HiRez Poll Aerosmith - TOYS IN THE ATTIC [SACD]

[ar surround]

This disc is an example of how good hard rock can sound when the engineers back off on the compression. It is clean, open and has terrific dynamics. Another album that, in retrospect, I should have rated higher than the 8 that I originally gave it. I probably would re-rate it a 9 or 10...and I don't even like Aerosmith. My friend's son came over and I played it for him in 5.1. I wish you all could have seen the joy on his face at hearing one of his favorite bands sounding so good.

 

[markshan]

Aerosmith has always been somewhat disposable for me, but I mean disposable in the best way, like Chinese food. You don't sit and ponder it after you've consumed it, but you really enjoy it while it's going down. That said, I didn't expect, or even want, the ultimate in fidelity from this disc. These tracks are supposed to be a bit dirty. However, the fidelity here is good, and it does work. Side one is enjoyable, but the surround mix doesn't really do anything to make you feel like you were missing anything in the stereo version. On side two, however, as the music itself develops more complexity, so does the mix. The one track I was looking forward to in surround was "Sweet Emotion" and it gave me everything I had hoped for. Great atmospherics and even some swirling effects which were completely appropriate to the music, and really big sound throughout. It is the one true system demo track on the disc. It makes me want "Dream On" in surround. A very good addition to the collection.

 

[jhw59]

outstanding mix and classic Aerosmith. This really gives my surround system a workout in the best way! 10 for me.

 

[marpow]

I changed my vote from a 10 to a 9. I was quite enthusiastic post # 32 but it seems I have grown to want the surround which this has, to be equal with the fidelity, which this doesn't have. I purchased this on 1/27/17 and a lot more since then so it makes sense through personal education that I could lower my vote.
I guess I was lucky to get when I did as there are none for sale on Amazon.

 

[edisonbaggins]

Review video, explaining my vote of "9"!

 

[Beefalo]

Review video, explaining my vote of "9"!

I feel that this surround mix is a perfect match for the type of music. A little raunchy & ragged.
As long as the 5 channel isn't big stereo I usually prefer it to quad. I like the vocals and bass guitar coming out of the center speaker.
My center has two 6" speakers with large passive radiators. They are powered my an ancient Carver M500.

 

[edisonbaggins]

I feel that this surround mix is a perfect match for the type of music. A little raunchy & ragged.
As long as the 5 channel isn't big stereo I usually prefer it to quad. I like the vocals and bass guitar coming out of the center speaker.
My center has two 6" speakers with large passive radiators. They are powered my an ancient Carver M500.

That's awesome that you like it! I'm a fan of it too and I hope that comes across in the review.

 

[Beefalo]

That's awesome that you like it! I'm a fan of it too and I hope that comes across in the review.

Where is the official SACD multichannel "Rocks"...probably never happen!

 

[Strilo]

I wish I could get my hands on this mix for a reasonable price...

 

[EricKalet]

Where is the official SACD multichannel "Rocks"...probably never happen!

It's out there somewhere...perhaps collecting dust in a Sony warehouse...

 

[van1]

The Rocks sacd was stereo only as far as i know, hoping that Sony Japan will release a quad sacd (along with quad GYW and TITA)

 

[Beefalo]

It's an 8 for me. It's the best I've ever heard this album sound and the surround mix is pretty good, but I can't ignore the existence of the much more discrete quad mix.

It's worth pointing out that when comparing the SACD with the Q8, I found many of the mixing decisions are quite similar: for instance, the horns are isolated in the rears on "Adam's Apple", Steven Tyler's voice moves around the room at the end of "Uncle Salty", the reversed cymbal effect in "Sweet Emotion" is in the rears, etc. But the quad is definitely more aggressive/showy in places, particularly with the guitar solos in "Adam's Apple". The SACD has them in all five speakers, while the Q8 has them isolated in the rears.

I later discovered that engineer Jay Messina is responsible for both the quad and 5.1 mixes, which makes me wonder why Sony didn't just repurpose his old quad for this disc, as they did for Head Hunters, Ship Ahoy, and several other SACD titles.

Very informative post.
I'm wondering if the original quad mix was "manipulated" into 5.1.
The vocals don't seem too solid on the 5.1.
I raised the Center channel volume and it really didn't help. The vocals are kind of diluted.
I switched my Center channel to "none" and the vocals sounded better to me.
I ended up listening to the whole disc without the center and it sounded a little more discrete to me.

 

[sjcorne]

I'm wondering if the original quad mix was "manipulated" into 5.1.

The 5.1 is an entirely new mix from the original multi-tracks, not based off the old quad. The limited use of the center channel was just a stylistic choice by the mixer (great article on the making of the 5.1 here).

The other Sony SACDs that are 'manipulated into 5.1' from the quad masters actually mention something to that effect on the back cover. This is from The O'Jays' Ship Ahoy SACD:

 

[edisonbaggins]

Very informative post.
I'm wondering if the original quad mix was "manipulated" into 5.1.
The vocals don't seem too solid on the 5.1.
I raised the Center channel volume and it really didn't help. The vocals are kind of diluted.
I switched my Center channel to "none" and the vocals sounded better to me.
I ended up listening to the whole disc without the center and it sounded a little more discrete to me.

I find it's hard to broadbrush this album. Songs are mixed differently. Sometimes Tyler is a part of the ensemble, with similar level to other instruments and sometimes his vocal is out in front.
For better or worse, Messina gives some reasons for his choices. It took a couple of listens, but I got used to this 5.1 mix and really like it.

 

[Matt Wilson]

Picked this up on eBay recently knowing the average ratings, so you can say I went in eyes wide open so to speak. I like it. I gave it an 8, which is probably the best you could hope for with dense hard rock music from 45 years ago. I'm gonna say, like all good surround-sound mixes, it's better than two-track stereo, which is to say this is as good a listening experience as you can have with Toys in the Attic. American hard rock at the time couldn't really compare to the best of the British LPs in a similar vein. Zeppelin, Purple, Sabbath, etc had it all over our own home grown bands, so when a record as good as Toys in the Attic came along, we sat up and took notice I can tell you. Still kicks ass all these years later.

 

[Modern Day Warrior]

Just listened to this after a very long time of not spinning it. I would give it a very solid 8. I think it sounds awesome and really opens around Uncle Salty. I don’t have the Quad mix so I can’t compare but this sounds great. Glad I got it years ago at a decent price.

 

[musicmemorabiliashoppellc]

It's out there somewhere...perhaps collecting dust in a Sony warehouse...

View attachment 42932

Would love to get a copy of this even though it's only stereo. I have heard that there was a legitimate 5.1 of this but was pulled right after it was released for some reason or another and only a very few copies of it exist. I've also read that whomever has it want upwards of like $15k US for it.

 

[sjcorne]

I have heard that there was a legitimate 5.1 of this but was pulled right after it was released for some reason or another and only a very few copies of it exist. I've also read that whomever has it want upwards of like $15k US for it.

The SACD that made it out, but got pulled was stereo-only. The only existing surround versions of Rocks are the SQ matrix-encoded LP and quad 8-track.

 

[musicmemorabiliashoppellc]

The SACD that made it out, but got pulled was stereo-only. The only existing surround versions of Rocks are the SQ matrix-encoded LP and quad 8-track.

View attachment 54620

I had always thought it was SURROUND sound.....well I've got the LP and boot on CD but not the Quad 8-Track.....and no quad receiver or phono cartridge

 

[tlake6659]

I like it but like another reviewer stated it has way too much bass. At least on my system. I do like a good bass response but it sounds overdone on the surround mix.