[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by JUS

Great, look forward to your feedback. I listened to a few of the albums and I could hear it was 5.1 throught the albums...I had to put my ear as close to my surrounds as I could when listening to "The Doors" and couldn't really hear anything!

I'm more of a pop, rock, metal, house etc etc fan... but I like to expand my horizons. I'd prefer it to be engaging rather than background...preferably with some sort of vocals.

I already have The planets, four seasons, Figaro

Hello again JUS, here's a reply to your question regarding my thoughts on some of my orchestral/classical albums. As mentioned in my earlier post, I'm away from home, and only return tonight - so I will give my "The Doors" DVD-A a listen to in MCH mode over the weekend and give you a report.



Anyway, back to the classical/orchestral albums that I’d particularly recommend - not in any particular order.

1) Bach Brandenburg Concertos - Silverline
This is an old recording, done I believe in 1959, in the Sydney Opera House. These Silverline “Classics” are all old recordings. Somewhat off-topic, but this is one that I only paid £3.85 for, and it has just short of 100 minutes of music on it. Apart from the fact that the pieces are beautifully played, the listener gets a real feel for being at a venue. The detail is impressive. This is not only an old recording, but the original tapes have undergone a restoration project, as shown on a short feature on the disc. I have to admit that if I'd known this before buying the disc, I might have not bought it. That would have been a very big mistake though. This is generally very lively, cheerful music. It may be classed possibly as chamber music? Similar in some ways to the very lively Handel type music.

2) Vivaldi Four Seasons - Naxos
This is my only Naxos 24/96 album, if that's important to anyone. All others are either 24/48 or 24/44.1. Again, like the first disc, this gives a real feel for being at a venue. As many will know, this is a popular classic, perhaps often over-played? Wonderful music, with varying styles and moods. I believe it's available in both SACD and DVD-A - or at least was. This really is one of the best discs I have - and was one of my first, bought for less than £9

3) Dvořak Symphony No. 9 & The Water Goblin - Teldec

4) Dvořak Slavonic Dances - Philips

5) Händel / Water Music & Music for the Royal Fireworks - Naxos DVD-A

6) Mendelssohn / Hebrides Overture & Violin Concerto - Linn SACD

7) Mozart / Clarinet Concerto & Clarinet Quintet - PentaTone SACD

8) Mussorgsky – Stokowski / Pictures at an Exhibition etc. – Naxos DVD-A

9) Tchaikovsky / 1812 etc. - Telarc DVD-A

10) Tchaikovsky / Swan Lake - Naxos DVD-A

11) Chinese National Symphony Orchestra / “Soliloquy on Cold Mountain Temple” - Channel of China SACD
This is for me a particularly wonderful disc, although not really what might be classed as “classical”. Apparently, the music is an attempt to orchestrate some traditional Chinese folk music. The music is varied, anything from grand and filmic, jolly and lively, to restful.

If you like powerful music, either of the Wagner discs might be for you, and I’d also recommend these. The Mussorgsky disc above is also powerful, and quite dark.

If you’re like me, you may sometimes like small pieces of orchestral music, rather than listening to whole pieces. Although not hi-res, you may like to try any of the Silverline “Night in ......” series DVD-Vs. I find these to be nicely played and recorded, placing the listener fairly close to the music - so that the music is playing more evenly from all speakers (if that makes any sense). I prefer these in DTS to DD. I bought all of mine for less than £5, and for me at that price they’re a bargain. It’s also a good way of familiarising yourself with lots of different music for not much outlay. Each to their own though.

There aren’t really any discs that I think are bad, but somehow the Naxos The Planets by Holst is somewhat dull on the audio quality side, coming across like a slightly above average CD. The Cantaloube disc is a struggle to get into, but my views are coloured by the music itself, rather than any sound quality or mixing thoughts.

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

I do really like Invisible Touch, I know alot of people don't like it but I think it's a cracking album and for my ears is the best sounding album from that box.

