Porcupine Tree - In Absentia DTS

[jaxvon]

I was introduced to this group when I heard a song off this album on the DTS Demo 9 disc entitled The Sound of Muzak. I immediately fell in love with the sound and had to purchase the DTS album.

In a word, amazing.

To date, this album is the best surround music I've heard. Along with it, I also ordered The Nightfly DVD-A and Gaucho DTS-CD. I wasn't able to listen to the Nightfly in DVD-A surround because my receiver can't decode it . The DTS Gaucho though, while interesting, seems strange. I'm so used to it in Stereo that the multi-channel mix doesn't sound "right".

Anyway, back to Porcupine Tree. This album has a great mix of many rock styles. The lyrics are interesting, and the engineering is top-notch. Musicianship is also excellent. I strongly suggest you pick it up. After this experience, Porcupine Tree's Deadwing album is on my "must buy" list.

 

[Ron Temple]

I agree, very tasty.

 

[Hawkeye]

I was introduced to this group when I heard a song off this album on the DTS Demo 9 disc entitled The Sound of Muzak. I immediately fell in love with the sound and had to purchase the DTS album.

In a word, amazing.

To date, this album is the best surround music I've heard. Along with it, I also ordered The Nightfly DVD-A and Gaucho DTS-CD. I wasn't able to listen to the Nightfly in DVD-A surround because my receiver can't decode it . The DTS Gaucho though, while interesting, seems strange. I'm so used to it in Stereo that the multi-channel mix doesn't sound "right".

Anyway, back to Porcupine Tree. This album has a great mix of many rock styles. The lyrics are interesting, and the engineering is top-notch. Musicianship is also excellent. I strongly suggest you pick it up. After this experience, Porcupine Tree's Deadwing album is on my "must buy" list.

jaxvon, The Sound of Muzak is a very good song, I love it. I'd say if you lke In Absentia, you'll also like Deadwing. They both have a bit harder of an edge than the earlier PT albums. The earlier ones as a rule are much more spacey, or tripy.

I don't understand why you can't play the Nightfly DVD-A. Your receiver doesn't decode DVD-A, most don't. But I see you have a Pioneer 578a, well that certainly will decode DVD-A and SACDs as well. All you need are are the 6 interconnects to send the analog signal to your receiver (asuming your receiver has the required 6 analog inputs - I'm not familiar with your receiver). At the very least you should be able to listen to Nightfly in DVD-A stereo, which is likely a noticeable improvement over the redbook version.

 

[jaxvon]

jaxvon, The Sound of Muzak is a very good song, I love it. I'd say if you lke In Absentia, you'll also like Deadwing. They both have a bit harder of an edge than the earlier PT albums. The earlier ones as a rule are much more spacey, or tripy.

I don't understand why you can't play the Nightfly DVD-A. Your receiver doesn't decode DVD-A, most don't. But I see you have a Pioneer 578a, well that certainly will decode DVD-A and SACDs as well. All you need are are the 6 interconnects to send the analog signal to your receiver (asuming your receiver has the required 6 analog inputs - I'm not familiar with your receiver). At the very least you should be able to listen to Nightfly in DVD-A stereo, which is likely a noticeable improvement over the redbook version.

Oh, I know that my player can decode DVD-A, it's just that I don't have analog cables around. I also don't have any analog bass management aside from what my player does, so hopefully I can set the crossover at 80Hz to get a good sound.

As far as an improvement goes, that's impossible. Nightfly was recorded in 48kHz or 44kHz (don't remember which) digital, so it's not going to get any better. This is different from all of the previous albums which were strictly analog.

 

[Hawkeye]

Oh, I know that my player can decode DVD-A, it's just that I don't have analog cables around. I also don't have any analog bass management aside from what my player does, so hopefully I can set the crossover at 80Hz to get a good sound.

As far as an improvement goes, that's impossible. Nightfly was recorded in 48kHz or 44kHz (don't remember which) digital, so it's not going to get any better. This is different from all of the previous albums which were strictly analog.

Ahhh, you've just jogged my memory. I do remember now that Nightfly was a true digital recording. Same goes for Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms" as well. Though there are some folks throughout the various forums I've read that swear the SACD BIA disc sounds better than the original, even in a blind test, all numbers and sampling rates aside. I'm not convinced but I don't have any of the same discs in the different formats to test. Perhaps this would be a nice test for you to do if you can get hold of a pair of cables. Compare the original r/b cd with the 2channel DVD-A layer. Where Steely Dan/Fagen is concerned, if anyone around here can tell a difference I'm betting it'd be you

 

[Sheep]

Let me ask you a question.


Did you fall in love with the sound, or the music? I've heard a couple of their songs, and I have to say, its not that great of music IMO. But, if you heard the stuff I listen to you would probly think the same

SheepStar

 

[j_garcia]

I'm not crazy about every track, but I do like it. Do yourself a favor and get the analog cables... Thanks to Ron who let me borrow it.

How would you compare Deadwing to In Absentia?

 

[Ron Temple]

I'm more into the mellower pieces on the disk myself. Some of the prog/metal is good. Love the surround mix and the detail heard on John's rig was phenomenal.

 

[jaxvon]

I'll pick up some cables in due time. And Sheep, I really like the music as well. The surround implementation blew me away when I heard it, but I found myself humming the song later, so I knew I had a winner. Obviously we all have different musical tastes, what what I think is great you can't stand. My tastes to tend to vary quite a bit though. Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Donald Fagen, Genesis, Porcupine Tree, Hidria Spacefolk, Audioslave, Guy Clark, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dianna Krall, Pink Floyd, and the list goes on.

I haven't heard Deadwing yet, but I do plan on picking it up eventually. I'm on a budget right now so I can't just throw cash at music all the time. I went crazy on my room and system, so now I have to be conservative with my spending.

 

[Tom Andry]

How would you compare Deadwing to In Absentia?

Deadwing is overall better, I think, but none of the songs are as good as my favorites on In Absentia...if that makes sense.

 

[j_garcia]

Deadwing is overall better, I think, but none of the songs are as good as my favorites on In Absentia...if that makes sense.

Clear as mud Yes, it makes sense. I'm curious because I will probably try to pick them both up at the same time. Thanks.

 

[Hawkeye]

I like them both a lot but do occasionally skip over a couple songs on each disc. Now, if I could take my five favorite songs from each one....now THAT would make one killer disc. After you've spent some time with the two latest, start working your way backwards through their catalog. There's all kinds of ear candy along the way.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I agree with Opra- overall, Deadwing is probably a bit stronger and more consistent, but my favorite song or two is probably on In Absentia. There's no contest in the sound quality dept, though- Deadwing sounds better by a substantial margin.

I hope you get the chance to hear The Nightfly in all its surround glory. It sounds amazing, one of the better MC discs I've heard.

 

[Tom Andry]

There's no contest in the sound quality dept, though- Deadwing sounds better by a substantial margin.

Totally agree

 

[Progger58]

In Absentia is definitely one of my favorite Porcupine Tree releases (although I do like them all almost equally ).

Cheers,
Demetrio.

 

[johndoe]

Clear as mud Yes, it makes sense. I'm curious because I will probably try to pick them both up at the same time. Thanks.

I like Deadwing better than In Absentia, but both have excellent songs and are highly recommended. And, JGarcia, you were right about their latest album "Fear of a Blank Planet "growing on me. The "problem" I have with Porcupine Tree is that it becomes addictive to my ears.
I recently got the re-release of Stupid Dream CD/DVD-A, and while I definitely like it (especially Even Less), these guys get better and better with each release.