Demo CD/SACD/DVD-A

[zumbo]

<font color='#000000'>If someone were to come over to your house to check out your system, what would be your first choice out of your selection of music for the best sound quality?</font>

[frkuhn]

<font color='#000000'>Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon SACD.

AMAZING sound and a very well known work, so people can really have an idea of the improvement. Also, has all of those multi-channel gimmicks, but done with very good taste.</font>

[Rob Babcock]

<font color='#8D38C9'>A few DVD-A's I'd choose:

Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
REM, Automatic for the People
Zephyr, Voices Unbound
Beck, Sea Change
Donald Fagen, The Nightfly
Steely Dan, 2 Against Nature/Everything Must Go

SACDs:

Norah Jones, Come Away With Me
Pink Floyd, DSotM
Alison Kraus + Union Station, Live
Nickel Creek, This Side
Joe Satriani, Strange Beautiful Music</font>

[jeffsg4mac]

<font color='#000000'>Norah Jones-SACD
Steely Dan Gaucho- DVD A
Joe Satriani-SACD
Queen the game-DTS 96/24 and DVD A
Linda Rhondstat Whats new-DVD A</font>

<font color='#000000'>My favorites are anything I have on Mapleshade/Wildchild, especially A La Carte Brass and Percussion. They are redbook CD but are superbly recorded. The sound far better than any SACD I have including many of those mentioned here. Maybe my SACD setup needs more optimizing as I've only had it a month, but most of the SACD stuff is old source material. &nbsp;I also would use Blue Man Group Audio (DVD-A) to show off bass and 5 channel mix</font>

[A. Vivaldi]

<font color='#000000'>Berlioz / Symphonie Fantastique by Charles Munch and the BSO on JVC XRCD (JMCXR-0001)</font>

[Shinerman]

<font color='#000000'>I have mentioned this before in other threads so I may sound like a broken record but, the Blue Man Group is one of the best DVD-A recordings I have heard. &nbsp; If you want to impress the neighbors, this is it. &nbsp; Huge bass, sound flying all over the place, really cool sounds, lots of drums and rhythm. &nbsp; It will give your system and your ears a workout. &nbsp;One thing, this is not a sit back and fade away kind of music like Dark Side of the Moon. &nbsp;It's in your face and fun. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Shinerman</font>

<font color='#000000'>Hi,

Just bought my first Dvd-audio/sacd player and I have a question. I only play 2-channel in my home and wants to buy some good dvd-audio discs. Is the Steely-Dan album &quot;Gaucho&quot; a real DVD-audio recording or a DTS recording? Can someone explain the difference?

Thanks in advance,

Johannes</font>

[zumbo]

<font color='#000000'>I believe the DTS disc would need a dvd player or receiver that would decode the signal. The dvd-audio/sacd disc would need to utilize the multi-channel outputs of your player. Both are for multi-channel!</font>

<font color='#000000'>Cardigans: Long gone before daylight (SACD)</font>

[MerlinMacuser]

<font color='#000000'>I needed to convince my wife that we had spent our money wisely on the new Yamaha DVD S-2300K2 and RX-V2400 so I played Great Gig in the Sky from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. First in the old redbook cd (~circa 1985?), then the redbook layer of the SACD hybrid (2003), then the SACD layer in 2 channel and finally the same song in SACD Multi-channel. She reports that she was able to get &quot;visuals&quot; from this song without any pharaceutical enhancements (except a glass of Merlot).

Next we auditioned it for our best female friend. Sitting in the dark between my beautiful wife and my &quot;other wife&quot; (an actress, model, psychologist and[U] massage therapist) we listened first to Moonage Daydream from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, then to the first cut from Kind of Blue by Miles Davis then Great Gig in the Sky twice...then the whole DSOTM album. Wow! I too got &quot;visuals&quot; that evening.:love: (Imagination is a wonderful thing.)

I joked with them that one of the buttons on the system is set to automatically remove women's clothing...I just am not sure which one it is.