Love that album .

Originally Posted by Tetlee

I know you mention you're not keen on Gabriels solo stuff, but I really do recommend picking up Up(lol, one Up of course), it's a stunning album and one of my favourite SACDs, the multi-channel is just fantastic! I'd be surprised if you didn't like it.

Thanks, I'll have a sniff around.

[Ronm1]

Here is wher I am at so far


DVD-a mlp

Perception box set – The Doors

All of BarenBoim’s Beethoven symphony series
Guitar Noir - Laurence Juber AIX
Rumor Mill – Carl Verheyen Band AIX
Nitty Gritty – McEuen&Ibbotson AIX
Guero – Beck
Sea Change – Beck
Gaucho – Steely Dan
Fragile – Yes
Sym 26&41 Mozart- AIX
Legion of Boom – Crystal Method
Buena Vista Social Club
Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits
If I could remember my Name – David Crosby
Shangri-La – Mark Knofler
Love - Beatles
Morh the Cat – Donald Fagen

DVD-a 2ch ONLY mlp

Almost Like Being in Jazz 96/24 Hugh Masekela StraitAhead
Introducing Zane Musa 96/24 StraitAhead
Jazz Composer’s Songbook – John Heard & Co. 96/24 StraitAhead
Saxophone Colossus – Sonny Rollins 192/24
Way Out West – Sonny Rollins 192/24
Art Pepper meets the Rhythm Section 192/24


DVD-a but no mlp layer dts/dd only
I Robot- Alan Parsons
Turn Of the Friendly Card – Alan Parsons
Eye in the Sky – Alan Parsons
Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi Trio
Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles

SACD

All the Moody Blues
All the Rolling Stones
All of Bob Dylan
All of CCR
All of the Allman Bros
Storyteller - Donovan
Secret Love – Claire Martin
Take my Heart – Claire Martin
He Never Mentioned Love – Claire Martin
Too Darn Hot – Claire Martin
Come away with me – Nora Jones
Violoncello | Vivaldi/Bach/Kodaly Fidelis
Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane
Just Like You – Keb Mo’
Hadyn String Q Dminor/Fmajor - Frye Street Quartet
Beethoven|Stavinsky|Rorem|Scearce – Frye Street Quartet
Poulenc:Barber concierto’s for Organ
Concierto – Jim Hall
Bach: the Goldberg Variations – Glenn Gould Zenph re-performance
Retrospective – Rebecca Pidgeon
Verse – Patricia Barber
In a Silent Way – Miles Davis
Superbass – Broen/Alexander/Malone Telarc
Superbass 2 – Brown/Clayton/McBride Telarc
Vivaldi the four seasons – Janine Jansen
Beethoven Sonatas – Rubenstein Living Stereo reissue
Beethoven violin Concerto in D| Mendelsohn violin Concerto in E minor – Heifetz-Munch BSO
Chopin Concertos No 1 & 2 – Rubenstein Living Stereo reissue
Brahms|Tchaikovsky violin Concertos – Heifetz-Reiner CSO Living Stereo reissue
Classics for Spanish Guitar – Julian Bream Living Stereo reissue
Bach: Four Great Toccatas & Fugues @ the Four Organs of Freiberg – E.Power Biggs
War of the World – Jeff Wayne

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by Ronm1

If I could remember my Name – David Crosby

A friend of mine recommended me this album, any comments on this SACD?

Received my copy of Chicago V on DVD-A yesterday, listened to it last night and all I can say is Wow! Outstanding multi-channel recording, very active on all the speakers, and in the best way, would definately be an album I would use to demonstrate advanced resolution recordings to friends as it's right up there with the best I've heard. Hard to believe the album is older than me(was originally recorded in '71 I believe), it just sounds amazing!

[Ronm1]

Originally Posted by Ronm1
If I could remember my Name – David Crosby

Originally Posted by Tetlee

A friend of mine recommended me this album, any comments on this SACD?

