uncle eric
19-04-2002, 9:49 PM
As many will know, I bought the Pioneer 747 around six weeks ago and have been constantly experimenting since.
Having bought various SACD's (two channel and Multi Channel) together with a fair number of DVD-A discs, I would like to make a few comments re my findings so far.
First, let me just say, this is not an SACD v DVD-A contest.
At this stage, I dont have nor know any title that is available in both formats therefore cannot make a truly accurate comparison, hence my reluctance to enter format wars.
Instead, I want to have a look at some of these recordings and give you some insight of their worth.
Isley Brothers 3+3 on SACD (Multi Channel)
This disc includes classic hits like, 'Who's that Lady', and 'Summer Breeze'. In a word, this disc sounds 'eerie'. I'll try and explain that. Its like everything other than the vocals and music has been surgically removed. You might say, what else is their other than vocals and music on a recording. You've got me on that one, I dont know. Something, maybe warmth, presence is missing. If I could compare this recording to anything, I'd say its like tasting just plain old boiled water instead of coffee. Bland.
John Denver (Best of Live) on SACD (Two Channel)
Another weird one here.
Mainly vocals of course with some good guitar work thrown in (JD was a regular one man band). JD's voice comes across very smooth on this one. Hits like 'Country Roads' and 'Annie's Song' are beautifully clean and clear without being clinical like the Isleys 3+3 recording. A small gripe is that whilst this is a lovely disc on the whole, it could have done with a little more substance. JD's voice just lacks that certain amount of depth that was present in his country voice.
Now, back to the weird. I've never had leanings one way or the other regarding how music should be recorded. Two channel and Multi channel wars always flew over my head.
Apart that is when engineers get silly with Multi Channel stuff and percussion starts coming from over the right shoulder and vocals from the left etc. Recorded right, meaning using the surround channels mainly for things like ambience and applause, Multi channel can be a 'being there' experience.
Similarly, Two channel music, recorded well can be a wholly enjoyable experience. I've heard many a superb soundstage in my system with just the L/R speakers in action. If you have some degree of controlled reflection in your room, you will in fact get ambience as part and parcel of the listening experience. So far so good.
In the case of live recordings in two channel things start getting strange. I don't have a problem when JD is singing away to his hearts content. Where I do have a problem is when the audience starts applauding. The whole listening experience falls appart. Why you might ask. Simple. The audience seems to be on stage with JD because thats where the applause is coming from.
The audience's applause and cheers should be coming from 'around' where I, (another member of that audience) am sitting and not from the front soundstage.
Now a look at a couple of DVD-A discs,
First up, a classic album in its own right,
Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' (Multi Channel of course)
I, like countless others of my generation owned the LP of this great album. Having these tracks etched on my mind did help a little. I was expecting first and foremost some great dynamics from this disc and I wasn't dissapointed. Percussion, guitar work and other instruments sounded just incredible. Punch with grace would be a great way to discribe the effects of instruments played in Rumours.
And now for the bad news. Vocals. In a word, terrible. What a waste. I love the voices of Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie but they sounded thin and miles away. While the 'music' soundstage was right in front of me, the vocals where far off in the distance. If they were brought forward so as to be on the same plane, and given substance, what a recording this would be.
Finally, Al Greens greatest hits on DVD-A.
What would this be like. Well, in a word, the best sounding 5 inch disc of any format I've heard so far.
Holy *****, this is just awsome. The music just hits you in the guts. A lot of Brass is used in Greens recordings and they sound so incredibly dynamic and rich its almost beyond belief.
Al Greens brilliant voice is, well, in the room and right in front of you. Every aspect of this recording is so perfect I can't even begin to describe it. If I was narrow minded I'd say, forget SACD just give me plenty of this. I'm sure there are SACD recordings in the same league as this but I've not heard one that comes even close.
In the meantime, I will carry on with my crusade and keep reporting to anyone who will listen. Thanks for reading.
Eric
Having bought various SACD's (two channel and Multi Channel) together with a fair number of DVD-A discs, I would like to make a few comments re my findings so far.
First, let me just say, this is not an SACD v DVD-A contest.
At this stage, I dont have nor know any title that is available in both formats therefore cannot make a truly accurate comparison, hence my reluctance to enter format wars.
Instead, I want to have a look at some of these recordings and give you some insight of their worth.
Isley Brothers 3+3 on SACD (Multi Channel)
This disc includes classic hits like, 'Who's that Lady', and 'Summer Breeze'. In a word, this disc sounds 'eerie'. I'll try and explain that. Its like everything other than the vocals and music has been surgically removed. You might say, what else is their other than vocals and music on a recording. You've got me on that one, I dont know. Something, maybe warmth, presence is missing. If I could compare this recording to anything, I'd say its like tasting just plain old boiled water instead of coffee. Bland.
John Denver (Best of Live) on SACD (Two Channel)
Another weird one here.
Mainly vocals of course with some good guitar work thrown in (JD was a regular one man band). JD's voice comes across very smooth on this one. Hits like 'Country Roads' and 'Annie's Song' are beautifully clean and clear without being clinical like the Isleys 3+3 recording. A small gripe is that whilst this is a lovely disc on the whole, it could have done with a little more substance. JD's voice just lacks that certain amount of depth that was present in his country voice.
Now, back to the weird. I've never had leanings one way or the other regarding how music should be recorded. Two channel and Multi channel wars always flew over my head.
Apart that is when engineers get silly with Multi Channel stuff and percussion starts coming from over the right shoulder and vocals from the left etc. Recorded right, meaning using the surround channels mainly for things like ambience and applause, Multi channel can be a 'being there' experience.
Similarly, Two channel music, recorded well can be a wholly enjoyable experience. I've heard many a superb soundstage in my system with just the L/R speakers in action. If you have some degree of controlled reflection in your room, you will in fact get ambience as part and parcel of the listening experience. So far so good.
In the case of live recordings in two channel things start getting strange. I don't have a problem when JD is singing away to his hearts content. Where I do have a problem is when the audience starts applauding. The whole listening experience falls appart. Why you might ask. Simple. The audience seems to be on stage with JD because thats where the applause is coming from.
The audience's applause and cheers should be coming from 'around' where I, (another member of that audience) am sitting and not from the front soundstage.
Now a look at a couple of DVD-A discs,
First up, a classic album in its own right,
Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' (Multi Channel of course)
I, like countless others of my generation owned the LP of this great album. Having these tracks etched on my mind did help a little. I was expecting first and foremost some great dynamics from this disc and I wasn't dissapointed. Percussion, guitar work and other instruments sounded just incredible. Punch with grace would be a great way to discribe the effects of instruments played in Rumours.
And now for the bad news. Vocals. In a word, terrible. What a waste. I love the voices of Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie but they sounded thin and miles away. While the 'music' soundstage was right in front of me, the vocals where far off in the distance. If they were brought forward so as to be on the same plane, and given substance, what a recording this would be.
Finally, Al Greens greatest hits on DVD-A.
What would this be like. Well, in a word, the best sounding 5 inch disc of any format I've heard so far.
Holy *****, this is just awsome. The music just hits you in the guts. A lot of Brass is used in Greens recordings and they sound so incredibly dynamic and rich its almost beyond belief.
Al Greens brilliant voice is, well, in the room and right in front of you. Every aspect of this recording is so perfect I can't even begin to describe it. If I was narrow minded I'd say, forget SACD just give me plenty of this. I'm sure there are SACD recordings in the same league as this but I've not heard one that comes even close.
In the meantime, I will carry on with my crusade and keep reporting to anyone who will listen. Thanks for reading.
Eric