I just bought Miles' In a Silent Way which used to bring me great success in the dorm room days. I wonder what it'll do for me in SACD?</font>

[stiletto pat]

<font color='#000000'>Gee Merlin, I was able to congure up great visuals just reading your posting.... &nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':;):'> &nbsp; I too am just starting to buy new media for my universal player, which I do not as of yet have - it's on order. &nbsp;Once I couldn't get my dealer to sell me a 2300 MkII, I went back to the Denon 2900. &nbsp;Of course, still waiting for that.... <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> &nbsp;
Anyway, I've purchased SACD of Norah Jones &quot;Come Away with Me&quot;, Pink Floyd &quot;Dark Side of the Moon&quot;, Peter Gabriel &quot;Shaking the Tree&quot;, and the DVD-A of Fleetwood Mac &quot;Rumors&quot;. &nbsp;I have recently been buying a lot of DVD Video Concerts, and have quite a few good ones, but I'm running out of good new choices, so the pure music will be my concentration for awhile. &nbsp;Once I get the Denon and calibrate the system, then I'll start trying these new discs out and I'll let you know as well. &nbsp;Unfortunately, although studying the Denon Remote photos and my B&amp;K remote manual, I don't see any buttons that automatically undress your female guests - a most unfortunate oversight.... <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/glare.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':glare:'>

Pat</font>

<font color='#000000'>Stilletto Pat, We seem to have similar equipment as well as similar feelings about radio. I too have B&amp;K: Ref 30 pre and 7250 amp pushing Vandersteen 3A signatures and two Vandy subs. I've had a Denon 2900 for about six weeks and have been very happy so far. My only complaint is the usual crappy Denon manual which seems to be written by someone with English as a second language. The Audioholics review of the 2900 has a link to a Denon USA set of papers which explain things much more clearly.
So far I have mostly heard SACD but the Blue Man Group DVD-A of Audio is excellent in 5 channel. DSOTM is also good in 5 channel and well worth it. Tommy also sounds great but I prefer to hear it in 2 channel as I like the imaging better. I've heard a few old Miles/Coltrane jazz recordings and an old Leo Kottke SACD of 6 and 12 string guitar but these aren't much better than good vinyl or CDs probably due to the source material. An SACD of Bernstein/NY Philharmonic doing Copeland from 1960 was pretty good. E. Power Biggs doing all the Bach organ toccattas was very unusual and powerful. It was recorded as a quadrophonic record in the seventies at a Cathedral in Freiburg where four organs at different locations in the cathedral can be played from one central location. The delay time in the cathedral was six seconds front to back. It's a very different kind of surround.
I need to try some modern recordings as these seem to benefit most from the technology. I'll try Nora Jones soon. What else is good SACD or DVD-A that is not a reissue?</font>

[MerlinMacuser]

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>stiletto pat : <font color='#000000'>Gee Merlin, I was able to congure up great visuals just reading your posting.... * *<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':;):'> *
Unfortunately, although studying the Denon Remote photos and my B&amp;K remote manual, I don't see any buttons that automatically undress your female guests - a most unfortunate oversight.... <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/glare.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':glare:'>

Pat</font>
<font color='#000000'>Hi, Pat Glad you liked it.

I'm still waiting for the new chips for the Yamaha to arrive...

I heard the Norah Jones tune Come Away with Me on an SACD sampler that came with a December (?) Rolling Stone magazine. Unfortunately, I was not impressed. Her voice is pleasant enough, don't get me wrong, but it didn't knock me out. My jazz female vocalist tastes run more toward Anita Baker, Basia, Cassandra Wilson and Randy Crawford.

I have been scouring local shops for SACDs and not finding a lot to buy so I've been checking Barnes&amp; Noble and Borders/Amazon web sites. It is interesting that some SACDs are becoming hard to find. Saxaphone Colossus by Sonny Rollins is on back order. I was unable to find Oasis' ...Morning Glory online but did find it at BestBuy after seeing it a month ago then not when I was ready to buy it 2 weeks ago. It must have been misfiled or a return since there was no other evidence of re-stocking the SACD section.

Recent additions to the collection include the Sonny Rollins classic Way Out West and Miles Davis's In a Silent Way.

I am waiting for Fleetwood Mac Rumors to come out on SACD although I have seen the DVD-A for sale. I may be waiting a long time though...

Other material I would LOVE to be able to buy on SACD which I would use to audition my system would be Hendrix's second album Axis Bold as Love, Spooky Two by Spooky Tooth, First Step by the (Small) Faces (with that early example of phase shifting that impressed Hendrix: Around the Plynth), and Threshold of a Dream by Moody Blues. I'd like to hear Gabriel's stuff (especially So) in multichannel. Also, where is Dire Strait's Brothers In Arms? That was one of the best albums of the eighties!

My Jazz wishlist includes Enigmatic Ocean by Jean Luc Ponty, Karma by Pharoh Sanders, Casino by Al DiMeola, and Stone Flute by Herbie Mann.