I don't have the SACD remaster only the dvd-a/cd version and its excellent.
The Hires disk is absolutely superb and the cd is very good for redbook. One of my favorite lp's from the early 70's. Crosby was trippin on something when he wrote most of this

[Tetlee]

Ah you're right, DVD-A, is it right that the multi-channel recording is 5.0 rather than 5.1? Not ideal for me if so.

[Ronm1]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

Ah you're right, DVD-A, is it right that the multi-channel recording is 5.0 rather than 5.1? Not ideal for me if so.

That is true no LFE, my speakers are close to full range so no issue here/hear!!
IMHO you should still go for it. Its that good.

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

The Mute web site is not overly helpful on the technical details. If you could check your DVDs to see whether the tracks are DTS 96/24, that would be great. If they are not, then it is unlikely that the CD/DVD box set will be either.

Having now received Music for the Masses and discovered that the DTS versions of the tracks are 96/24, I am reasonably confident that the CD/DVD box sets will contain the same, so I think I will have a couple more attempts at getting the SACD box sets, that I want, for reasonable money, and if I can't, then just go buy the CD/DVD set which are far more readily available and for normal money.

[Tetlee]

Keep us updated on your purchases there Mr_O, will be interesting to hear your opinions if you end up getting the dvd editions.

Made my most expensive purchase so far earlier on, but think it was actually a great price(£26.70 inc. p&p, ebay) for what it is so had to go for it, Yes: Fragile on DVD-A, can't wait to receive it(I'm gonna have to slow down on these purchases, the missus is gonna kill me when she sees the credit card statement).

[Mr_Orange]

Will do. Hopefully the CD editions will be based on the remastering done for the SACDs, and I'm guessing the DVDs will be identical. Afterall the CD/DVD sets were issued after the production run on the SACD/DVD sets had ended.

I've been going a bit bonkers with spending on music recently as well. I've updated my original list with the latest additions, but of course, that doesn't show the standard CD purchases .

[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by Ronm1

That is true no LFE, my speakers are close to full range so no issue here/hear!!
IMHO you should still go for it. Its that good.

Tetlee, I agree totally with Ronm1. I'll admit I'm not an expert technically, but a reasonable number of my hi-res albums are not 5.1. Going through them completely, I have one that is mono only, quite a few that are stereo only, very oddly one SACD that is both 2.0 & 3.0 channel, I have at least one that is 4.0, and also some 4.1, quite a few 5.0 - and lots of 5.1. I have not noticed that I'm "missing" anything musically. I'll back up Ronm1, and say you should still go for it!

[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by JUS

Hi Steve,

Could you please give your "The Doors" DVD-A a listen from your Perception box set and let me know what you think of the surround sounds? Mine sounds like it's 3.1 rather than 5.1.

Which of the classical discs would you recommend?

Regards

Jus

Jus - here's my latest update.

I have now listened to "The Doors" DVD-A in MCH mode, and can confirm that it's definately 100% 5.1. Apart from the fact that the on-screen disc information that my player displays mentions MLP 5.1 CH 96khz, I can clearly hear music coming out of both the rear speakers. I listened to "Break On Through (To The Other Side)", "The Crystal Ship" and "Light My Fire". Admittedly, as mentioned in my last post on this subject, the MCH mix is quite subtle on this album, at least on these tracks, whereas if you listen to "Love Her Madly" or "Riders On The Storm" on the "L.A.Woman" album, the rear channels are used somewhat more aggresively. The rear channels on the tracks I listened to, are roughly being used for ambience. I'm not very knowledgable on other hi-res players, as my Arcam DV137 is the very first hi-res player I've owned. I have my player connected to my Arcam AVR350 MCH amplifier using all 8 analogue outputs, and the DV137 is set up to default to the hi-res MCH layers (where applicable) of all hi-res discs. Now, as you probably know, these Perception DVD-As offer both a stereo and 5.1 mix, although defaulting anyway to the MCH option. You are 100% sure that you haven't "accidentally" selected the stereo option on the DVD-A - or just the CD? Sorry to be stating something so obvious, but just a thought - although that still doesn't account for the centre channel.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on why Jus thinks his "The Doors" is 3.1?


