Post by fausto K April 15, 2012 (1 of 13)
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interesting notes (from the remaster engineers) on the tapes used for the Avalon SACD:
>>The ideal would probably have been to have worked from the original analogue multitracks, but these had been recorded on the wrong type of Ampex tape, and were in no state to be used 20 years later. Fortunately, however, they had been baked and their contents transferred to Sony digital open-reel tapes before the deterioration became terminal. From the Sony machines, the tracks were mixed into surround in the analogue domain using Bob Clearmountain's SSL mixer, with the surround mixes being recorded onto Sony's dedicated multi-channel DSD recorder.
"I don't think the sound quality in DAWs is as good as an analogue desk," insists Clearmountain. "It might not be true of the more high-end digital systems like the new SSL or Euphonix desks, but Pro Tools is still not very high quality. The converters in the new HD systems are a little bit better, but the mix buss is still fixed-point. As soon as you do any processing in Pro Tools you're degrading the signal and I hear that. When you do level changes, pretty much anything, it tends to degrade and you lose depth, you can't really get that type of depth perception that you get from a really good analogue desk like an SSL G Plus or a J-series. You notice it right away, as soon as you push the faders."
see further: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug03/articles/roxymusic.htm
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Post by Nagraboy April 15, 2012 (2 of 13)
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I sold my copy (for twice what I paid for it new!). The extra track on the surround layer wouldn't play on my Sony SCD-XA9000ES which I owned at the time.
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Nagraboy said:
I sold my copy (for twice what I paid for it new!). The extra track on the surround layer wouldn't play on my Sony SCD-XA9000ES which I owned at the time.
Well, Nagraboy, you missed the boat on that one.....it's now fetching $1,023.37 NEW from Amazon US.
My extensively treated copy of Avalon sounds fantastic on my main system...........great use of the surrounds. And the three reviews of Avalon for mch on this website are 5 stars for SQ.
But then again, the always entertaining Mr. Ferry can do no wrong in my book.
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Post by Patrick1 April 16, 2012 (4 of 13)
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Hello. Can you tell us how you "extensively treat" your discs? I've been using L'Art Du Son disc cleaner, giving me pretty impressive results. What else is out there? Thanks.
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Patrick1 said:
Hello. Can you tell us how you "extensively treat" your discs? I've been using L'Art Du Son disc cleaner, giving me pretty impressive results. What else is out there? Thanks.
Mapleshade polish, Walker Audio's Ultra Vivid (2 coats including sides) and I demagnetize the disc (both sides) with Walker Audio's Talisman. Mapleshade Polish, especially on older RBCDs, makes a stunning difference but on my newest SACDs I just use the Ultra Vivid (as prescribed above) and demagnetize. The before and after results on ALL my players (Marantz SA112s, Meridian 808 and 800 and Oppo BDP 93 is dramatic in the positive to say the least. Even the Meridian SooLoos sound better using the treatments.
But I have heard that the L'Art Du Son disc cleaner is also a valid treatment.
I find that the Ultra Vivid brings out the inner detail and the bass is also dramatically improved putting everything in better focus aurally.
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Post by Bobpaule April 16, 2012 (6 of 13)
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By the time i die my kids will make a fortune out of my SACDs.
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Post by Goodwood April 17, 2012 (7 of 13)
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Avalon has a very nice "analogue" quality to it, as does the greatest hits SACD.
Definitely keepers in my collection.
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Post by DSD April 17, 2012 (8 of 13)
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Alan the alphabet doesn't have the same nuances as music, I am sorry to say disc treatments won't help your novel. I don't understand why you try to make this incompatible comparison.
A violin tone can be various shades of sound from totally grating to velvety smooth, surface treatments, CD mats and other tweaks help it sound closer to the latter.
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Post by Claude April 17, 2012 (9 of 13)
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Post by dobyblue April 17, 2012 (10 of 13)
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One of the best tweaks I have tried with the Avalon SACD a friend was kind enough to lend me is a product from Jamaica called sensimilia.
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