Any Boston SACD Reviews?

[t1329uhn]

Hi,

I have just recently purchased an SACD player and was wondering if anyone has any reviews on the Boston SACD.

Thanks,
Nicholas

 

[Quadzilla]

I bought a used copy of the Boston SACD when I got my player a few months ago. I really like that 'album', but the CDs that I have had were terrible. I use Definitive Technology BP-10B speakers in my 2 channel system and they can really show how bad CDs can be. The SACD was another matter, very detailed without sounding confused. There was none of the blurring that irritates me about CDs. I was so impressed (overall, not just with the Boston CD) that I really want to find a higher end 2 channel SACD player. I am NOT AT ALL in favour of those DVD/SACD players that seem to be invading us. I use a dedicated DVD-Audio and a multichannel SACD player in my quad system, but I really want an Accuphase or some other greater-than-mid-fi player for critical listening. More information than you asked for, but I would highly recommend the Boston SACD ... although I wish it was multichannel. Thanks for Listening, Mike.

 

[bmoura]

I'd keep an eye on some of the reports from CES 2003 this week re: a higher end SACD player. Several will be debuting at the show including the upcoming Linn Unidisk 1.1.

This is one reason why Sony and Philips are now focusing on the mass market, under $1,000 SACD players these days. More of their SACD licensees are now developing and soon will be selling new, high end players. Should be interesting.

It may also slow a bit the past trend to "hot rod" current SACD players.

>> I bought a used copy of the Boston SACD when I got my player a few months ago. I really like that 'album', but the CDs that I have had were terrible. I use Definitive Technology BP-10B speakers in my 2 channel system and they can really show how bad CDs can be. The SACD was another matter, very detailed without sounding confused. There was none of the blurring that irritates me about CDs. I was so impressed (overall, not just with the Boston CD) that I really want to find a higher end 2 channel SACD player. I am NOT AT ALL in favour of those DVD/SACD players that seem to be invading us. I use a dedicated DVD-Audio and a multichannel SACD player in my quad system, but I really want an Accuphase or some other greater-than-mid-fi player for critical listening. More information than you asked for, but I would highly recommend the Boston SACD ... although I wish it was multichannel. Thanks for Listening, Mike.

 

[t1329uhn]

Thanks alot Mike. Yea...I wish it were multi-channel as well. That was the thing that was holding me back from getting it in the first place. But, I think I will give it a go.

Nicholas

 

[deepsky4565]

bmoura,

with your considerable knowledge and clout in the SACD arena, have you heard anything about the Boston M/C SACD? Maybe you could strongly suggest to the Sony gods that they do this?

Many on this board know that I regularly pine about hearing this album in its unreleased quad mix. Rumored for many years, I confirmed the rumor with Brad Delp, lead singer a while back. Some quaddies have *claimed* to have actually heard an SQ test pressing, but I have yet to confirm that, actually they seem to be just stories. (If anyone wants to correct me on that send a copy to me!) Sound and Vision two years ago claimed that Boston was to be one of the first SACD m/c releases. One of the reasons I bought my Sony M/C SACD machine!

The stereo SACD, I finally picked up, sounds great. Not as good as I could imagine, but the best digital representation yet. I was surprised to hear what I believe are dropouts or level variations due to tape wear. The master has been around the block. It has already been released as two different "master" LPs, the gold CD, and this SACD, plus about 17 million other copies. Another reason to dust off that quad master!

Thanks for listening,

Dan in Spokane, WA

 

[AllAroundSurround]

I too would love to hear it in surround , as for the droputs ? Once its digitally transferred and cleaned up it shouldn't have any of this, ever again! DSD or PCM!
Rob

 

[deepsky4565]

If you listen to the quiet passages of Foreplay/Longtime, the tape hiss is really variable, as in other places. It sounds like a well worn tape to me.


BMOURA where are you? Please let us know what you know or can do for this title please!

 

[timbre4]

Interesting comments that tape wear is to blame for noise.

Tom Scholz used to slave multitrack reel decks together so as to NOT put undo wear and tear on the true master while he re-did a guitar overdub 35,000 times. The secondary machines took the brunt of the wear.

Whatever production masters they use to make CDs or DSD-ized for SACD is anybody's guess. Since Scholz hasn't been involved with (or loved by) CBS in alot of years, he likely has nothing to say about it.

Timbre4

 

[bmoura]

I'm at CES this week.

Watch the highfidelityreview.com web site for news items under the SACD News section at www.highfidelityreview.co...s/sacd.asp

 

[Quadzilla]

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...5

 

[deepsky4565]

Bmoura- any updates since CES on this title???

 

[bmoura]

I haven't heard anything about a Multichannel Boston SACD yet. But Sony did announce plans to release one of the Blood, Sweat & Tears albums in Multichannel SACD.

Check my story on High Fidelity Review at www.highfidelityreview.co...r=17047139 for a list of the upcoming Multichannel SACDs announced by Sony, Universal and a few others at CES.

More Multichannel SACDs to come.

 

[jmrosen]

Can you shed some light on why you feel these players are inferior in any way?

I do have a low end Sony 5 disc CD/SACD/DVD player and it (w/sacd titles) blows away my high end Nakamichi music bank player.


You wrote:

I am NOT AT ALL in favour of those DVD/SACD players that seem to be invading us.

 

[Quadzilla]

I guess I have never been one to sacrifice sound or build quality for convenience and features. Some would call me a 'golden ears', but I have never believed that a changer of any flavour (carosel, cartridge or otherwise) could possibly have as stable a transport mechanism as a single player ... so how could they sound as good?

Perhaps you are noticing the benefits of newer technology over your Music Bank system, although one changer over another could hardly be called a critical comparison to many. As for these so-called 'universal' players, just compare the sound of a single disk DVD player to a single disk CD player of the same price. You have to be paying for video circuitry, and if you believe that less is more when it comes to pure audio quality, then all of that extra circuitry has to interfere with the sound in some way.

That is why higher end equipment does not have tone controls, loudness buttons or other frequency equalization. That is why many people bypass tone and balance controls when they do upgrade modifications. That is why direct drive turntables with servo gizmos to constantly monitor and regulate speed don't sound as good as basic (and usually cheaper) belt drive models with AC motors that just spin at the right speed. I know I will get slammed for this<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=""> , but you asked. All the Best, Mike.

 

[jmrosen]

Thank you for your reply.

I do appreciate your thoughts. Do you think that the actual SACD 'chip/circuitry' suffers at all in the lower end price range?

My SACD pick of the week is the new John Coltrane, A Love Supreme (here in the U. S. on Impulse!-Verve) is absolutely AMAZING in sound and mix. {stereo}

 

[bmoura]

Well, as the price of the SACD player goes down, that limits the amount of money the designer can spend on parts.

My experience is that like other audio products, there is a difference in SACD players at different price points. But that is to be expected.

 

[deepsky4565]

Any news at all on a M/C rerelease of this title??????