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Just got the box set delivered yesterday from HMV Japan. I would have had them Saturday but wasn't home to sign for it.:(
Nice packaging, a little box. Just briefly checked them out last night and here are first impressions:"Trick of the Tail" Started off with the surround mix. Mix is bright, lots of air, bass didn't have the impact that I am used to from the album or previous CD.I think the whole thing is incredibly transparent. Bass may sound a little thinner but actually goes deeper with a lot more detail and definition. Phil's vocals are amazing, you haven't heard anything until you hear how smooth and detailed and full of body they are. Almost as good as DVD-A. I am not crazy about the surround mix, too much high end in the rears for my ears. It takes the focus away from the drum sound in the front. No real action, the surrounds are just there. It does unmask some details in the mix though. 2 channel was another story. Still have the detail and the transparency but the bass is now nice and full. Great Mix! Didn't check out all the extras but watch a little of the concert video from 1976. Some sort of film and they have Bill Bruford to help on drums. A real nice performance of a band on the brink of becoming superstars.
Duke: Again, transparent. Mix not quite so bright, a little more natural sounding. Again a lot of action in the reat channels but not much changing. Bass again a little thin in surround but sometimes when there is more high end it makes the bass sound a little more reticent. Incredible detail and smoooth midrange. Again when changing to 2 channel the bass transparency and depth seem to improve and things are more in balance. I watch a little of the performance video which is just some concert footage of a now mega arena Gigantor a separated out on the stage. Now they hit the big time and seem somewhat pompous.
I am not a fan of the later work and will probably skip the next set and am eagerly awaiting the holy grail, of course that would be Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Is this the ultimate Genesis? For 2 channel I am going to have to say "yes!" In 2 channel the sound is everything I had hoped for and more. the multi-channel mixes to me are less successful. they are immersive but I find the level of the drum sound from the rears to be distracting. I prefer the 2 channel but I am sure I will play with the surround mix for fun.
I haven't checked out the two bonus discs that came with the box. I could probably just have done with getting Trick and Duke. the other three albums are not my favorites but I figured if I was going to order this thing all the way from Japan I might as well get the box set. ABACAB was somewhat interresting, the other two "Wind and Wuthering" and "and then there were three" are not on my top ten list.
I think that these are as good as a multitrack studio albums from the late 70's can sound, and they sound impressive.
Follow Ups:
The new detail revealed within these recordings is stunning. Listening to Trick of The Tail is like listening to a new recording of it. I'm buying all of these new reissues.
Your recommendation sounds like a shill. Maybe I'm wrong, but...
I had the opportunity to run a CD vs Stereo SACD test using - among others - the first title of Abacab (http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/4380).
The CD player was the recent and higly praised REGA Saturn (http://www.rega.co.uk/html/Saturn.htm) in competition with a entry-level Philips DVD/CD/SACD player DVP 5500S.
We thought it would be interesting to compare a cheap SACD gear (less than $100 equiv) to a high-end CD player (around $2500).
The listening tests between the CD layer on the Saturn and the corresponding SACD Stero layer on the Philips turned out to be slightly at the advantage of the Saturn - no surprise here - although by a thin margin, except for the Abacab title...
On this re-issue of the Genesis album, the Philips beat shamelessly the Saturn beyond any discussions. The sound was just so dull and featureless on the CD layer read by the Saturn in comparision to the gorgeous rendition of the Philips.
All other things being equal, the only possible conclusion was that the CD layer of the Abacab re-issue was just plain crap.
How come this could be possible ?
Therefore my question to this forum : has anybody noticed the abnormal low quality of the CD layer on the Abacab re-issue, or on others ?
This would help my friend owner of the Saturn better understand why he paid so much for so less.
Thanks in advance.
then, if it sounded like crap on it also, it's the cd... if not.. then the machine...
I agree however that this would have been a good solution to find out.
Thanks Rick.
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