I am worried about the slow pace of release of material in this format. I don't consider Train to be in the same league as say Eric Clapton, Dire Straits or even Steely Dan. I think the market of baby boomers who love music has got to be bigger than Gen-X plus.

I was excited to read that Pete Townsend is personally taking charge of remastering the Who's back catalogue until I remembered that HE&quot;S DEAF! Still, the idea of Quadrophenia in multichannel is exciting.

Oh, they don't have that button on the Denon...only the Yamaha...it's a two button combo....Pause, then Push Play and voila!</font>

[stiletto pat]

<font color='#000000'>Dan, I just had the chance to listen to the Denon 2900 at a friends house, and while thoroughly enjoying myself listening to my new SACD copy of DSOTM, I was getting very depressed looking at one of the manuals for the 2900. &nbsp;I absolutely have to agree with you - what a poor effort on their part - you would think they have no budget for technical or practical support. &nbsp; <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> &nbsp; However, I've got to say that the new mix of Dark Side is phenominal - the saxes just walk right out the very front of the soundstage and assault you, in a very good kind of way!! &nbsp;Thrilling - can't wait to get my 2900 and hook it up to the B&amp;K and Paradigms, as well as the HSU Sub. &nbsp;I like your suggestions, and was even amused to hear you mention E. Power Biggs - what an organist - haven't listeded to that type of material in ages - but in retrospect, it could be very interesting with the HSU Sub.... TN-1220.

Merlin, I have to agree with your assessment of Norah Jones - I'm just not particularly impressed, with Norah's performance or the mix, but my wife and daughters love her, so it was a purchase to protect and justify my other media purchases. &nbsp;Now, on the other hand, the Fleetwood Mac DVD-A is also superlative. &nbsp;Everything is so crisp and clear, and the surround mix is wonderful. &nbsp;I highly recommend it, although I'm not quite sure that the female clothing removal button on your remote will be clearly manifested from that selection..... <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp; I do like most of your choices, and may purchase many of the sames discs, once I finally get my system complete, set up and calibrated. &nbsp;Quadrophenia in surround - that will be a dream come true..... &nbsp;In the meantime, I just keep stopping by my friends house in a neighboring city.

Pat

<img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':;):'></font>

[stiletto pat]

Hate to have to reply to my own last reply, but must comment on a couple of new disks I have recentely acquired.

1. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, SACD. Interesting remix, great sound quality, nice DVD historical disk. This is probably his best all around album, and worth picking up.

2. Donald Fagan, The Nightfly, DVD-A. Clean, crisp, but it didn't hold my interest, probably due to a dull remix, if any.

3. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery, DVD-A. Again, clean, crisp, nicely done, but not really as exciting as I would have expected from ELP.

4. Yes, Fragile, DVD-A. Wow, is all I can say. From a rather demure recording, this remix is remarkable, crisp, bright and powerful. I was incredibly impressed. A definite must, if you're a Yes fan.

5. David Sanborn, his newest - I forget the title, on SACD. Very nice jazz, smooth, well recorded with very good dynamics.

6. The Who, Tommy, DVD-A. Very nice mix, very nice sound. It's the bloody Who, what else needs to be said. Marvelous.

That's all for now, but I'll try and keep the group updated on both good and bad purchases - we all need to spend our money wisely.

Enjoy great music, life's too short to listen to drivel...

Pat :o

[zipper]

I'd really like to see "Crime of the Century" & "Even in the Quietest Moments" be produced in one of these formats. I'll bet "Wish you were Here" would be be stellar also.

[stiletto pat]

Zipper,

I too would love to see "Crime of the Century" released on DVD-A or SACD. I bought the original album back in '74, and bought the Mobile Fidelity UHQR Vinyl in the early 80s, which still sounds great. But on DVD-A, whew....

By the way, I forgot to mention that I picked up E. Power Biggs - a concert organist, on SACD - it's a remastered recording of his quad recording of pipe organs in a Munich cathedral. Excellent classical album of Bach's Tocattas, and a great subwoofer test disk. :)

Pat

[rgriffin25]

I agree that it is very hard to find SACDs at a local store. I recently placed an order at acousticsounds.com and had it in less than 48hours. They have a great selection of all music formats!

www.acousticsounds.com

Hope this Helps,

[Hawkeye]

Recently picked up the new Alan Parsons cd, "A Valid Path". Its his first release in about 5 years and marks a radical change in music styles compared to his previous dozen albums. In order to appeal to a younger, core audience, he has delved into the electronica genre collaborating with such artists as Uberzone, Crystal Method, Nortec Collective, Shpongle, and others. Also appearing on the cd are the voices of Orson Welles and John Cleese (of Monty Python), as well as red hot guitar licks from Pink Floyd's David Gilmour on the opening track.