Just getting back to the orchestral music. If you like very patriotic, grand and celebratory music, I'd definately recommend the Naxos Händels "Water Music" & "Music for the Royal Fireworks" DVD-A. This is really so grand, and beautifully played. Enough to make anyone feel proud to be British!

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by Steve Whitton

Tetlee, I agree totally with Ronm1. I'll admit I'm not an expert technically, but a reasonable number of my hi-res albums are not 5.1. Going through them completely, I have one that is mono only, quite a few that are stereo only, very oddly one SACD that is both 2.0 & 3.0 channel, I have at least one that is 4.0, and also some 4.1, quite a few 5.0 - and lots of 5.1. I have not noticed that I'm "missing" anything musically. I'll back up Ronm1, and say you should still go for it!

Appreciate the input, sounds like I'm going to have to have another scatch around

I do have Tubular Bells on SACD which is apparently true to the original quad mix(unlike the DVD-A release), listened again to that only last night and I must say it does sound fantastic, although I did notice the sub is doing some work there despite the comments I've read to the contrary with this recording

[JUS]

Thanks Steve. Really appreciated. I'm definitely playing the 5.1 track. Both my Oppo & Arcam AVR600 are reporting 5.1.

Yes, the L.A. Woman album definitely is surround for me....I'm wondering whether I have a defective 'The Doors' Album.

Thanks very much for all the classic recommendations...I'll definitely give a few of those a go

[JUS]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

although I did notice the sub is doing some work there despite the comments I've read to the contrary with this recording

I'd suggest that's due to your amp crossover setting. Rather than a definite .1 sound track being sent to your sub your amp is sending anything under 80 or 100hz to your sub....and theres nothing wrong with that at all.

[Tetlee]

WIth your comments on The Doors DVD-As I'm temtped to just pick up one or two of the individual discs rather than the box set. As a persona that likes a good multi-channel surround mix, which of the albums would you say is the best in your personal opinions?

L.A. Woman sounds like a good bet, and has one of my favourite tracks "riders of the storm", good album or is there better in the high-res collection?

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by JUS

I'd suggest that's due to your amp crossover setting. Rather than a definite .1 sound track being sent to your sub your amp is sending anything under 80 or 100hz to your sub....and theres nothing wrong with that at all.

I see, that makes sense, as I mentioned it only seems to be partially active, thanks for clearing that up

[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

WIth your comments on The Doors DVD-As I'm temtped to just pick up one or two of the individual discs rather than the box set. As a persona that likes a good multi-channel surround mix, which of the albums would you say is the best in your personal opinions?

L.A. Woman sounds like a good bet, and has one of my favourite tracks "riders of the storm", good album or is there better in the high-res collection?

I also think also that Jus has hit the nail on the head, with regard to the amp frequency crossover settings. This matches my experiences from purely listening to albums that do not have a .1 track.

With regard to any of the Doors albums - and I bought the Perception box set, I think they're all fabulous. I put off buying this box set for quite a while, thinking that I really only wanted a "Best of ....." type Doors compilation album in hi-res - of which one doesn't exist. Yes, I could have bought just one of the Elektra separate albums, but then I would have been missing some tracks I love, several of which are on their debut album, "The Doors". Eventually, I came across a company on e-Bay selling the box set for £30.00, which for 6 albums - 12 discs in total - is pretty good value for money. On first listenings of the DVD-As, I felt that my preference was for the stereo mixes, rather than the MCH. Now, however, I'm modifying my thoughts - and I'm quite liking the MCH mixes. Great that there's the choice though! Which is another reason why I think the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" album is great - offering mono, stereo and 5.1 in hi-res. Apologies, I've gone a bit off-topic.

