Post by seth October 2, 2012 (111 of 329)
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jdaniel said:
I see that Solti's Ring Cycle just came out on Blu-ray. Over at Classical Music International the critic declares it has "no modern rivals."
Really?
The reviewer says that he's limiting comparisons to studio recordings. In digital era I'm only aware of three and a half studio rings: Janowski, Haitink, Levine and Dohnanyi (he's the half Ring") -- so yeah, that statement is probably correct.
Interesting comments in the review about how they failed to properly reassemble breaks between LP sides for the Blu-ray.
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Post by Vaan October 2, 2012 (112 of 329)
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I think the statement is correct. Where can you find singers of that caliber today? Nowhere!
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Post by teac4010 October 2, 2012 (113 of 329)
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Fitzcaraldo215 said:
......We all greatly prefer Mch playback and consider it, by far, the best sound of of our lifetimes.
Agreed, Multiple Channel DSD (6ch) SACD is unsurpassed for technical excellence and listening quality, that's what this forum is about. Where do the PCM Elves fit? Peace. Regards.
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Vaan said:
Where can you find singers of that caliber today? Nowhere!
Maybe, but at least for me it's the music that matters more (the instrumental parts, that is). So I say no (to jdaniel), although the one that's the finest to my ears (Boulez) is not studio (but it's definitely 'modern').
Can't stand Solti for more than a minute and a half.
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Post by rammiepie October 2, 2012 (115 of 329)
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teac4010 said:
Agreed, Multiple Channel DSD (6ch) SACD is unsurpassed for technical excellence and listening quality, that's what this forum is about. Where do the PCM Elves fit? Peace. Regards.
The vast majority of modern recordings are indeed pcm~based..........most SACDs are now derived from PCM originated masters.
I think SONY realizes this and threw in the towel with their DSD recording system.
The old adage: if you can't lick them, join them is in full force here.
One of the very few labels still recording and releasing their music in DSD is LSO Live.......and the Barbican is their recording venue of choice.....a very dry acoustical environment.
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teac4010 said:
Agreed, Multiple Channel DSD (6ch) SACD is unsurpassed for technical excellence and listening quality, that's what this forum is about. Where do the PCM Elves fit? Peace. Regards.
In hi Rez Mch, I really do not see the big deal between DSD and PCM. Excellent recordings can be and are made in both. Given that the available repertoire is still somewhat limited in hi rez Mch, it is a shame to worship the old DSD fetish. That becomes quite limiting after awhile. By being tolerant of both, with good sonic evidence that both can be truly excellent, I find that my musical horizons are considerably expanded. Want a Beethoven Missa Solemnis in MCH? You will not find one on SACD, but there is a very good one on A/V Blu-ray with Theilemann and the Dresden Staatskapelle.
Case in point: we have the excellent recording of the Shostakovich Symphony #15 with Gergiev and the Mariinski Orchestra in a superb Sound/Mirror engineered recording. We also have the outstanding Haitink/RCO Live recording of the same work recorded by Polyhymnia in, of all things, 96k PCM, transcoded to SACD. I can tell you that the realization by Haitink is far superior. But, I can also tell you that the sound of the RCO Live recording is at least as good, and better in many ways, than the Mariinski.
I can also tell you that in my view, there are no more moving and involving Mch performances of the Mahler Symphonies (still minus #8) than those by Abbado with the Lucerne Festival on A/V Blu-ray in glorious 48k/24 bit PCM, which in Mch via DTS-HD Master Audio, sound really terrific to my ears.
While there may at one time have been good reason to be a DSD snob, my ears tell me there is really no good reason for that with today's recordings.
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Post by rammiepie October 2, 2012 (117 of 329)
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Fitz, I believe we're at a juncture in time where we no longer have to do a comparison of the two formats.
DSD had its 15 minutes of fame and most modern recordings are indeed PCM.
Even though Blu~Ray audio and video are relatively new formats, the sheer versatility and price point (spectacular, IMO) have proved themselves to be a formidable combination.
Sadly, except for a few admirable sacd producing labels, the format is pricing itself out of the reach of all but audiophiles and "collectors."
And the lack of multichannel on many new SACD releases is a major turnoff.........and a bastardization of the original concept of stereo, rbcd and multichannel layers.
My answer all along has been to add whatever hi~rez format floats my boat whether it be SACD, DVD~A and especially BD Audio and Video.
And whatever "perceived" benefits DSD might have introduced have been eclipsed by advancements in PCM recording techniques....and most importantly, an ample supply of pressing plants!
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Post by teac4010 October 2, 2012 (118 of 329)
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rammiepie said:
Fitz, I believe we're at a juncture in time where we no longer have to do a comparison of the two formats.
DSD had its 15 minutes of fame and most modern recordings are indeed PCM.
Even though Blu~Ray audio and video are relatively new formats, the sheer versatility and price point (spectacular, IMO) have proved themselves to be a formidable combination.
So, the end of SACD is here, and the end of the forum, or a renaming. Adios friends. Peace. Regards.
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rammiepie said:
Sadly, except for a few admirable sacd producing labels, the format is pricing itself out of the reach of all but audiophiles and "collectors."
And the lack of multichannel on many new SACD releases is a major turnoff.........and a bastardization of the original concept of stereo, rbcd and multichannel layers.
FOS, Rammiepie, my buddy.
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Post by rammiepie October 2, 2012 (120 of 329)
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teac4010 said:
So, the end of SACD is here, and the end of the forum, or a renaming. Adios friends. Peace. Regards.
It's not that dire, teac4010, and besides nothing is forever......even the 5" optical disc, as a whole, is in peril from downloads of movies and music.
But if your tastes are as varied as mine then it wouldn't hurt to expand your horizons and check out hi~rez music available in other formats.
SACD was always a niche just as open reel tapes were in their day (I know, I still have my mch Teac and a Revox with built in Dolby b) so as the saying goes enjoy it while it lasts.
And let's stop sounding the death knell for this wonderful website because there's always room for expansion.............
Like Papa Zeus' organic old~fashioned marinara sauce with that down under zing garnered from his extensive sojourns to sunny Italia................
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