GaryW said:I found that this is one release where VOLUME had the most dramatic in listening pleasure. I too was a bit disapointed at first by this release. The mix was serviceable at best and the music lacked the punch of previous versions. One evening when the wife was out of the house I put it on and crank the volume to dangerous levels....much higher than I have ever cranked my amp before. Everything came alive...bass was perfect, no problem with punch and I enjoyed the surround mix much better as well and I found that there was no harshness or anything shrill so playing at ridiculously loud levels was quite comfortable to listen to...I was thrilled! So at normal levels I give it an 8....cranked, a definite 10!
neil wilkes said:I cannot fairly vote in the poll, as I do not have the actual SACD but a DTS copy instead.
Having said that, the version I have heard I simply do not like at all. I think the mix is very poor, and like Cai - there is something missing here.
I think that the problem for me is that it is uninspired in execution. It sounds flaccid and lifeless.
But as I say - I do not have the SACD, but a DTS made from the outputs of the SACD player. So it might have lost something in the transfer.
But the mix just sounds, well - boring.
And this from a lifelong fan of the man.
GaryW said:I found that this is one release where VOLUME had the most dramatic in listening pleasure. I too was a bit disapointed at first by this release. The mix was serviceable at best and the music lacked the punch of previous versions. One evening when the wife was out of the house I put it on and crank the volume to dangerous levels....much higher than I have ever cranked my amp before. Everything came alive...bass was perfect, no problem with punch and I enjoyed the surround mix much better as well and I found that there was no harshness or anything shrill so playing at ridiculously loud levels was quite comfortable to listen to...I was thrilled! So at normal levels I give it an 8....cranked, a definite 10!
"Ziggy" just seemed to be missing... something... and I can't for the life of me put my finger on it!
How's that for a definitive summary? @:
Despite my feeling that something is missing, it is still an incredible release. I gave it an 8.
I have now acquired the SACD and still think the mix is dreadful.
It sounds to me as if it was knocked up in an afternoon by someone that doesn't know the music, and has no liking for it.
I am reminded of the crappy Peter Mew 30th Anniversary Remasters, as these are also badly overcompressed & lifeless in execution.
I am probably one of Bowie's biggest fans - my bootleg collection nuimbers over 300 live shows - but this is bad.
My upmix sounds better.