package these in Jewel Boxes (or even SJBs) - and it's really not too much work. I've got things down to a fine art where that is concerned!
I've got quite early-release Virgin CDs of Tangerine Dream's "Ricochet" and "Stratosfear" (from around 1987/1988), and they both sound pretty good in my opinion - at least better than the original LPs I had of these albums. A lot of those Virgin LPs were very poorly pressed - very poor quality control. I'll still probably give the SHM-SACDs a go - and hopefully "Ricochet" will have the "hand-clapping" intro on part 2, just as my LP had - and CD has.
|
|
|
Post by rammiepie December 15, 2014 (25 of 63)
|
|
Kutyatest said:
Yes Ralph, you're probably right that we're not likely to see MCH discs from Universal Japan. Of course, it might theoretically be possible for someone to create a MCH audio option from whatever 2 channel sources exist, but I realise that this is unlikely to happen, if only for reasons of cost.
Although I really don't like the packaging of these SHM-SACDs (or even Digi-packs in general), it's just something for me to moan about. I'm happy to re-package these in Jewel Boxes (or even SJBs) - and it's really not too much work. I've got things down to a fine art where that is concerned!
I've got quite early-release Virgin CDs of Tangerine Dream's "Ricochet" and "Stratosfear" (from around 1987/1988), and they both sound pretty good in my opinion - at least better than the original LPs I had of these albums. A lot of those Virgin LPs were very poorly pressed - very poor quality control. I'll still probably give the SHM-SACDs a go - and hopefully "Ricochet" will have the "hand-clapping" intro on part 2, just as my LP had - and CD has.
I likewise was playing the early RBCD pressing of Ricochet the other night and it works well with the DSP modes on my pre/pro. Hopefully, the handclaps on Part II will be intact as CDJapan indicates 2015 DSD master from the original UK analogue tapes.
If multitracks do exist of the 1975 concerts then all we could hope to achieve from that period is ambience and audience applause in the rears unless a whiz like Steve Wilson could gain access to those multitracks.
As previously mentioned, the original SACD of Rubycon is now fetching $200 so these SHM~SACDs are MOST welcomed.
|
|
|
Post by Astral December 15, 2014 (26 of 63)
|
|
Lute said:
All valid reasons to take into consideration. But... The emphasis on the group is overwhelming here. I notice it every day when I talk to people. Individually Japanese will express a wide range of opinions, but get in a group situation (let alone a corporation!) and everything changes. Every society does this of course, but Japan is known for this more than most.
True, but just look around at the 'audiophile' forums and you will see that American audiophiles tend to be quite the lemmings also, in fact, American society is just as conformist as any. But that is a whole different topic.
The Japanese audio market evolved quite differently as not only is the typical Japanese living situation quite different, but they were insulated from the influences of Western audio markets.
They never had, or bought into, the 'Stereophile' or 'TAS' ethos - those big, expensive manufactured components sold at humungous margins that all had a certain common design ethic behind them. The Japanese high end market was very boutique driven, favoring high efficiency speakers, often horns or single point drivers, and tube electronics - or at least, lower wattage in general. They never bought into the escalation of wattage and decline in speaker efficiency that characterized the western markets. The high end Japanese audiophile valued simplicity over complexity, and very high quality components that even very high end American manufacturers would not use.
Just look at the brands dominating the Japanese audio scene today to see that little has changed in that regard. It is simply a much different market.
What this has to do with MCH I don't really know, other than the typical Japanese domestic situation probably just doesn't suit MCH, and the high end favors extreme simplicity and authenticity.
Rammie may be right that those Japanese SHM-SACDs are sold in a global market, but the fact is the numbers sold worldwide are minor compared to the Japanese market and the Japanese labels only have rights for the Japanese market - they CANNOT distribute outside Japan themselves. Fact is, they make them for the Japanese market, and those outside that market should not feel so entitled or presumptuous to think that they can demand otherwise. Just be grateful that these superb remasters are accessible to us and hopfully will continue.
|
|
|
Post by Lute December 15, 2014 (27 of 63)
|
|
Astral said:
True, but just look around at the 'audiophile' forums and you will see that American audiophiles tend to be quite the lemmings also, in fact, American society is just as conformist as any. But that is a whole different topic.
What this has to do with MCH I don't really know, other than the typical Japanese domestic situation probably just doesn't suit MCH, and the high end favors extreme simplicity and authenticity.
Just be grateful that these superb remasters are accessible to us and hopfully will continue.
My thoughts were just general musings on Mch and my experience here in Japan...in regards to the comments on this site from time to time expressing a bit of frustration at the lack of Mch from Japanese labels.
While conformity can be found in every country, it is much stronger here in Japan and Korea than in Western countries. The sheer number of immigrants to the US simply doesn't allow the degree of conformity seen here in Japan. And this does effect general business and consumer trends here. But, I agree this really is a whole different topic. I just wanted to point out a different possibility to the often used excuse of small apartments.
I agree that Japanese have an interest in simplicity, but authenticity is a very subjective topic. It's been my experience here that many typical Japanese audiophiles prefer close-miked recordings of classical music or jazz...as if they are sitting next to the performers. Now, this could be viewed as one type of authenticity, but I wouldn't call such close-miked recordings authentic reproductions of a live concert.
This close up view of the world can be seen in many areas of Japanese society...from the visual arts to urban planning. Japanese tend to focus in on details very well, but they aren't worried about the bigger picture. This could explain the lack of interest in and the lack of understanding of the possibilities of Mch recordings of classical performances, which do capture the bigger picture much more naturally and authentically IMHO.
Anyway, I am also grateful for the superb remasterings we've been getting here. They have got these right, except perhaps for the price. ;-)
|
|
|
Post by fausto K January 24, 2015 (28 of 63)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Barbazul February 25, 2015 (29 of 63)
|
|
Phaedra and Stratosfear shipped!! My expectations are high as I like the analogueness sound of Rubycon hybrid SACD :)
|
|
|
Post by Kutyatest February 26, 2015 (30 of 63)
|
|
Barbazul said:
Phaedra and Stratosfear shipped!! My expectations are high as I like the analogueness sound of Rubycon hybrid SACD :)
I have had the "Stratosfear" and "Ricochet" SHM-SACDs on pre-order for a while, together with Tomita's "Space Fantasy" SACD/CD.
I was always disappointed with the pressing-quality of the original LP, absolutely dreadful! I have an old CD version of both of these albums - bought in Germany in the late 1980s - and I think they sound pretty good. I'm obviously hoping that the SHM-SACD versions are at least as good. I just hope someone hasn't edited out the clapping at the beginning of part two of "Ricochet" on the new release.
|
|
