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DVD-Audio and SACD : Ten Surround Sound Albums to start your CollectionNov 20 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Want to get into multichannel music? 10 albums on SACD 10 on DVD-Audio 18 total! Happy Listening!
Looking to expand into Surround Sound? Here are 10 albums in SACD and 10 albums in DVD-Audio (18 in all) to start you on the way to a killer multi channel Rock music collection. The trouble with improved and surround sound is that the powers that be couldn't decide on one format, so we got two competing formats, DVD Audio and Super Audio Compact Disc. They are both excellent (when done right) and many are done in 5.1 channel mixes giving a whole new sound and depth to the music. For the record, both formats aren't just about surround sound (in fact many SACDs are in stereo only), its about advanced resolution recordings. The sound quality on these formats is (usually) far superior to CD, especially with quality A/V equipment. For those of you with only an SACD player, or only a DVD-Audio player, I have given alternatives for albums only out in one format. For those of you with universal players, you lucky dogs!, you have 18 albums to go get! Every album in this list I have chosen because I feel that it exemplifies how multichannel can improve on stereo or become a significant sound in and of itself. Although there are many fine stereo SACDs, all the ones on this list are multichannel, and make the best use of it.(ditto for the DVD audios) There are also many fine jazz, blues and classical DVD-Audios and SACDs, but this list is for a rock/pop collection. So, without further ado, here they are in no particular order: 1. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (SACD) Simply put, one of the best examples of sound engineering out there, even when this album first came out in 1973 and then stayed in the BillBoard Top 200 for the next 11 years. The surround sound mix improves on that which is a pretty impressive feat. Most definitely a show off sound mix. DVD-Audio alternative Yes- Fragile Classic rock alternative also deliver surround sound goodness. 2. Beck - Sea Change(SACD/DVD-Audio) This is THE album to get in my opinion that truly shows how surround sound can be used, not as a gimmick, but as an integral part of the music. Lucky for you Beck released it in both formats. 3. Deep Purple - Machine Head(DVD-Audio) A stunning example of how deep (pardon the pun) the sound truly can be from recordings made back in the 70s. This DVD-Audio delivers the depth of sound that will be appreciated by lovers of LPs and CDs, all the clarity of CD and all the warmth of LP. SACD alternative The Who - Tommy The pinball wizard never sounded so good, even on CD. Classic Who lineup on the first rock opera sounds incredible in the multi channel format. 4. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (DVD-Audio) Another classic album that brings out details never heard in the original. If you want to feel like you were in the middle of the recording studio with Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood, this is a great album to get. SACD alternative Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Funeral for a Friend, Benny and the Jets ,the title cut? in sweeping surround sound? do you need any more arguments? 5. Neil Young - Harvest(DVD-Audio) Time fades away, but Neil Young's 1972 classic Harvest doesn't. This classic album sounds better than ever, and shows off what a perfectionist Neil truly was and still is. SACD alternative David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Another artist who has been around forever, always changing, and always does what he wants, and not what the general public wants. This is also a classic album that sounds better than ever and shows off what a perfectionist David Bowie was and still is. Both of these classic albums really use the expanded surround stage to plunk you smack in the middle of the recording session. 6. The Eagles - Hotel California(DVD-Audio) The Eagles show just how good surround sound sounds by putting you smack in the middle of the studio while recording their opus album. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. SACD alternative Steely Dan - Gaucho(SACD) Becker and Fagen are also perfectionists, and it shows on this multi channel SACD of Gaucho. Is Gaucho their magnum opus? No, but its the only classic Steely Dan on SACD. They show that 3.1 extra channels can really make great music reach sonic nirvana. 7.Queen - A Night at the Opera (DVD-Audio) Bohemian Rhapsody alone is the reason to get this album. If you sang along with Wayne and Garth to this classic Queen track, you'll love it in 5.1 channels! SACD alternative Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow Guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck really rocks through your surround sound system with this outstanding SACD 8. Metallica - Metallica (The Black Album)(DVD-Audio) Fan of heavy metal? Sound perfectionists Metallica deliver up greatness. One of my Metallica loving friends heard this album on DVD-Audio and said he never knew they could sound THAT GOOD. This is the album to show off to your metal head friends. SACD alternative Joe Satriani - Strange Beautiful Music A skilled guitar player of similar caliber (don't argue, this isn't the top 10 guitar player list) as Kirk Hammett should impress your friends when you pop this multi channel SACD on and fill the room with his virtuoso guitar style. 9.Flaming Lips - Yoshima Battles the Pink Robots (DVD-Audio) This is a band that shows off just how much fun you can have with surround sound. You will bring a smile to your friends faces when you put this on the DVD - Audio player and music starts bouncing around the room! SACD alternative David Bowie - Heathen Moody ethereal music, not as fun as Pink Robots, but a great use of filling your room with strange eeiry sounds and Bowie's haunting voice. 10. Sting - Brand New Day (DVD Audio/SACD) The Police albums are out on SACD, but none sound as good as Stings very well mastered surround sound solo album Brand New Day. Music fills the room with Stings brand of pop music blending jazz and world influences into a collection of songs that should please anyone. Its even available on a DTS disc that anyone with a DVD player can play to find out what all the fuss is over music in surround sound. I hope you enjoyed my list, and I welcome your comments, especially if it leads to a new SACD or DVD-Audio purchase for me! If you enjoyed my review, please visit my member page and look for more SACD and DVD Audio-reviews. Thank you!  |
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