Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler sacd......WOW!!!

I just hooked up my new Denon 2200 last Friday and I haven't been able to put in a regular CD since!!

I started out with Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (DVD-A), and Tesla - Some Live Show (DVD-A).

Rumours sounds awesome, I don't know how else to describe it. The Tesla one is really fun (if you like metal), it makes you feel like you are in the concert.

Then I couldn't stop, Monday came, and I picked up Metallica - Metallica (DVD-A), and the soundtrack from Oh Brother - Where Art Though (SACD).

When the drums kick in on "The Unforgiven" I was just floored, that song really stands out on the Metallica SACD. The rest is good as well though.

I was a little disapointed with the Oh Brother - Where Art Thou (SACD). The soundtrack in the movie was awesome. In particular, I was really excited about the scene where Delmar runs down into the river to get "saved" during the baptism scene. On the DVD there is an amazing choir singing, and it just sounds absolutely spectacular in DD5.1. This SACD is recorded in stereo, and has this choir song sung by Allison Krause, with the choir as a background. She is a great singer, but I was really hoping for an awesome 5.1 choir singing in my livingroom. It is still an awesome sounding SACD, I just prefer 6 speakers to 3.

Yesterday, Wednesday, I went out looking for two more. I found Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (SACD), and I was also looking for Joe Satriani - Strange Beautifull Music (SACD). Joe was nowhere to be found, I may have to order this one from Amazom or something.

Miles Davis is the first Jazz CD I have ever purchased. It won't be my last. If all of his SACD's are master by whomever mastered this one, I will buy them all.

I can't stop. Has anyone found a reliable retailer in their area that has a good supply of SACD, DVD-A's. If anyone in Calgary has found a place please share it!!

I have not started getting into the SACD or DVD-A scene yet, but am getting interested. How much more do these things cost then regular cd's? Assume the boxes are labeled SACD or DVD-A? Also, what are you guys using, a cd player with SACD ability, or one of the newer DVD players that play both?

I have been considering looking at one of the newer DVI DVD players that upconvert to 720P or 1080i (momitsu, bravo 2, denon, etc...)

I've only got a small handful:

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (DVD-A)
Richard Thompson - Rumor & Sigh (DVD-A)
Buena Vista Social Club - BVSC (2 channel DVD-A)
Eagles - Hotel California (DVD-A)
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (SACD)
Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune (SACD)
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (SACD)

The Buena Vista Social Club album is the only one that's strictly two channel. The prices for all of these were either the same or less than regularly priced CDs (~$15).

All of them sound great, but there's no question in my mind that I need to buy the Outlaw ICBM unit. Maybe someone can chime in here as to why it works this way, but bass management on most universal players is completely inadequate. My sub is working while I'm playing these discs, but I know there's a lot that I'm missing.

depending on the title, most sacd's are just about the same price as regular cd's. maybe a buck or two more, but thats only on special titles. i buy my sacd's from a local mom and pops store here in town, and he mail orders for me. i think the most i paid for any of them was $17 bucks, but a few were $15.. there are plenty of online stores also offering great dreals on sacd's/dvd-a's. they are clearly labeled, and most often, are in a different section than the regualr cd's.

as far as players, you can get both.. a cd player that plays sacd's.. or a dvd player that pleys em. it just depends on how you wanna set up your system. i have the pioneer 563A, which is a good econo sacd player that i got used. you can find them new online for around $150 bucks.. the denons start around $350 refurb..

bigjohn

Oops - forgot one! I've also got Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks in multi-channel SACD. Highly, highly recommended.

I'm a big Dylan fan so that will be one I'll have to check out...

Din

If you like the O Brother soundtrack (and I do love that CD), check out New Favorite from Allison Krause and Union Station on SACD as well as their Live CD. Both are great.

james

I'd suggest checking out Alison Krause's entire collection. Ralph Stanley is also worth it (mastering quality isn't quite as high...). Blue Highway is good, Lonesome River Band is good, Gillian Welch is excellent (and also on the O Brother soundtrack).

Wow indeed! I have:

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - in 5.1, excellent sound and dynamics

The Stranger - 5.1 Joel. Very nice.

My Generation - classic album. Moon's drumming is alive.

Tommy - see above. SACD version sounds better in my opinion

A Night at the Opera - Brian May's guitars in the surrounds! 39 is the best song ever. Its DVD Audio

Getz/Gilberto - lush vocals (not to mention Getz's sax, oh man)

In A Silent Way - First fusion masterpiece. I highly recommend this album. Its the mood of a late, rainy night.

#1 Record/Radio City - Classic Big Star. Turn the treble down for this recording however. Its a little harsh.

Various Dylan re-releases - Blonde on Blonde is in 5.1!

Dark Side of the Moon- Duh. 'On the Run' is awesome.

Halloween - Classic live Frank Zappa. DVD Audio. Highly recommended for Zappa fans. Its an awesome live sound.

Sea Changes - acoustic guitar on this Beck DVD Audio has impressive sound

oh, and the Doors LA Woman DVD Audio was disappointing in its sound. great album but I was expecting better sound.