RUSH Fans may want to check out....

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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2011
    nspindel wrote: »
    Who's saying the MFSL is lifeless? I think the MFSL is pretty awesome. I've only said that I don't think it's as good as my recollections of the vinyl I blasted when I was a kid. I'm primarily interested in a 2-ch improvement over the MFSL, which I had hopes the 2496 would provide, but apparently doesn't. So my advice is that if it's the best 2-ch version you're looking for, MFSL is the way to go if you can find a used copy at a reasonable price. Otherwise, this set sounds like it has a lot to offer in terms of the 5.1 mix and the videos. 5.1 ain't my thing for audio.


    I've been sifting thru the thread over on the Steve Hoffman forum - some think this new release is better than the MFSL, some don't.

    Some prefer blondes, some like zins better than cabs, some like blue, other green, I'm so confused.

    I should just pony up the $, and listen for myself....right? :biggrin:

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    I find a lot of the people on the Steve Hoffman forum think they know what they're talking about just because they post on the Steve Hoffman forum. Erik, do you have the MFSL version?
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2011
    nspindel wrote: »
    I find a lot of the people on the Steve Hoffman forum think they know what they're talking about just because they post on the Steve Hoffman forum. Erik, do you have the MFSL version?

    Can't afford it :wink:

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    PM me :wink:
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    Let your own ears decide. That's what Keiko does. :wink:

    For me, it's a hard one because I don't have a dvd/bd player hooked up to my main setup. I am pure Squeezebox. So for me to play the 2496 mix, I'd need to deal with trying to extract it somehow for playback over the Squeezebox. In the absence of people saying "WOW, this sounds AMAZING!!!!" I'm inclined to just stick with the MFSL...

    In fact, I don't own a dvd/bd player at all, other than my laptop. For home theater, I use SageTV via their extenders.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    Yup, I know it's expensive compared to the set everyone's buying, but this certainly makes my life a WHOLE lot easier:

    https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD00602527636993
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    And just found a 20% off coupon code, that sealed the deal. If anyone's interested in buying the 2496 above, try code Crestron20. Not sure how long it's valid, but it worked for me. Downloading now.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    Unfortunately though, I don't have a native 2496 player until my Squeezebox Touch arrives, eta mid-week next week. I'll be checking it out downsampled soon enough though.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    Ok, ummmmm...... This is really good. I have a big smile on my face right now. I haven't even finished downloading it to my home server yet, but I've sampled Tom Sawyer and Limelight so far, and this is just downsampled to 128kbp mp3 streaming to iPeng. There is substantially more weight to the drums, much better separation, and fantastic clarity. Keiko is correct, the MFSL is more airy and warm. But I don't know that I'm looking for airy and warm in this recording. I am really liking what I hear so far, and that's just streaming low bitrate to my phone.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    Sorry for the thread spam, but I get this way when I hear something good! I'm going to reserve final judgement until my Touch is in high gear, but I'm pretty damn sure that the 2496 2-ch is a big improvement over the MFSL.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2011
    What's up with amazon.com?

    I go to buy the bluray/cd combo and it says 'pre-order..shipping May 3???

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    May have sold out and that's an estimate for the next availability. I'm just taking an educated guess, of course.

    Dagnabit....

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited April 2011
    nspindel wrote: »
    Ok, ummmmm...... This is really good. I have a big smile on my face right now. I haven't even finished downloading it to my home server yet, but I've sampled Tom Sawyer and Limelight so far, and this is just downsampled to 128kbp mp3 streaming to iPeng. There is substantially more weight to the drums, much better separation, and fantastic clarity. Keiko is correct, the MFSL is more airy and warm. But I don't know that I'm looking for airy and warm in this recording. I am really liking what I hear so far, and that's just streaming low bitrate to my phone.

    I just picked up the DVD-A version today and I got to agree with nspindel on this one. Everything is much more detailed and audible with the DVD-A version; drums; cymbals; bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals, effects, everything. It just sounds more like live music to me. The biggest difference to me with the DVD-A version is in the soundstage and imaging. The soundstage is much deeper and wider and the imaging is much more precise within the soundstage. It literally sounds like you are in the studio with the band when they're playing. I have heard this album literally thousands of times and I am hearing a lot of things I have never heard before! It turns out their playing is even more complicated than I thought it was for all of this time. I agree with Keiko in that the MoFi version is warmer sounding than the DVD-A, but with a band like Rush that blows you away with their awesome technical ability, a more detailed recording does the music more justice to me than a warmer one. For the record, I normally lean towards the warmer side of things, but not with this one. This is a definite keeper. Go out and get it Rush fans!
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    I'm interested in reading some polkie reviews on the blu-ray version. Anyone?