This is one of those cds that each time you listen to it you'll pick out something new, something you didn't notice before. But I guess you'd expect that from Mr. Parsons, one of the most highly respected recording engineers in the last 35 years or so. He's worked with the Beatles, and was the man behind the controls during the recording of Pink Floyd's classic album, "Dark Side of the Moon," which earned him one of his eleven Grammy award nominations.


Although I'm not sure I'll ever be a full-fledged electronica fan, this cd will definately make me sit up and take notice. And the best part is that although this is just a two-channel mix, (amazing as it sounds), the 5.1 channel DVD-A mix should be out sometime this year. That may be the one disc you have to add to your collection to REALLY show off your surround system.

[GeorgeM]

Yeah Hawk, I look forward to this one in the 5.1 version. I was introduced to the Alan Parsons Project via I Robot in the '70s and now play the On Air CD occasionally in 7-channel stereo mode on my system.

Thanks for the 'heads up' on this one.

-GeorgeM

[Hawkeye]

GeorgeM, the On Air DTS surround disc is indeed very good, in fact, the track "Apollo" is without a doubt one of the best surround mixes I've come across.

If you want to hear I Robot like never before, it's available in HDAD (actually a DVD-A stereo only) disc. Its like discovering the music all over again as you'll hear sounds you never knew existed on the redbook cd. Their cd Turn of a Friendly Card was also recently released in this same format and is equally as impressive. I can highly recommend both.

Catch Alan Parsons Live Project if you can, they're touring. For touring info and more go to http://www.theavenueonline.info/

[Khorn]

My most realistic sounding SACD is Joe Weed 'The Vultures'. Here is a link to a mini-review I wrote a while back. It's an amazing sounding disc:

The Vultures (http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/1254)

[Unregistered]

please help me out! thanks

[Az B]

I'll have to check out Vultures, that looks interesting.

The E. Power Biggs organ SACD is pretty cool. I have a friend who was a professional organist for years and had the album back in the quad days. He really enjoys it.

For jazz, I like the Jaco Pastorius Big Band SACD. Excellent dynamics, lifelike sound.

[Pat D]

So many people aren't into seriously listening to music and they are often here for some other purpose, like chatting or eating. As well, most people aren't very much into classical music. There really isn't much opportunity to show off the system, per se. So ordinarily, we just put some background music we think they might like or that fits the mood.

For those who do want to hear a demonstration, we put on something we think they would like, such as Diana Krall, Angele Arsenault, Roger Whittaker, or guitar music ( a sneaky way to get them to listen to classical!).

For seriously showing off the system, well, here's an old list of good recordings:

ANCIENT MUSIC

”The Dante Troubadours,” Martin Best Mediaeval Ensemble. Nimbus 5002

“Songs of Chivalry,” Martin Best Mediaeval Ensemble. Nimbus 5006

“Chominciamento di gioia” (dance music from the time of Boccacio’s Decamerone),. Naxos 8.553131

Praetorius, Dances from the Terpsichore, Westra nos Pijpare. Naxos 8.553865

“:On the Way to Bethlehem” (music of the medieval pilgrim), Ensemble Oni Wytars, Ensemble Unicorn. Naxos 8.553132



ORCHESTRAL

Arnold Bax, Tone Poems (November Woods, The Happy Forest, The Garden of Fand, and Summer Music), Bryden Thomson, Ulster Orchestra. Chandos CHAN 8307

Debussy, “La Mer,” “Le Martyre de saint Sébastien,” “Prélude de l’après-midi d’un faune,” Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London 430 240-2

Feeney, “Dracula,” John Pryce-Jones, Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra. Naxos 8.553964

Ferde Grofé, “Grand Canyon Suite;” George Gershwin, arr. Bennett, “Porgy and Bess, A Symphonic Picture,” Antal Dorati, Detroit Symphony Orchestra. London 410 110-2

Holst, “The Planets,” Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London 417 553-2 (also on Penguin Classics, Decca 460 606-2)

Ippolitov-Ivanov, “Caucasian Sketches,“ Christopher Lyndon Gee, Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Marco Polo 8.220369

Toshiro Mayuzumi, “Samsara” (tone poem), Baccanales, Phonologie Symphonique, Yoshikazu Fukumura, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Marco Polo 8.220297 Many people may not like this music, which is often percussive and rather clangy.

