On Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:44:04 -0500, HK wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
wrote in message
...

On Jan 2, 8:36 pm, "JimH" wrote:

"Eisboch" wrote in message

Sorry, JimH. I have same recording of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Ov...nnati-Multicha...
three formats, SACD, DVD-A and conventional CD.There's no comparison.
SACD rules!Eisboch

More power to you. My research shows otherwise.


Please show this research, I'll bet there are others besides me that
would love to see it. Include the data you've compiled, please.


JimH provided some links to tests performed on the various formats that
suggest SACD as being inferior.
If so inclined, one could Google up tests indicating otherwise, but it
doesn't matter. Sterile laboratory tests of frequency response, modulation
percentages, sampling rates, etc. of small, little snippets of a recording
on a computer are interesting, but don't reflect a whole bunch of other
immeasurable aspects of the content.

Since the early days of "Hi-Fi", recordings have been modified and biased to
correct for deficiencies in the media, vinyl, tape and optical disks and
standards developed. Then you have to take into account the quality of
the home equipment used to play the recordings and the acoustics of the
room. Heck, even symphony halls, like Boston's have acoustic panels
installed to correct for standing waves that alter the original, live sounds
of the orchestra instruments.

I am not an audiophile by any means and the equipment I have is not top
shelf, "high end" stuff. I'd say it's better than the average home music
systems though. Despite the computer snippet analysis of the waveforms in
the laboratory tests, SACD sounds best on my systems, followed by DVD-A,
and then CD. That opinion is not just mine. I've done my own version of
"blind tests" on cooperative subjects that enjoy music and they all, without
exception, share my conclusion, picking the SACD recordings over DVD-A and
certainly CD. There's no way even the best of the CDs I have (probably a
couple of the non-SACD Telarc Samplers) comes close to a well recorded and
mixed SACD.

It also takes some time to properly setup and adjust a total music system,
but it's well worth the effort. For example, with some peaking, tweaking
and experimentation, the subwoofer ends up producing nice, clear, tight bass
rather than the thumps you often hear in the stores. If using a surround
sound system playing Dolby, DTS or THX encoded data, things like the audio
delay settings are critical, depending on room size. When I get a new amp
I don't even bother unpacking the microphone that usually comes with them
for "Automatic" setup adjustments to compensate for room acoustics.
Instead, I spend hours playing with the system, making adjustments until it
sounds "right".

I just wish more variety and selections were available on SACD media.
Unfortunately it probably won't happen because of the influence and
convenience of mp3's played on iPod docking stations and ear "pods". It's
too bad.

Eisboch




I only care whether the sound I hear for the music I like sounds close
at home to the way it sounds in a concert hall.

I'm trying to think of an appropriate metaphor....

There's one about a Christmas goose, but it's escaping me at the moment.
--
John H