Top 10 must-have DVD-Audio/SACDs
SACDs 1-5
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The good: State-of-the-art multichannel recording techniques; CD-compatible layer for playback on standard CD/DVD players.
The bad: No 5.1-channel surround.
The bottom line: Chesky''s "audio vérité" recording style delivers a vivid recreation of the original live event.
Favorite tracks:
"You Lied" and "I Can't Take It Anymore." Recorded live in concert in April 2004 in surround, this SACD unfurls a startlingly precise re-creation of the low-down blues event. A true audiophile recording, the sound is au naturel--it's completely unprocessed, not equalized or messed with in any way. In fact, it's not even mixed to create the surround effect; one very special multichannel microphone was used to simultaneously record all of the musicians, the audience, and the ambience/acoustics of the venue. Queen Esther's searing vocals perfectly meld with James "Blood" Ulmer's revamped but utterly soulful blues guitar. The band also includes violin, stand-up bass, and drums. It's a fresh new look at the blues.
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The good: Sound quality is dramatically improved over past versions; two-disc set; stereo and 5.1 mixes; CD-compatible layer for playback on standard CD/DVD players.
The bad: No extras or bonus tracks.
The bottom line: The band's greatest performance was recorded live at the legendary rock emporium--this Allman Brothers SACD takes you back to the event.
Favorite tracks:
"Stormy Monday" is a good place to start. The SACD's enhanced clarity brings out the interplay between the band's two drummers. You can hear them feeding off each other's energy, and Greg Allman's vocals and organ are remarkably present. Fillmore has been remastered in every format under the sun, but this SACD creams them all. The surround mix is natural; the band jams onstage while the audience and concert hall ambience do their thing in the surround speakers. The SACD is the next best thing to being there--you can almost see the blue haze wafting above the crowd.
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The good: Audiophile blockbuster masterpieces from 1956; the original three-channel and stereo mixes are used; also includes a complete second album of Debussy and Ibert pieces; CD-compatible layer for playback on standard CD/DVD players.
The bad: No 5.1 surround mixes.
The bottom line: The Living Stereo recordings have been audiophile faves for decades, but this SACD is the first to offer the original master tapes' three-channel mixes.
Favorite tracks:
"The Organ Symphony." The organ's incredibly deep bass and the orchestra's staggering dynamics will test the performance envelope of even the best high-end audio systems. This music was originally recorded on three-track tape and was later mixed down to stereo. The SACD is the first version to offer the listener the tantalizing choice of hearing the 1956 three-track version--left, center, and right channels--or the stereo version. In either case, the sound is naturally warm, with excellent soundstage depth. HTIB owners are forewarned: your baby system won't come close to decoding the sonic glories embedded on this almost 50-year-old recording. Ain't technology grand?
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The good: Recorded in surround in 2003; 5.1 and stereo mixes; CD-compatible layer for playback on standard CD/DVD players.
The bad: No bonus tracks.
The bottom line: Telarc's engineers outdid themselves on this one.
Favorite tracks:
We find the exquisite beauty of Suite No.2 from Daphnis et Chloé is impossible to resist. On a first-class system, you'll hear the delicacy of the shimmering strings and their subtle tonal shadings, while the highest treble floats well above actual height of the speakers. This is accomplished without effects or processing; you just hear the music as you would if you were in the hall with the musicians. It's a stunning recording.
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The good: Roxy's swan-song release; 5.1 and stereo SACD mixes; one bonus track; CD-compatible layer (HDCD-encoded) for playback on standard CD/DVD players.
The bad: We had to wait decades to hear it this way.
The bottom line: Roxy Music's crowning achievement, Avalon, sounds so much better in surround.
Favorite tracks:
"India." There's something about the way this instrumental ever so gently revolves--in complete 360-degree circles around our home theater--that's just so cool. It's also a great test of a system's coherency; the pans should be absolutely seamless. If they're not, try repositioning your speakers. The other tracks' surround mixes are more discreetly nuanced, but their heightened spaciousness perfectly suits the music's elegance. Bryan Ferry, one of rock's greatest crooners, at the peak of his creative powers, holds court in the midst of the spacious surround mix.
