"The War of the Worlds" on Super Audio CD.

AdamCalifornia · 10-12-2005, 7:58 PM

Hi! I've read an article in October, that "The War of the Worlds"
has been updated for SACD. The LP was originally released in 1978.
It was REMIXED entirely from the 24 track tapes.

Has anyone heard about it? Any reviews?

sue_hall · 10-12-2005, 9:46 PM

Hi Adam,

WOTW SACD was released a while ago here in the UK.

My other bought it the day of release and thinks it sounds far better than the original cd version and was actually fairly close to the old vinyl version which he listened to when younger. He does listen on a valve output cd player though which tends to make lots of things sound vinyl like.

We only listen to the CD stereo track. We had a small sony SACD player / 5.1 system in the bedroom when we got it and tried it on that and it did sound quite good in 5.1

His hifi is though way better at stereo reproduction than the sony, so even the normal cd layer sounded better in quality on the main system than either of the sacd layers on the sony.

In short, they done a great job with the stereo re-master so the SACD layers should be great. It's actually one of the few SACD's which has got the other half thinking about buying a decent SACD player.

Sue

PaulBoy · 11-12-2005, 8:52 AM

AdamC - I bought this for the Surround mix (although the stereo track sounds excellent too IMHO) The 5.1 has been well done with excellent steering without getting too carried away! The disc is a hybrid too & the digipac version I got has a decent amount of the original LP sleeve reproduced which is a nice touch
I highly recommend it ... Paul

PJTX100 · 11-12-2005, 9:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamCalifornia

Hi! I've read an article in October, that "The War of the Worlds"
has been updated for SACD. The LP was originally released in 1978.
It was REMIXED entirely from the 24 track tapes.

Has anyone heard about it? Any reviews?

SACD - War of the Worlds (multi-channel)

Also ordered my ticket for the live show, MEN Arena Manchester in April. So looking forward to be herded around like cattle and buying stuff at rip-off prices.

per-Sony-fied · 11-12-2005, 6:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJTX100

[url]Also ordered my ticket for the live show, MEN Arena Manchester in April. So looking forward to be herded around like cattle and buying stuff at rip-off prices.

Oh now you've tempted me to go to.... Never knew there was a live show forthcoming.

per-Sony-fied · 11-12-2005, 6:42 PM

Incidentally the WOTW collectors edition can be had from Ebay for less than £40

AdamCalifornia · 13-12-2005, 1:59 AM

Hi All! I bought it for $16

used in MINT condition.
No one in the store knew where to look for it!
Under: "concept album", "progressive rock", or
a musical? No one has heard about it! They thought that
I was talking about the SOUNDTRACK to the Spielberg's movie!!!
Finally they found it in the "tunes-show" section.

I haven't listened to it yet.

The British magazine "HI-FI Choice" was supposed to print
a review in the Novemebr issue. Unfortunately I missed this issue.
Anyone has read this or some other professional reviews?

See you on Jeff Wayn'e Side of the Moon

KoThreads · 13-12-2005, 1:24 PM

i bought 2 copies of the 7 disc set last week from Amazon for £39.97 with free p+p. One for me and one for a friend for his wife. It's now £42 both were really well packed and arrived perfect.

per-Sony-fied · 13-12-2005, 8:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idoexist

i bought 2 copies of the 7 disc set last week from Amazon for £39.97 with free p+p. One for me and one for a friend for his wife. It's now £42 both were really well packed and arrived perfect.

Well la de da. I've been looking at this for some weeks and thought The Hut was the cheapest with a £10 voucher bringing it down to just below Amazon's £42 and was very tempted. However I resisted.... a last resort for cheaper took me to Ebay where I saw it for £40 incl. Now I've been told it was few pennies less at Amazon

Time to smile tho'

with a paypal voucher I managed £37.19

AdamCalifornia · 13-12-2005, 9:59 PM

Hi! The SACD set which I've bought contains just TWO discs!!!
You're talking about SEVEN discs! Do I have an abridged version or what?
I am confused.

Adam

per-Sony-fied · 13-12-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamCalifornia

Hi! The SACD set which I've bought contains just TWO discs!!!
You're talking about SEVEN discs! Do I have an abridged version or what?
I am confused.

Adam

Amazon

You just don't have the original release and fab 12" book that goes with it.

There is an abridged version but I'd totally give it a miss.

AdamCalifornia · 14-12-2005, 2:14 AM

Thanks! I've looked at the 7-disc set on the amazon.com
and I guess that I do have the FULL

[FONT="Arial"] double LP album[/FONT],
and NOT

the abridged version of the DOUBLE ALBUM.
However I don't have the OUT-TAKES, REMIXES, the BOOK, etc.
Again I have the Super Audio CD release. I've seen the Red Book CD
release as well, but I've read that the sound quality on the CD release
is NOT

so good.
Tonight I'll read the booklet included and listen to the whole DOUBLE
LP album on two Super Audio CDs.

Adam

per-Sony-fied · 14-12-2005, 9:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamCalifornia

I've seen the Red Book CD
release as well, but I've read that the sound quality on the CD release
is NOT

so good.
Adam

The standard red book CD release is Ok in isolation and doesn't sound to bad at all BUT there is a remastered version that has much more bite, energy and attack.

I too have the Vinyl LP but the spec edition 7 disc set with hardback book was to much of a temptation.

AdamCalifornia · 14-12-2005, 7:56 PM

Hi! Thanks! It means that the NEWEST Red Book cd release
was REMASTERED and sounds just OK.

However last night I listened to my SUPER AUDIO CD release,
and it was FABULOUS!

I listened to the STEREO (2-channel) on
the DSD layer. The REMIX and MASTERING are INCREDIBLE!
I was listening through my (low end) Sennheiser PX-100 headphones.
(My Sennheiser hd-595 are heading my way.)

As I mentioned my 2-CD set contains the FULL version of the album!
Disc 1: 45 mins 31 secs
Disc 2: 49 mins 31 secs
So the total running time is: 95 mins and (perhaps) 2 secs.

Tonight I'll try the standard Red Book CD layer just to see how
does it compare to the 2-channel DSD layer.

The booklet included with the set outlines itemizes the contents
of the 7-disc set with the 12"x12" book!

By the way, while listening to the album on the SACD, I was thinking
occasionally about "The Wall" by Pink Floyd in terms of sound and special
effects.

See you on the Dark Side

of the Moon

per-Sony-fied · 14-12-2005, 8:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamCalifornia

Hi! Thanks! It means that the NEWEST Red Book cd release
was REMASTERED and sounds just OK.

Nah the newest remastered edition from what I've heard is streets ahead of the standard released copy.

Quote:

The booklet included with the set outlines itemizes the contents
of the 7-disc set with the 12"x12" book!

Yep a very neat and tidy package. The disc's are housed away in the front and back of the book which are about 1/2" thick! Then you have loads of glossy pages inbetween.

Quote:

By the way, while listening to the album on the SACD, I was thinking
occasionally about "The Wall" by Pink Floyd in terms of sound and special
effects.

One day (hopefully) I'll be able to enjoy surround sound......

until then.... Stereo

(I grin because it aint that bad).