The Perception boxed set was a wonderful buy, and a lot better than I thought it'd be. I've also discovered tracks they did, that I wasn't aware of - and have no regrets in having bought it.

[JUS]

I think the only album released seperately is l.a woman. It is a great album, second only IMO to 'the doors'. All the albums in the box set sound great - only 'the doors' surround mix is lacking. La woman and 'the doors' will be the only albums I return to.

I do have la woman and will be selling it shortly if i can get back what i paid (£16 at a guess need to check). It's not one of those albums that goes for crazy money.

£30 for the box set is stunning value. I paid £49 and was pleased with that

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

Keep us updated on your purchases there Mr_O, will be interesting to hear your opinions if you end up getting the dvd editions.

Got a bit of an itchy trigger finger over the weekend and have ordered a few more, so original post is being/has been updated (depending on how quickly you read this).

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Got a bit of an itchy trigger finger over the weekend and have ordered a few more, so original post is being/has been updated (depending on how quickly you read this).

Adictive isn't it. I almost bought that Ladysmith Black Mambazo SACD you just purchased, saw them once at WOMAD and they were fantastic.

I've had a few disappointments the past few days, managed to source Bryan Ferry - Frantic at £18 delivered, but just been canceled unfulfilled, same with my Goldfrapp purchase from Play(although that's still there but may aswell cancel now), and Avalon which I'd found for under £20(as Frantic, cancelled unfulfilled). Such is the life of our desperate hunting I suppose.

Anyway, have just ordered Bowie - Ziggy and am really hoping that one comes through, is fast disappearing I notice so thought I better pull my finger out on that one

I did receive my Yes: Fragile DVD-A yesterday though and that really is something special(for me at least), not up there with the likes of Chicago V which was my last purchase, in terms of surround, but superb sound and the surround while not overly active, is very nicely handled.

[quarry2006]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

I can understand people with preferrences either way, the earlier years were progressive rock(including the early Phil Collins fronted albums), where as the later stuff IMO was as much pop as prog rock, I happened to like pretty much all the Genesis albums and appreciate each for what they are(with perhaps exception their last album, Calling all Stations which I'm not so keen on so far, but it's new to me), but my favourite albums were the Gabriel fronted ones.

I do really like Invisible Touch, I know alot of people don't like it but I think it's a cracking album and for my ears is the best sounding album from that box.

The 1970-75 Box was actually the last to be released and I think is the reason they sound the best, I guess they were engineered better, the difference between Lamb lies down of Broadway redbook and SACD very noticeable, a huge improvement.

I know you mention you're not keen on Gabriels solo stuff, but I really do recommend picking up Up(lol, one Up of course), it's a stunning album and one of my favourite SACDs, the multi-channel is just fantastic! I'd be surprised if you didn't like it.

I think the 1970-75 box set probably sounds better because these were the albums whose orignal mixes sounded the worst, so by comparison I can imagine these albums to sound amazing. Whereas the 1983-1998 albums needed the least amount of work doing to them (and were already pretty harsh on the ears to begin with). This is all supposition on my part, though, because I only own the 1976-1982 box set.

[Tetlee]

On the subject of Genesis, found me a lovely little SACD bargain earlier from the only box-set I don't have, pretty chuffed with this find and thought it worth sharing with you guys if any of you are interested....

SelectCheaper.com - Abacab [Hybrid SACD + DVD] - Genesis -

Genesis: Abacab @ £6.38 delivered(5% quidco too making it pretty much bang on £6.00, only 5 left in stock!).

[Mr_Orange]

Good spot, however, I have been warned off SelectCheaper in the past, so I hope your order comes through.

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Good spot, however, I have been warned off SelectCheaper in the past, so I hope your order comes through.

