Don Pearce wrote in message news:49910a41.398311562@localhost...

It is pretty much impossible to compare CD to SACD. You will hear
differences, but they are nothing to do with the medium, but rather
the mastering of the recording. SACD releases are, I'm afraid, rather
closely associated with the "smiley face" eq curve which places
greater emphasis on extreme bass and treble. The result is a sound
with a little more fizz and thump which can in the short term sound
better - it soon gets tiring though, I'm afraid.

A relevant comparison that is easy to do, which involves playing a SACD or
DVD-A. Intermittently and under listener control t a device is inserted
that transcodes the "Hi rez" data into CD format. This has been described in
at least two AES papers, and the result was that experienced listeners could
*not* detect the insertion of the transcoder in a blind test.

This test has also been done with live analog music in a recording studio on
several occasions. Same results.

I'm not sure how rapid the adoption of mp3 is for classical music is. It
strikes me that this is the one area where physical media might survive
longer, with the importance of the sleeve notes, particularly the
libretto. But when the CD shops go, I suppose all that will go too.

Brick-and-mortar stores selling music only or music primarily, have
completely disappeared in most parts of the US. Pre-recorded media is still
sold over the web or in regional superstores.

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 07:37:54 -0500, "Arny Krueger"
wrote:

It is pretty much impossible to compare CD to SACD. You will hear
differences, but they are nothing to do with the medium, but rather
the mastering of the recording. SACD releases are, I'm afraid, rather
closely associated with the "smiley face" eq curve which places
greater emphasis on extreme bass and treble. The result is a sound
with a little more fizz and thump which can in the short term sound
better - it soon gets tiring though, I'm afraid.

A relevant comparison that is easy to do, which involves playing a SACD or
DVD-A. Intermittently and under listener control t a device is inserted
that transcodes the "Hi rez" data into CD format. This has been described in
at least two AES papers, and the result was that experienced listeners could
*not* detect the insertion of the transcoder in a blind test.

Yes, I know that one - one can also record the line out from the SACD
player onto a CD with similar results provided it is done well.
Neither is a trivial matter for a quick home test by the non-technical
though.

d

Don Pearce wrote in message news:4993241d.404931515@localhost...

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 07:37:54 -0500, "Arny Krueger"
wrote:

It is pretty much impossible to compare CD to SACD. You will hear
differences, but they are nothing to do with the medium, but rather
the mastering of the recording. SACD releases are, I'm afraid, rather
closely associated with the "smiley face" eq curve which places
greater emphasis on extreme bass and treble. The result is a sound
with a little more fizz and thump which can in the short term sound
better - it soon gets tiring though, I'm afraid.

A relevant comparison that is easy to do, which involves playing a SACD or
DVD-A. Intermittently and under listener control t a device is inserted
that transcodes the "Hi rez" data into CD format. This has been described
in
at least two AES papers, and the result was that experienced listeners
could
*not* detect the insertion of the transcoder in a blind test.

Yes, I know that one - one can also record the line out from the SACD
player onto a CD with similar results provided it is done well.

Or, one can switch a reasonably high-quality ADC/DAC pair (one example
would be M-Audio's "Flying Cow") in and out of the signal path in real time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ item 220354041443, for example.

Neither is a trivial matter for a quick home test by the non-technical
though.

Unfortunately Don, that doesn't keep people you and I talk to every day from
thinking that they are experts in the matter. I give points to people like
the OP who at least showed some awareness of the limitations of such
evaluations as they have done.

In article , Arny
Krueger
wrote:
Don Pearce wrote in message news:49910a41.398311562@localhost...


Brick-and-mortar stores selling music only or music primarily, have
completely disappeared in most parts of the US. Pre-recorded media is
still sold over the web or in regional superstores.

Much like that here in a small town in Scotland! I now buy CD and DVD via
web/email/etc. Not in a store. However I do regret the passing of a
friendly local store with stock you can browse. That said, the nearest
physical stores that remain (20 miles away) are stuffed with pop/rock and
play this at mind-numbing levels, deterring me from using them. They have
almost no jazz, classical, or indian music. No point asking the staff which
cycle of VW symphonies they think best. :-)

I also noted last week that our library has shut down its CD loan
collection. You can still borrow books and DVDs, but no longer CDs.

The problem I see in that is the loss of 'try before you buy' for people
who may be looking for music outwith their previous experience. However the
BBC - and now internet radio - may hopefully help cover that.

Slainte,

Jim

--
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