Police on sacd

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 10 Mar 2003, 12:27 am »

Just saw a slew of newly issued Police albums on sacd. I wondered if anyone here has had a chance to hear them. I want to get some of them but I'm curious if they sound enough better than the CDs to bother. Anyone actually hear these enough to know?

mgalusha · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Mar 2003, 02:51 am »

I heard Demolition Man from Ghost In The Machine SACD yesterday and it sounded very good. The owner didn't have the regular CD on hand for a comparison but it sounded better than I remember it. There are on my "need to buy" list.

Mike

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Mar 2003, 04:16 am »

I gotta balance my checkbook before I head back to BB, but I'm leaning towards getting at least "Synchronicity" and "Outlandos De Amore." If I do I'll post my impressions.

Den · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Mar 2003, 03:05 pm »

Get all 5 for $50 with a coupon at bn.com
Free shipping too.

http://www.techbargains.com/coupons.cfm
Barnes and Noble.com $10 off $50 Code: USAVE12 Mar 10, 2003

The Police SACDs are getting thumbs up on AA.
http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/t.pl?f=hirez&m=128284

Compilation is a hybrid disc (Redbook + SACD.)
Albums are SACD only, AFAIK.

Brandon B · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Mar 2003, 03:41 pm »

Always thought the Police CDs were pretty clean to begin with. I'd hav to do a side by side to see if there's a big improvement, as I already have all their stuff on CD. Anyone A/B these?

BB

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Mar 2003, 08:55 pm »

Hmmm, that's a pretty good deal, but I have a few other things I need to pick up this week. I might just go for one or two at BB and see how they are.

I was a bit surprised that they are just stereo releases, given that a lot of the Police/Sting catalog has been reworked for DTS surround discs (eg Every Breath You Take- The Singles, Ten Summoners Tales, Nothing Like The Sun). I have mixed feelings about reworking stereo tracks to get faux multichannel, but as long as the artists are involved and the original 2 track is also included, then they have my blessings. Sometimes the results are spectacular (eg Foreigner 4, Automatic For The People) and sometimes awful (eg most other stuff!).

duff138 · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Mar 2003, 02:43 am »

some discussions on the SACD's at Steve Hoffman's site:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=2ffdc7a6fdded671c458ab738efc6066&threadid=12199

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Mar 2003, 03:04 am »

I bought Synchronicity and Every Breath You Take: The Singles today, and they both sound really good. The quality of the mix varies from song to song on the greatest hits, unfortunately. I really didn't care for the goofy remix of De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da. I guess it's preferable to letting the air out of Walking on the Moon, but the original was much better. Likewise, Stings vocals have an unnatural amount of reverb added on Every Breath You Take ( MC mix). Luckily, the same track sounds fantastic on the SACD/Stereo version of Synchronicity.

I can say the SACDs sound better than my CD copies, but they are older ones, not the newer remasters of the original master tapes. According to what I've read, the actual master tape had been thought lost until very recently, and among other things, supposedly Roxanne has been previously played back at the wrong speed. I dunno, all I can say is that the new SACDs sound great.

I will have to reserve any rigorous comparisons for a later date: I've had the flu lately and my ears are a bit plugged up, as is the rest of my head.

It's a little hard to discern any fine degree of detail at the moment.

bundee1 · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Mar 2003, 04:00 am »

I noticed the uneven sound quality on every breath you take also. The instruments sound awesome but the chorus and stings vocals sound weird kind of like they werent remastered. Strange. So far the best hybrid SACD
remasters Ive heard have been the Stones stuff.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Mar 2003, 05:46 am »

I wish Forty Licks was part of the remastered package. I'm not a big enough Stones fan to buy any of the actual albums.

Den · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Mar 2003, 08:34 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

. . .Likewise, Stings vocals have an unnatural amount of reverb added on Every Breath You Take ( MC mix). Luckily, the same track sounds fantastic on the SACD/Stereo version of Synchronicity.

Rob, are you saying that the stereo mix on the EBYT compilation is different than the stereo mix on Synchronicity?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Mar 2003, 02:04 am »

Well, I'm not sure; I'm comparing the MC version on EBYT to the 2 ch version on Synchronicity. Since I have to go into the (onscreen only) menu of my player to change soundtracks, I only listenened to the MC version.

Certainly the MC version has WAY to much reverb on the lead vocals and the rest of the vocals are moved wide of the center.

I'll check out the stereo version on EBYT this weekend to see if it's different that the Synchronicity version.

bob82274 · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Mar 2003, 02:21 am »

Part of the problem with the EBYT was done on DTS first so that could account for the difference in mixing.