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In Reply to: These SACDs are just a marketing trick posted by Nefertiti on December 14, 2006 at 20:13:22:
I don't know what to believe. I have read any number of accounts that say that *some* or *many* of Membran SACDs are made from analog tapes (the originals-I can't say) but that some or many are not and that these SACDs (some) for the Jazz series are from original sources. What is your source about specific releases (not Membran in general) that says all Membran releases are from CD re-issues?Further, if these SACDs sound as good as the same CD, that's what the industry, as a whole, as well as the buying public has been saying about the SACD format anyway. That is (in stereo) there is no difference between the two formats. In other words, there may be no loss in quality especially since we are talking about, in most cases here, 50+ year old recordings. Even if it could be demonstrated that SACD sounds superior there is only so much that can be done to enhance recordings of this vintage, even for SACD.
So, that brings us to multi-channel for which there is no debate. Multi-channel is the *only* substantive difference that clearly separates SACD from CD with respect to sound quality, like it or not, for the vast majority of listeners (in this SACD dedicated forum there has been a growing chorus of listeners that say that even they can't tell a real difference). So, *if* (I have not listened to these Membrans yet) the multi-channel is done right these new releases, at minimum, could offer a significant choice for music lovers.
Robert C. Lang
Follow Ups:
I was planing to buy the whole set, but I have been put off by Nefertiti's and edta's comments. Nefertiti is certainly correct regarding the genesis of these recordings. But if there is a significant improvement over the old CD's by going to MCH they may still be a worthwhile purchase.They wouldn't be the first SACDs I've purchased with less than stellar sound quality... and they probably won't be the last (grin)
Apart from a few titles, all these recording are from the mono era (before 1957). I can't see how these could be remixed for multichannel. Maybe the same sound is coming from all surround channels, just like a stereo set plays mono recordings through both channels
You're really bursting my bubble here (grin)
I was only referring to the Supreme Jazz SACDs, not the Membran classical titles, which contain licensed recordings.If you observe the jazz reissue market, you will understand that these Membran releases cannot come from original tape sources.
The recordings come from various labels (mainly Fantasy and EMI) and are almost all in the public domain in Europe (more than 50 years old). The few that are not in the public domain have been floating around on bootlegs previously. The pattern is that Membran chose recordings from big name artists which do not need to be licensed. But that means they have to find their own sources for the releases, as they have no access to the master tapes owned by the original labels. Most public domain reissue labels simply dub the music from existing CDs and create their own CD compilations. That is legit as long as the recordings are out of copyright.
Under these conditions, releasing this stuff on SACD does not make sense from a technical point of view. But the number of times these discs get mentionned in audiophile forums ("Finally: Sinatra on SACD!!!" etc) shows that the marketing aspect is successful.
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