Mozart, Overtures and “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” Bruno Weil, Tafelmusik. Vivarte SK 46695

Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Lorin Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra. Telarc CD-80042

Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky cantata, Lt. Kijé, Charles Dutoit, Choeur et Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. London 430 506-2

Prokofiev, Scenes from the “Romeo and Juliet” ballet, plus Ravel, “Boléro,” etc., Jan Pascal Tortelier, London Symphony Orchestra. Castle CIDC 1001

Respighi, “Pines of Rome,” “Fountains of Rome,” “Feste Romane,” Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London 410 145-2 (also Decca 430 729-2).

Rossini, Overtures, Roger Norrington, London Classical Players. EMI CDC 554091

Smetana, “Ma Vlast“ (“My Homeland“), Antoni Wit, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Naxos 8.550931

Stravinsky, Firebird Suite plus Borodin Music from Prince Igor, Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Telarc CD-80039

Deems Taylor, “Through the Looking Glass,” plus Charles Griffes, various orchestral works, Gerard Schwarz, Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Delos DE 3099

Wagner, “The Ride of the Valkyries,” “Siegfried Idyll,” “Overtures,“ Vernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Durkin Hayes DHM008 (or Tring Digital TRP008)

SYMPHONIES

Beethoven, Symphonies nos. 4, 8, Otmar Suitner, Berlin Staatskapelle Orchestra. Denon 198C37-7254

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9, Otmar Suitner, Staatskapelle Berlin. Denon 198C37-7256

Brahms, Symphony no. 1, Jascha Horenstein, London Symphony Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD19

Brahms, Symphony no. 4, Fritz Reiner, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD6

Bruckner, Symphony no. 4, Tintner, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Naxos 8.55412869

Bruckner, Symphony no. 7, Tintner, RSNO, Naxos 8.554269

Dvorak, Symphony no. 9, “New World,” plus Wagner, Siegfried Idyll, Flying Dutchman Overture, Jascha Horenstein, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD31

Haydn, Symphonies 23, 24, and 61, Nicholas Ward, Northern Chamber Orchestra. Naxos 8.550723

Haydn, Symphonies 77,78, and 79, Nicholas Ward, Northern Chamber Orchestra. Naxos 8.553363

Haydn, Symphonies 96, 102, Adam Fischer, Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. Nimbus 5135

Mahler, Symphony no. 4, Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. CBS WDMK-44908

Toshiro Mayuzumi, Nirvana Symphony, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra; plus Buddhist Chant of the Yakushiji Temple, Nara. Denon CO 78839

Mozart, Symphonies nos. 35, 41, Haydn Symphony no. 104,. Josef Krips and René Leibowitz, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD16

Mozart, Symphonies nos. 39, 41, Colin Davis, Staatskapelle Dresden. Philips 410 046-2

Mozart, Symphonies nos. 31, 40 and 34, 41, Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient Music. L’Oiseau-Lyre 410 197-2 and 411 658-2

Schubert, Symphony no. 8, “Unfinished,” and Mendelssohn, Symphony no. 4, “Italian,” Giuseppe Sinopoli, Philharmonia Orchestra. DG 410 862-2

Sibelius, Symphonies 4, 5, Lorin Maazel, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Sony SK 46499

Vaughan Williams, Symphonies nos. 7 (Sinfonia antartica) and 8, Kees Bakels, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Naxos 8.550737

PIANO

Beethoven, The Five Piano Concertos, Rudolf Serkin, piano, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra. Telarc CD-80061-5

Brahms, Piano Concerto no. 2, Gina Bachauer, piano, Antal Dorati, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD36

Chopin, 4 Ballades and 4 Scherzi, Earl Wild, piano. Chesky CD44

Liszt, Années de Pèlerinage, 3 volumes, Jeno Jando, piano. Naxos 8.550548, 8.550549, 8.550550 Box set is 8.503004
.
VOCAL

Berlioz, Requiem, Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD-80109-2

Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD-80092

Handel, Messiah, Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD80093-2

“En la fête de Noël. - O Holy Night,” Martin Dagenais, La petite bande de Montréal. Naxos 8.554435

“The Mystery of Christmas,” Noel Edison, The Elora Festival Singers. Naxos 8.554179

“Let the Organs Thunder,” music for chorus, brass and two organs, William Ferris, William Ferris Chorale (Chicago). WFC 588289

“The World of Wagner,” Georg Solti, various soloists, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. London 440 069-2