Ah really Well, will see and keep you posted, certainly worth a gamble at that price and credit card offers up enough protection anyway

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Will do. Hopefully the CD editions will be based on the remastering done for the SACDs, and I'm guessing the DVDs will be identical. Afterall the CD/DVD sets were issued after the production run on the SACD/DVD sets had ended.

Black Celebration turned up yesterday, this is the CD/DVD set, but thankfully the DVD is the same as the one that comes with the SACD box set, so I have the album in DTS 96/24.

Got outbid (again) for Violator on SACD on ebay, but then managed to find a BIN and went for that, so that's another SACD on the list .

I also got Playing the Angel on SACD, but strangely the box for this is not the same as the other SACD/DVD sets. It is a Super Jewel box but with both discs stacked one on top of the other, instead of being on either side of the inner part of the case. A bit naff really compared with the digipac sets in the plastic sleeves.

[Theo Maxtible]

Originally Posted by Steve Whitton

The Alan Parsons Project - “I Robot” DVD-A
The Alan Parsons Project - “The Turn of a Friendly Card” DVD-A
The Alan Parsons Project - “Eye in the Sky” DVD-A
The Beach Boys - “Pet Sounds” DVD-A
The Beatles - “Love” DVD-A
Acker Bilk - “Stranger on the Shore” SACD
Buena Vista Social Club - “Buena Vista Social Club” DVD-A
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - “Time Out” SACD
The Carpenters - “Singles 1969 – 1981” SACD
Putula Clark - “Kiss me Goodbye” SACD
Elvis Costello - “North” SACD
Deep Purple - “Machine Head” DVD-A
Dire Straits - “Brothers in Arms” SACD
Derek and the Dominos - “Layla” SACD
Donovan - “Storyteller” SACD
The Doors – Perception CD/DVD-A box Set comprising:
“The Doors” - DVD-A
“Strange Days” - DVD-A
“Waiting for the Sun” - DVD-A
“The Soft Parade” - DVD-A
“Morrison Hotel” - DVD-A
“L.A. Woman” - DVD-A
Nick Drake “A Treasury” – SACD
Elton John – “Elton John” SACD
Elton John – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” DVD-A
Elvis Presley – “30 #1 Hits” DVD-A
Emerson Lake & Palmer – “Brain Salad Surgery” DVD-A
Bryan Ferry – “Boys and Girls” SACD
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – “Autumn in New York” SACD
Kitaro – “Kojiki” SACD
Kitaro – “Best of Silk Road DVD-A
Kitaro – “Daylight, Moonlight – Live in Yakushiji” 2 x SACD
Kitaro – “Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai” SACD
Kitaro & Randy Miller - “The Soong Sisters Soundtrack” SACD
Mark Knopfler – “Shangri-La” SACD
Kraftwerk – “Minimum: Maximum Live” 2 x SACD
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - “Raise your Sprits Higher” SACD
Little Richard – “Little Richard/Here’s Little Richard” SACD
Makino Jun “Still Point” SACD
Marmalade – “The Very Best of The Marmalade” DVD-A
Metallica – “The Black Album” DVD-A
Mike Oldfield – “Tubular Bells 2003” DVD-A
Pink Floyd – “The Dark Side of the Moon” SACD
Gerry Rafferty – “Can I Have my Money Back?” DVD-A
The Rolling Stones – “Singles Collection – The London Years” 3 x SACD
The Rolling Stones – “Hot Rocks 1964 – 1971” 2 x SACD
Roxy Music – “Avalon” SACD
The Searchers – “The Very Best of The Searchers” DVD-A
Sting – “Brand New Day” DVD-A
Sting – “Sacred Love” DVD-A
Tomita – “The Planets 2003” DVD-A
Goran Wennerbrandt et al – “Tiny Island” SACD
Various Artists – “British are Coming” (1960s pop) DVD-A
Various Artists – “The Greatest Songs of the Fifties” (1950s pop) 2 x SACD
Various Artists – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Memories” (1950s pop) 2 x SACD
The Afro Cuban Caribbean Jazz Project “El Vuelo” DVD-A



