Testing equipment:
B&W N805 speakers
NAD S200 amp
NAD S100 pre-amp
Grado SR 80 headphones
2 Sony DVP-NS900V running synchronised with one player containing a copy of the CD layer and the other the original SACD
Hybrid SACD layer comparisons
Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet
The CD layer seemed a "micro-tad" louder making it sound a liiiiitle more "in your face". However, this was easily rectified with a "micro-tad" reduction in volume when switching back and forth. However, tonally they sound spot on.
Certainly the SACD would have to reveal "greater resolution"? I checked and re-checked f.ex. the opening of Street Fighting Man and the echo decay on the tom-tom sounded spot on. I remember I read somewhere that the opening guitar on this song sounded so much more powerful on the SACD layer. Hmm, not to these ears. Maybe he was comparing it to the old ABKCO release. I also listened carefully to the opening of Sympathy, on very loud volume, inorder to compare the instrument noise, tape hiss and percussion sounds. They sounded spot on, too.
Now if there is a difference here it has got to be *very* subtle. It escapes my ears but it might manifest itself with the "golden ears" using their big-boy toys. For the common man, however, a decent CD player will reveal *all* there is of this great classic.
IMO, of course.
The CD layer seemed a "micro-tad" louder making it sound a liiiiitle more "in your face". However, this was easily rectified with a "micro-tad" reduction in volume when switching back and forth. However, tonally they sound spot on.
Certainly the SACD would have to reveal "greater resolution"? I checked and re-checked f.ex. the opening of Street Fighting Man and the echo decay on the tom-tom sounded spot on. I remember I read somewhere that the opening guitar on this song sounded so much more powerful on the SACD layer. Hmm, not to these ears. Maybe he was comparing it to the old ABKCO release. I also listened carefully to the opening of Sympathy, on very loud volume, inorder to compare the instrument noise, tape hiss and percussion sounds. They sounded spot on, too.
Now if there is a difference here it has got to be *very* subtle. It escapes my ears but it might manifest itself with the "golden ears" using their big-boy toys. For the common man, however, a decent CD player will reveal *all* there is of this great classic.
IMO, of course.
Thom