Renée Fleming, soprano, The Beautiful Voice, Jeffrey Tate, English Chamber Orchestra. London 289 458 858-2

CHAMBER MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTAL

Brahms, Serenade no. 1, and Wagner, Siegfried Idyll, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields’ Chamber Ensemble. Philips 426 298-2

Dvorak, Quartets nos. 10, 14, Opus. 51 and 105, Vlach Quartet of Prague. Naxos 8.553374

Laura Jeppesen, “Music for Viola da Gamba,” (Le Sieur de Machy, Schaffrath, Abel, Mozart). Titanic Ti-183

Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin, Romantic Violin Miniature, Michi Inoue, New Japan Philharmonic. Denon DC-8077

Schubert, Piano Quintet in A, “The Trout,” Ingrid Haebler, piano, Jacques Cazauran, double-bass, Grumiaux Trio. Philips 422 838-2

The Wallace Collection brass ensemble, “Gabrieli & St. Mark’s,” John Wallace, trumpet, Simon Wright, conductor. Nimbus 5236


ORGAN

J. S. Bach, Passacaglia in C Major, Toccata in F, Fantasia and Fugue in * Minor, Michael Murray, the Great Organ in Methuen Hall. Telarc CD-80049

“The World of the Organ,” Simon Preston, organ. London 430 091-2

WORLD MUSIC

Rag Jhinjhoti, Rag Pilu. Imrat Khan, sitar; Vajahat Khan, sarod; Shafaatullah Khan, tabla. Nimbus 5195

Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia, Ram Narayan, sarangi, Anindo Chatterjee, tabla. Nimbus 5245

Rag Bhimpalasi, Hariprasad Chaurasia, flute, Fazal Quereshi, tabla. Nimbus 5298

[mwheelerk]

At first I would probably put on both Jeff Beck "Blow By Blow" and Miles Davis "in A Quiet Way" Both have "exaggerated" multichannel sound but given the nature of the music it works for me. For more subtle surround performance and absolute musical clarity and dynamics I would choose either Eleanor McEvoy disc "Yola" or "Early Hours". Then I would select a Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones to demonstrate just how much improvement SACD has to offer even to very old recordings.

[mwheelerk]

So many people aren't into seriously listening to music and they are often here for some other purpose, like chatting or eating. As well, most people aren't very much into classical music. There really isn't much opportunity to show off the system, per se. So ordinarily, we just put some background music we think they might like or that fits the mood.

For those who do want to hear a demonstration, we put on something we think they would like, such as Diana Krall, Angele Arsenault, Roger Whittaker, or guitar music ( a sneaky way to get them to listen to classical!).

For seriously showing off the system, well, here's an old list of good recordings:

ANCIENT MUSIC

”The Dante Troubadours,” Martin Best Mediaeval Ensemble. Nimbus 5002

“Songs of Chivalry,” Martin Best Mediaeval Ensemble. Nimbus 5006

“Chominciamento di gioia” (dance music from the time of Boccacio’s Decamerone),. Naxos 8.553131

Praetorius, Dances from the Terpsichore, Westra nos Pijpare. Naxos 8.553865

“:On the Way to Bethlehem” (music of the medieval pilgrim), Ensemble Oni Wytars, Ensemble Unicorn. Naxos 8.553132



ORCHESTRAL

Arnold Bax, Tone Poems (November Woods, The Happy Forest, The Garden of Fand, and Summer Music), Bryden Thomson, Ulster Orchestra. Chandos CHAN 8307

Debussy, “La Mer,” “Le Martyre de saint Sébastien,” “Prélude de l’après-midi d’un faune,” Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London 430 240-2

Feeney, “Dracula,” John Pryce-Jones, Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra. Naxos 8.553964

Ferde Grofé, “Grand Canyon Suite;” George Gershwin, arr. Bennett, “Porgy and Bess, A Symphonic Picture,” Antal Dorati, Detroit Symphony Orchestra. London 410 110-2

Holst, “The Planets,” Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London 417 553-2 (also on Penguin Classics, Decca 460 606-2)

Ippolitov-Ivanov, “Caucasian Sketches,“ Christopher Lyndon Gee, Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Marco Polo 8.220369

Toshiro Mayuzumi, “Samsara” (tone poem), Baccanales, Phonologie Symphonique, Yoshikazu Fukumura, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Marco Polo 8.220297 Many people may not like this music, which is often percussive and rather clangy.

