SHM-CD impressions

pmckeealaska

I have both versions of Snakes and Arrows. The version you're talking about is on a new format called MVI. It's basically just a DVD-Video format without any real video. It's not DVD-Audio. No high Rez layer. I actually prefer the original 2 channel version of the album. Although they say the surround version has enhanced audio, I found it to be too "echoey" for my tastes, for lack of better term.

pmckeealaska

Listening to my SHM copy of Moving Pictures. Third time around and it absolutely has improved in quality. I keep coming back to thinking it reminds me of listening to vinyl. Thats the sound I get from it. It has qualities that even SACD's dont have. It definately blows away the Rush remaster version....better overall dynamics. Next buy is going to be the SHM copy of Power Windows....bring on more SHM CD's!!!!!!!

headrott

Have you compared the SHM to the MFSL Moving Pictures? I am interested in the results.

Greg

pmckeealaska

greg,

No, unfortunately I dont have a MFSL copy of Moving Pictures. Been trying to fiind one but they're all going for like $500 on ebay...which is just silly. I won a copy of Signals on MFSL but the **** I bought it from ripped me off and never sent the CD. It's an open case on ebay right now. Going to try and find a MFSL copy of 2112 since those seem to be going for more reasonable sums!

headrott

That's horrible abou the Signals. I'm sorry to hear that. I own the 2112 and definately recommend it. I used to own the Moving Pictures but sold it a number of years back. I am trying to decide which version to get and so I was inquiring about the differences between the SHM and MFSL. If you get one of the MFSL Moving Pictures and do a comparison please let us know. It's been about 16 years since I last heard the MFSL Moving Pictures so I cannot remember how good it sounds.

Greg

pmckeealaska

Will do, but I'm not holding my breath. That album on MFSL seems to be the most highly prized and as a result, the most expensive.

Darknb

It is physically impossible for a CD to become 'burned in' since the sound data is stored digitally. If a bit was somehow flipped from one to a zero or vice versa the sound would not become 'warmer' it would just cause an error in the sound.

A cd player cannot flip bits with its laser.




...though if you wanted to you could leave the cd in the sun for a couple weeks. =D

pmckeealaska

Say what you will, but every SHM-CD I own has sounded better after being played several times. In fact, after getting my first few of them, I just put them in the CD player and put the volume down and the player on repeat for a couple of hours before coming back to actually listen to it. Without fail, it went from sounding harsh to very smooth.

Do you own any SHM's? If so, give it a try and let us know what you think.

F1nut

Say what you will, but every SHM-CD I own has sounded better after being played several times.

I agree and I don't care why or how because they do.

Darknb

Well I don't own any SMH cds so I can't test the repeated playing ='s less harshness theory. I'm just letting you know that saying a CD becomes burned-in is like saying that Moby Dick has a warmer plot with repeated reads. Its a nonsensical statement. Nothing about the medium has changed in the case of Moby, the paper can degrade and the words become faded and blurry, but the plot remains the same. Only the reader changes with repeated readings.

pmckeealaska

Well, since you dont won any SHM's and may not have even listened to one at all, much less repeatedly like has been mentioned on this thread, I think it's pretty much impossible for you to make any statement regarding the change in tonal quality or clarity of these CD's. I understand the point you're trying to make, but until you actually listen to them, it's impossible and presumptious of you to make any judgement on the matter. Try listening first. I have a pretty good ear and spend a lot of time listening to my CD's and I'm telling you, this effect is real. Others on here who own SHM's will also testify to this.

Darknb

Hey I respect that I am a newbie here. So I hope I didn't come off as offensive, but this just stings my computer science sensibilities. If the cost isn't too much is there any change you can get a partner to do an listening test with you between a fresh SHM-CD and a burned-in copy?

pmckeealaska

No offensice taken! Sorry if I came across snippy. Interesting you should mention the listening test as I just did that last week with a friend of mine who order a couple of SHM CD's (Rush's Hold Your Fire and the Steely Dan Aja SHM-SACD). I went over to his place the day he got them and brought my well played copies. He put me through a blind test 4 different times and I was able to pick out the new disc and my well played CD's every time without a problem. I dont know the 0's and 1's behind it or the science inherent in the process, but my ears know the difference. Strange but true!

F1nut

There's quite a number of folks on other sites that have been noticing the same thing with the SHM-CD and SHM-SACD's. It does raise questions, I grant you that, but folks use to think the Earth was flat too. Hell, some still do.

pmckeealaska

Hey, I'm the first to admit that from a logical standpoint of 0's and 1's, what Darknb has said makes 100% sense. It's just that my experience and the experience of others seems to indicate otherwise. I'd be interested to hear what you think Darknb if you were ever to get an SHM CD and see if you experience the same thing. Better yet, you might be able to give me an explanation as to what I'm hearing or convince me i'm having auditory hallucinations

TrashyTrucker

Well I purchased some SHM cd's too (because of you guys). At first listen on Black Sabbath's album's 1 thru 4. The bass was much more fuller and pronounced. I agree that the first listen, on some tracks was just too bright. It was a trade off for me because there is just not much tape "hiss" revealed.
Quality so quiet in between passages, I heard "things" I never have heard before.
conclusion: cons:
The little stinkers (SHM-CD) are quite expensive :eek:opposed to orignal cds.
Pros:
they do make a difference and are very revealing and sound more open and warm
"highly crankable" :cool:

Thanks Matt :biggrin:

Merry Christmas' USA

F1nut

Geesh Mike, that place must be populated by the same numb nuts over at AH, AK, etc. You really have to wonder if any of them have ever heard a good set up.

concealer404

Darknb wrote: »

Well I don't own any SMH cds so I can't test the repeated playing ='s less harshness theory. I'm just letting you know that saying a CD becomes burned-in is like saying that Moby Dick has a warmer plot with repeated reads. Its a nonsensical statement. Nothing about the medium has changed in the case of Moby, the paper can degrade and the words become faded and blurry, but the plot remains the same. Only the reader changes with repeated readings.

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf

Out of those ten, how many do you agree with?

vc69

Me and a buddy were A/B'ing some gear the other night. Two separate CD/Preamp setups run through the same Amp/Speaker combo. Gear was an ARC LS25 (mkII) and ARC CD5 vs. my VTL 2.5 and Oppo 83SE. Same cables. The ARC was stuff was run single ended for this test. Our test discs were the cut's from Steely Dan's Aja from the Showbiz Kids disc which I think are the best sounding of all of the CD releases and in my rig (VTL/83SE) we played the SHM-SACD version of Aja. "Aja" was our test cut.
There was absolutely no question on either of our parts. The SACD put the the higher end rig to shame.

concealer404

Keiko wrote: »

lol! theaudiocritic, eh. I got a better metaphorical noun I could use for ol' Petey.

I laughed until i cried at that "article."

TNRabbit

As I get older, everything gets "warmer" sounding because I'm slowly losing my high frequency hearing~


:-P

concealer404

TNRabbit wrote: »

As I get older, everything gets "warmer" sounding because I'm slowly losing my high frequency hearing~


:-P

I'm glad i have that to look forward to. I'm a "warmer is better" guy.