Bach / Brandenburg Concertos - Silverline DVD-A
Berlioz / Requiem - Silverline DVD-A
Brahms / Symphonies No. 2 & 3 - Silverline DVD-A
Canteloube / Chants d’Auvergne - Naxos DVD-A
Charpentier / Messe de Minuit - Naxos DVD-A
Dvořak / Slavonic Dances - Philips SACD
Dvořak / Symphony No. 9 & The Water Goblin - Teldec DVD-A
Grieg / Peer Gynt Suites etc. - BIS SACD
Grieg / Piano Concerto & Symphonic Dances - Naxos DVD-A
Grofé / Grand Canyon Suite etc. - Naxos DVD-A
Händel / Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day - Arts SACD
Händel / Water Music & Music for the Royal Fireworks - Naxos DVD-A
Händel / Messiah - Silverline DVD-A
Holst / The Planets & The Mystic Trumpeter - Naxos DVD-A
Mendelssohn / Hebrides Overture & Violin Concerto - Linn SACD
Mozart / Le Nozze di Figaro - Naxos DVD-A
Mozart / Don Giovanni - Naxos DVD-A
Mozart / Flute Concertos - Naxos DVD-A
Mozart / Clarinet Concerto & Clarinet Quintet - PentaTone SACD
Mozart / Horn Concertos - PentaTone SACD
Mussorgsky – Stokowski / Pictures at an Exhibition etc. – Naxos DVD-A
Pärt / Berliner Messe - Naxos DVD-A
Prokofiev / Peter and the Wolf & Lt. Kije Suite - Silverline DVD-A
Rachmaninov / All-Night Vigil - Harmonia mundi SACD
Shostakovich / Jazz Suites No.1 & No.2 etc. - Naxos DVD-A
Smetana / Ma vlast - LSO SACD
J.Strauss / Waltzes - PentaTone SACD
R.Strauss / Alpine Symphony - PentaTone SACD
Tchaikovsky / 1812 etc. - Telarc DVD-A
Tchaikovsky / The Nutcracker - Silverline DVD-A
Tchaikovsky / Romeo and Juliet etc. - Silverline DVD-A
Tchaikovsky / Swan Lake - Naxos DVD-A
Viavaldi / Dixit Dominus - Naxos DVD-A
Vivaldi / The Four Seasons - Naxos DVD-A
Wagner / The Ring - Chandos SACD
Wagner / Overtures and Preludes - Arts DVD-A
Williams / Symphony No. 6 - Silverline DVD-A
Williams / A Sea Symphony - Naxos DVD-A
Scarlatti & Beethoven / Woodwind Quintets - AIX DVD-A
Various Composers / “Budapest Live” Ivan Fischer - Philips SACD
Chinese National Symphony Orchestra / “Soliloquy on Cold Mountain Temple” - Channel of China SACD
Starvinsky & Ravel / Firebird Suite & Bolero - AIX DVD-A
Offenbach & Rossini-Respighi / Gaite Parisienne & La boutique fantasque - RCA SACD
Various Composers / “The Coronation of King George II” - Hyperion 2 x SACD
Liszt & Dvořak / Les Preludes & Nature’s Realm etc. - Water Lily Acoustics SACD
Various Composers / “Russian Nights” Cincinnati Pops Orchestra – Telarc SACD
Various Composers / “The Ultimate Last Night of the Proms” Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Membran SACD
Christmas Choral Spectacular / Breiner - Naxos DVD-A

Other Not-Quite-Hi-Res Albums

Jean Michel Jarre “Aero” DD & DTS DVD-V
Alan Parsons “On Air” DTS CD
The Police “Every Breath You Take” DTS CD
Various Composers / Dream Suites I DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V
Various Composers / Dream Suites II DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V
Various Composers / Dream Suites III DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V
Various Composers / Night in Berlin DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V
Various Composers / Night in Paris DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V
Various Composers / Night in Rome DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V
Various Composers / Night in Vienna DD & DTS - Silverline DVD-V

Yes - let's keep this thread going!