Mozart, Overtures and “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” Bruno Weil, Tafelmusik. Vivarte SK 46695

Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Lorin Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra. Telarc CD-80042

Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky cantata, Lt. Kijé, Charles Dutoit, Choeur et Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. London 430 506-2

Prokofiev, Scenes from the “Romeo and Juliet” ballet, plus Ravel, “Boléro,” etc., Jan Pascal Tortelier, London Symphony Orchestra. Castle CIDC 1001

Respighi, “Pines of Rome,” “Fountains of Rome,” “Feste Romane,” Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London 410 145-2 (also Decca 430 729-2).

Rossini, Overtures, Roger Norrington, London Classical Players. EMI CDC 554091

Smetana, “Ma Vlast“ (“My Homeland“), Antoni Wit, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Naxos 8.550931

Stravinsky, Firebird Suite plus Borodin Music from Prince Igor, Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Telarc CD-80039

Deems Taylor, “Through the Looking Glass,” plus Charles Griffes, various orchestral works, Gerard Schwarz, Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Delos DE 3099

Wagner, “The Ride of the Valkyries,” “Siegfried Idyll,” “Overtures,“ Vernon Handley, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Durkin Hayes DHM008 (or Tring Digital TRP008)

SYMPHONIES

Beethoven, Symphonies nos. 4, 8, Otmar Suitner, Berlin Staatskapelle Orchestra. Denon 198C37-7254

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9, Otmar Suitner, Staatskapelle Berlin. Denon 198C37-7256

Brahms, Symphony no. 1, Jascha Horenstein, London Symphony Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD19

Brahms, Symphony no. 4, Fritz Reiner, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD6

Bruckner, Symphony no. 4, Tintner, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Naxos 8.55412869

Bruckner, Symphony no. 7, Tintner, RSNO, Naxos 8.554269

Dvorak, Symphony no. 9, “New World,” plus Wagner, Siegfried Idyll, Flying Dutchman Overture, Jascha Horenstein, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD31

Haydn, Symphonies 23, 24, and 61, Nicholas Ward, Northern Chamber Orchestra. Naxos 8.550723

Haydn, Symphonies 77,78, and 79, Nicholas Ward, Northern Chamber Orchestra. Naxos 8.553363

Haydn, Symphonies 96, 102, Adam Fischer, Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. Nimbus 5135

Mahler, Symphony no. 4, Lorin Maazel, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. CBS WDMK-44908

Toshiro Mayuzumi, Nirvana Symphony, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra; plus Buddhist Chant of the Yakushiji Temple, Nara. Denon CO 78839

Mozart, Symphonies nos. 35, 41, Haydn Symphony no. 104,. Josef Krips and René Leibowitz, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD16

Mozart, Symphonies nos. 39, 41, Colin Davis, Staatskapelle Dresden. Philips 410 046-2

Mozart, Symphonies nos. 31, 40 and 34, 41, Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient Music. L’Oiseau-Lyre 410 197-2 and 411 658-2

Schubert, Symphony no. 8, “Unfinished,” and Mendelssohn, Symphony no. 4, “Italian,” Giuseppe Sinopoli, Philharmonia Orchestra. DG 410 862-2

Sibelius, Symphonies 4, 5, Lorin Maazel, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Sony SK 46499

Vaughan Williams, Symphonies nos. 7 (Sinfonia antartica) and 8, Kees Bakels, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Naxos 8.550737

PIANO

Beethoven, The Five Piano Concertos, Rudolf Serkin, piano, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra. Telarc CD-80061-5

Brahms, Piano Concerto no. 2, Gina Bachauer, piano, Antal Dorati, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Reissued on Chesky CD36

Chopin, 4 Ballades and 4 Scherzi, Earl Wild, piano. Chesky CD44

Liszt, Années de Pèlerinage, 3 volumes, Jeno Jando, piano. Naxos 8.550548, 8.550549, 8.550550 Box set is 8.503004
.
VOCAL

Berlioz, Requiem, Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD-80109-2

Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD-80092

Handel, Messiah, Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD80093-2

“En la fête de Noël. - O Holy Night,” Martin Dagenais, La petite bande de Montréal. Naxos 8.554435

“The Mystery of Christmas,” Noel Edison, The Elora Festival Singers. Naxos 8.554179

“Let the Organs Thunder,” music for chorus, brass and two organs, William Ferris, William Ferris Chorale (Chicago). WFC 588289

“The World of Wagner,” Georg Solti, various soloists, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. London 440 069-2

Renée Fleming, soprano, The Beautiful Voice, Jeffrey Tate, English Chamber Orchestra. London 289 458 858-2

