Review by Philip Parris December 9, 2013 (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
Listening to this SACD now, and I can certainly confirm everyone else’s glowing plaudits. I’ll likely listen again tomorrow to verify my initial findings, but at first blush, this is, without reservation, the finest-sounding version of “Breakfast in America” I’ve ever heard. The word that pops immediately to mind is COMPLETE. Everything is there—tons of information, deep low end, smooth top, gorgeous mids, terrific dynamics—but all in their proper proportion and perfectly linear in a way I’ve never quite experienced before. There is ZERO sense of anything being forced; I know this might come across as hyperbole, and perhaps it is, but the music here flows like a sugary avalanche right into one’s ears! It’s truly a masterful job by the engineers.
That said, and I may be imagining things, the mix sounds different, especially on the title track. There are little details that I don’t remember hearing in the past, as well as some things that simply seem to be GONE from the song on this SACD. I’ll have to listen a few more times, but that’s my initial impression. I’m not grousing, mind you, but it is a little jarring to hear a song you’ve been listening to for 30+ years sound so DIFFERENT.
Overall, IMHO, this is easily the best I’ve heard this landmark record sound in my system, and I’ve owned quite a few different pressings on both CD and LP over the years, including the MFSL. Yes, it needs some volume to truly come alive, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—unless, of course, your neighbors are the crotchety sort who hate “that confounded rock n’ roll!” This is, simply, one of the finest pop/rock SACDs I’ve heard in many a moon. If you have ANY interest in “Breakfast in America,” and have SACD capability, this SHM-SACD deserves your fullest attention.
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Review by Marcusmartin December 2, 2013 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
Listened 3 times this freshly received long awaiting shm sacd. And a pleasant surprise which once again confirms for me the unparallel superiority of DSD ! This materpiece (at least for supertramp fans) has now the pressing it deserves. Compared to my re redbook CDs this one is sonically THE one to have (I do not have the MFSL pressing) : everything is there, with this analog feeling that only DSD can digitally reproduce (what about a comparison to the vinyl pressing ?). Dynamics, low and high ends are clearly there, soundstage is huge, instruments well seperated, and voices are natural. What about the same kind of transfer for Crime of the century ? ( the MFSL is good but sure DSD transfer will be better). I have around 500 SACDs , and this one is one of my best stereo one. If you are a fan of this album, take this pressing and you will not be disapointed.
Listening system : Denon A1UD decoding, in pure direct mode, with analog cabling with Nordost Red dawn, to a CREEK EVO 2 amp driving ELIPSON prestige 4 speakers.
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