Now just added to my above list, arrived yesterday, is the Jeff Wayne "War of the Worlds" double SACD. Haven't got around to listening to this yet, but feel confident. It's a double disc SACD in a cardboard digi-pack - bought from HMV for £4.99. Wierd, but I remember a friend of mine way back in the late 70s playing it (obviously vinyl) whenever I went around to his place, and it's probably 30 years since I last heard it.

Another new purchase already on its way to me is the Roy Orbison "Black and White Night" DVD-A. That'll be interesting.

One other non hi-res to add to my original list, which I forgot to mention, is Kitaro's "Peace on Earth" DVD-V, which is a stereo only DD release. I much prefer the audio on this to the CD version I have. Lovely Christmas music, if you're into that sort of thing.

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Black Celebration turned up yesterday, this is the CD/DVD set, but thankfully the DVD is the same as the one that comes with the SACD box set, so I have the album in DTS 96/24.

Got outbid (again) for Violator on SACD on ebay, but then managed to find a BIN and went for that, so that's another SACD on the list .

I also got Playing the Angel on SACD, but strangely the box for this is not the same as the other SACD/DVD sets. It is a Super Jewel box but with both discs stacked one on top of the other, instead of being on either side of the inner part of the case. A bit naff really compared with the digipac sets in the plastic sleeves.

Hehe, I almost went for that BIN Violator myself(£35?) Also got outbid on Black Celebration by pennies in the last 2 seconds the other day, finished up at £36.59 and my top bid had been £36.50, such a random number must have been a lucky shot rather than a much higher top bid as don't think ebay auto bids such random prices. God I hate ebay sometimes

The box of Playing the Angel is weird that it isn't inkeeping with the others in the collection, what are your thoughts on the sound quality? A bit brash to my ears and far from being a high-res favourite.

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Tetlee

Hehe, I almost went for that BIN Violator myself(£35?) Also got outbid on Black Celebration by pennies in the last 2 seconds the other day, finished up at £36.59 and my top bid had been £36.50, such a random number must have been a lucky shot rather than a much higher top bid as don't think ebay auto bids such random prices. God I hate ebay sometimes

The box of Playing the Angel is weird that it isn't inkeeping with the others in the collection, what are your thoughts on the sound quality? A bit brash to my ears and far from being a high-res favourite.

Yeah, I lost Black Celebration in the dying seconds of an auction as well, which is why I bought CD/DVD set, and having lost Violator 3 times, I snapped up the BIN (yes £35) since it was priced at or just below what I had bid on the auctions. I always add random pence to my top bids to hopefully catch out last minute bidders, but it doesn't always work if others bid several pounds more.

I have decided that my favourite Depeche Mode albums are in the middle of their album run, so "Some Great Reward" through to "Ultra", but excluding "Songs of Faith and Devotion". I don't like the early stuff, and "Exciter" wasn't for me either. "Playing the Angel" is a bit harsh, but I think that is just the way they went with the album and production rather than a reflection of the hi-res mastering. It's not a favourite but I still like it.

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by Steve Whitton

Yes - let's keep this thread going!

Now just added to my above list, arrived yesterday, is the Jeff Wayne "War of the Worlds" double SACD. Haven't got around to listening to this yet, but feel confident. It's a double disc SACD in a cardboard digi-pack - bought from HMV for £4.99. Wierd, but I remember a friend of mine way back in the late 70s playing it (obviously vinyl) whenever I went around to his place, and it's probably 30 years since I last heard it.

I have every confidence that you will be very, very impressed with WotW. To me, it just sounds amazing in multi-channel. Very stirring and emotional.