Please post your comments, thoughts and observations.......
I disagree with the people who say this mix sucks! Yes it is no Elliott Scheiner mix, but there is active stuff in the surrounds on every song - mostly instruments rather than backing vocals and perhaps not as pronounced as you'd like. Sonically, this is much better than the CD, a much much wider soundstage and frequency response. I don't find it harsh at all; I often listen to this at between -20 and -15 on my system (Denon AVR-2310 feeding 5 full range KEF 'Q' series speakers and a 300 watt KEF sub) and as of late it's become one of my favourite hi-rez discs.
Do I wish it had a mix like America's 'Homecoming'? Certianly. But if you like this album on CD you should definitely own the SACD.
PROTIP: Crank up your surrounds by 1-2dB and a lot of the discrete information in the rears will become more apparent because of dominant channel theory.
This one is at least a 7 for me!
I threw this on tonight just for the heck of it, fully expecting it to be underwhelming, but I have to say that I agree with steelydave's comments below. Sure, it's not a GREAT mix, but if you like the Redbook CD, this is similar but with some nice surprises jumping out of the surrounds - and something on every song. Sonically it is very pleasant on my system. I haven't voted, but I'm between a 6 and a 7. If you like the CD, I'd recommend this with the caveat that it's not, as steelydave said, a Scheiner mix, or a Wilson mix, or a Penny mix... but still worth having, in my opinion.
In my experience, there's a couple of ways this can go with an album you love.I love Matthew Sweet and I love this album. I've never heard the SACD but I've wanted it for years. After reading the comments here, I feel I shouldn't pay a lot for it even if it ever crosses my path.