CHAMBER MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTAL

Brahms, Serenade no. 1, and Wagner, Siegfried Idyll, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields’ Chamber Ensemble. Philips 426 298-2

Dvorak, Quartets nos. 10, 14, Opus. 51 and 105, Vlach Quartet of Prague. Naxos 8.553374

Laura Jeppesen, “Music for Viola da Gamba,” (Le Sieur de Machy, Schaffrath, Abel, Mozart). Titanic Ti-183

Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin, Romantic Violin Miniature, Michi Inoue, New Japan Philharmonic. Denon DC-8077

Schubert, Piano Quintet in A, “The Trout,” Ingrid Haebler, piano, Jacques Cazauran, double-bass, Grumiaux Trio. Philips 422 838-2

The Wallace Collection brass ensemble, “Gabrieli & St. Mark’s,” John Wallace, trumpet, Simon Wright, conductor. Nimbus 5236


ORGAN

J. S. Bach, Passacaglia in C Major, Toccata in F, Fantasia and Fugue in * Minor, Michael Murray, the Great Organ in Methuen Hall. Telarc CD-80049

“The World of the Organ,” Simon Preston, organ. London 430 091-2

WORLD MUSIC

Rag Jhinjhoti, Rag Pilu. Imrat Khan, sitar; Vajahat Khan, sarod; Shafaatullah Khan, tabla. Nimbus 5195

Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia, Ram Narayan, sarangi, Anindo Chatterjee, tabla. Nimbus 5245

Rag Bhimpalasi, Hariprasad Chaurasia, flute, Fazal Quereshi, tabla. Nimbus 5298

Just how long will your guest be staying to hear this demonstration or is that an indoctrination? :rolleyes:

[Unregistered]

<font color='#000000'>My favorites are anything I have on Mapleshade/Wildchild, especially A La Carte Brass and Percussion. They are redbook CD but are superbly recorded. The sound far better than any SACD I have including many of those mentioned here. Maybe my SACD setup needs more optimizing as I've only had it a month, but most of the SACD stuff is old source material. &nbsp;I also would use Blue Man Group Audio (DVD-A) to show off bass and 5 channel mix</font>

The Mapleshade stuff is "scary" good. Chesky Records releases are like that as well.

-T

[dmack]

Eagles "hell Freezes Over" Dts Dvd
The Only Production That Leaves Me In Awe Everytime I Watch And Here It.
Any Sacd, Dvd-a,dd Cds And Or Dvds I Have Had A Chance To Listen To Pale In Comparison. The Only One My Freinds Rush Out And Buy After Experiencing It.
Imho

[20to20K]

I noticed a few complaints on this thread about the Norah Jones SACD. You guys need to check out this months (or last months I'm not sure) issue of Stereophile. One of the reviewers was extremely disappointed with the SACD mix...so much so that he investigated the process by which the formats were tranferred and discovered that something was done in error and as much was eventually admitted by the record company. The article implies that it was done intentionally as a cost cutting measure.

I won't bore you with the technical mumbo jumbo but the punchline was that the SACD was remixed and reissued and they are offering an exchange for anyone who has the incorrectly mixed version of the SACD.

The article goes into full detail about the sonic shortcomings and why they exist as well as how to tell if you have a tainted disk.

[stiletto pat]

20to20K,

Can you provide any more information about the exchange? I too purchased the Norah Jones CD (More for my wife and daughters) and was sorely disappointed with the disk. No real problems that I can hear, but also, no obvious signs that it's a SACD or has a real surround mix.

I'd like to learn more about this potential exchange, and if I am able to participate.

Pat

[20to20K]

Pat,

check out this link:

http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/1104fifth/index.html

The article I mentioned is now online so you can read the entire thing for yourself. I gave it another read and it appears that I was incorrect about the refund. The refund was merely the writers suggestion to Blue Note to right this supposed wrong.

On another note...I've recently purchased the newer 5 channel, hybrid SACD of "Come Away with Me" and it sounds much better than the original. I have not heard the 2 channel SACD version that you have and the John Marks
(from Stereophile) is complaining about, but I can certainly recommend this multichannel hybrid version.

To add to the rest of the thread I also enjoy demo-ing Grover Washington's
DVD-A of Winelight and the Synchronicity 2-channel SACD. I agree with a previous poster who wasn't blown away by the Donald Fagen Nightfly DVD-A.
I was expecting that to sound awesome and I thought it was just so-so. Plus
two of the songs had alternative takes (Green Flower Street and Ruby Baby)
that I thought were inferior to the original release. My opinion of course!