Review by Tracy
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Best Of The Bath Festival Of Blues And Progressive Music 69-70V.A.Horrendous Audio quality
I own approximately 6000+ music titles on CD & vinyl, this is by far the absolute worse sounding release I own. It sounds like a bootleg recording using a portable cassette player with built in mic. Tape hiss is actually louder than the vocals. At best it has a 15 DB dynamic range. I fought my way through half of one disc on my home system (thought about burning my system after) then tried in my truck system to see if lower fidelity and road noise would help...NOPE! Almost had a case of roadrage because of sound! I'm going to keep the double Jewel case to replace a broken one and throw the discs away to make sure I never put anyone through it. LORD IT'S HORRIBLE!
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Bitches Brew Quadraphonic SA-CD Multi Hybrid Edition [Limited Release]Miles DavisIs this quad 2X better than stereo?
I been familiar with this title for nearly 50 years. I thought i knew every sound on it front to back. WoW! This quad offering is one of the best Surround discs I own. I heard sounds I never noticed before. It truly envelopes you in a fluid cocoon of music. I had to listen to it 4 times the first couple of days, and I'm really not a Miles Davis fan. I highly recommend it to the connoisseur of quad/Surround.
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Kiss [SHM-CD] [Priced-Down Reissue]KISSHad to come back to a classic.
I saw Kiss in '70 or'71, as an opening band, before they had released this, their first album. I haven't purchased a Kiss album in 30+ years mainly because their style changed and I thought they list that raw hard edge. So I decided to go ahead and get an SHM CD to see how the mix sounded. I am very pleased and will probably add "Hotter Than Hell" and the first Live double album. After that, couldn't care less. But I do recommend these SHM CDs for the amazing sound quality.
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Tapestry [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]Carole KingNot the best
I've owned this album in one format or another since it's initial release. This mix is not the best I've heard by far. Vocals sound hollow and distant. No cohesion between the instruments. I have over 200 5.1/4.0 multi-channel discs, while this isn't the worse one I own, it's bad. I have forced myself to listen to it all the way through just once.
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Blow By Blow - SA-CD Multi Hybrid Edition - [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Edition]Jeff BeckNot just another blow, but punch!
I own the first pressing and nearly every reiteration of this powerhouse. This is in my opinion the mix that is the most pleasurable to listen to. In the short time I have had it, I've given it four critical listenings and a couple of times with friends, who also agree it's the best they can remember it sounding. Must get before it goes OOP and the price quadruples or more.
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Wired - SACD Multi-ch Hybrid Edition - [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Limited Release]Jeff BeckWoW! Just WOW!
I had the Quad pressing back in the day, but what they have done to this new mix is incredible. The dynamics and separation is fantastic. It's like being front row in Jeff's head. This new 5.1 mix takes you on familiar journey by way of a new path.
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Greatest Hits in Japan [SHM-CD+DVD] [Limited Release]QueenSlightly clinical in sound.
Highs were a bit bright and clinical, but overall still a good mix. I have owned most of these songs on Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab vinyl, so I'm used to a warmer, analog sound.
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Blind Faith [SHM-SACD]Blind FaithAs good as it gets.
While never considered an audiophile quality recording, the content of this masterpiece has been a big part of my listening history. At first, I was a bit disappointed that this not being sonically as good as I had hoped. After playing it numerous times, and tho it does sound better, it's the rawness that makes it what I really love about it. It's warm and a bit compressed for a SHM-SACD, but overall an improvement none the less.
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Argus [SHM-SACD]Wishbone AshListening to it as it type this review.
This is one of those albums that is etched into my mind, so it's easy to review this as a superb improvement in Sonic quality over any format in owned of this title. The instruments are anchored in space and well defined. I am picking up harmonics I've never heard before. The music is so familiar, but the sound is like listening to it for the first time.
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Disraeli Gears [Hi-Res CD (MQA x UHQCD)] [Limited Release]CreamMono & Stereo!
What a treat to be able to take a trip back in time and listen to this great piece of music as I did for the first time over 50 years ago, in mono. I find myself listening to both versions every time I play it.
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Countdown To Ecstasy [SHM-SACD]Steely DanConsummate Artists
Always one of my go-to albums for demo, this SACD has now become a go-to for the SACD format to demonstrate. Very quiet background and you can easily pick out the placement of instruments. A must have for any SACD collection.
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Goats Head Soup [SHM-SACD] [Limited Release]The Rolling StonesA must have Stones classic.
I originally bought this album upon release over 45 years ago. With this SACD master, it has never sounded better.