    It'll have to be sometime after May 3 for me....:frown:

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited April 2011
    I have several versions of this album including the new DVD-A remaster. They include:

    MFSL
    Canadian Anthem 1st pressing
    Original US Atomic
    SHM-CD
    1997 remaster

    I compared the 2 channel DVD-A layer with the other to keep things equal (the 5.1 stands on its own as a unique mix). I can say without question that to my ears and on my system, I would rate them as follows:

    1. MFSL
    2. US Atomic, Canadian Anthem
    4. DVD-A two channel, SHM-CD
    6. 97 remaster

    And to me, I'm being generous to rate the DVD-A in 4th. I am profoundly disappointed with this remaster. I have come to expect a lot when it comes to DVD-A's, especially after getting into Porcupine Tree's DVD-A releases in the last few years. The new Moving Pictures is not anywhere NEAR the quality of PT's high rez releases, in fact, it doesnt even come close to DVD-A remasters of older albums that I own on the format like Hotel California and Rumours. To me, this one is an epic fail. That being said, the 5.1 mix is fun to listen to but not as an "audiophile" release. I can only hope that if they plan on doing more DVD-A releases of Rush's albums they'll let PT's Steven Wilson man the mixing and mastering board.
    Music and Movie Rig

    Samsung 40" HDTV 1080p
    LSi25 Front Speakers
    LSiC Center Channel
    LSiFX Surrounds
    Rotel RB 1080 2-Channel Amp
    NAD T763 Reciever
    Denon DVD 2900 Universal Player
    Audiosource 10 Band Digital Equalizer
    Audioquest CV-8 speaker cables
    Audioquest Sub-X subwoofer cables
    Audioquest King Cobra Interconnects
    Monster AVS 2000 Voltage Stabilizer
    Playstation 3 120GB Slim
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited April 2011
    pmckeealaska wrote: »
    I have several versions of this album including the new DVD-A remaster. They include:

    MFSL
    Canadian Anthem 1st pressing
    Original US Atomic
    SHM-CD
    1997 remaster

    I compared the 2 channel DVD-A layer with the other to keep things equal (the 5.1 stands on its own as a unique mix). I can say without question that to my ears and on my system, I would rate them as follows:

    1. MFSL
    2. US Atomic, Canadian Anthem
    4. DVD-A two channel, SHM-CD
    6. 97 remaster

    And to me, I'm being generous to rate the DVD-A in 4th. I am profoundly disappointed with this remaster. I have come to expect a lot when it comes to DVD-A's, especially after getting into Porcupine Tree's DVD-A releases in the last few years. The new Moving Pictures is not anywhere NEAR the quality of PT's high rez releases, in fact, it doesnt even come close to DVD-A remasters of older albums that I own on the format like Hotel California and Rumours. To me, this one is an epic fail. That being said, the 5.1 mix is fun to listen to but not as an "audiophile" release. I can only hope that if they plan on doing more DVD-A releases of Rush's albums they'll let PT's Steven Wilson man the mixing and mastering board.

    Hearing this almost makes me wonder if we are listening to the same versions. I don't doubt for a momment that you and Keiko are hearing what you are hearing and prefer the Mofi version. I trust y'alls opinions, but it just goes to show how "YMMV". I own the Mofi version, the regular redbook version, two copies on vinyl, and now the DVD-A version. To me on my system the DVD-A version was a significant improvement over all of the other versions, including vinyl (granted both of my copies on vinyl are not the most pristine copies out there). I am easily hearing things on it that I have not heard before on the other versions. It just goes to show how different systems in different locations with different ears can sound so different.

    My current system consists of the following:

    Opera Audio CD-120 Balanced CD player
    Denon 2900 SACD/DVD-A player
    KABUSA Technics SL-1200MK2 with Dynavector 20XH cartridge modified by Soundsmith
    Jolida JD9 phono preamp with RCA grey plate 12AX7s
    Anthem Pre1L with Mullard 6922s and modified caps
    Anthem Amp-2 with Mullard 6922s
    Grant Fidelity B-283 tube buffer with Mullard 8100s ran between Denon SACD player and pre
    DCM Timeframe TF-400 version 2 speakers (currently don't have room for my SDA-1Cs, but these sound really nice).
    Energy ES-8 subwoofer
    Ben's ICs
    Twin run of JW Audio Cryo Nebula speaker cables (just replaced Audioquest CV-4s with noticable improvements)
    Pangea AC-14 power chords on CD, SACD, and tube buffer
    Pangea AC-14SE power chord on Pre.
    Pangea AC-9 power chord on amp
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    Just finished watching the music vids and went thru the photo gallery. Meh, it's OK, but nothing too special. I have all but Vital Signs on the Chronicles DVD. I'm going to concur with pmckeealaska on this. It's OK, but I think it could have been better. Sounds different because I'm sure it was EQd to be that way. If they would've did this strictly in 2ch SACD, I think we might of had something a bit more special.

    After I digest this, I'll listen to it again in 2ch and give the remastered CD a spin & compare it with my MFSL CD. I believe the Mobile Fidelity or vinyl is going to be the best version for this album. pmc claims the SHM-CDs are good as well. I only have Hold Your Fire in this format and I'm compelled to agree with him here as well.

    More later....

    I'm not convinced that the new CD is 'remastered' - lots of discussion on the SH forum that indicate this is just upsampled from the original master.

    Still - what comes out and into your head is all that matters.

    Keep us posted.

    My review will have to wait for the BD/CD combo to be back in stock.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited April 2011
    I guess it also has to do with what you want it to sound like. To me, I'm just not looking for this album to sound warm and airy. I want this album smacking me in my face, hard. When Neil Peart kicks the bass drum, I want to feel like I'm being kicked in the chest. That's how I remember feeling as a teenager, listening to the vinyl in 1981, as loud as my dad's stereo could crank it when my parents weren't home, praying that they wouldn't walk in the door and start screaming "TURN THAT **** DOWN!"

    To me, the MFSL version sounds nice, and is a big improvement over the original cd (which I no longer have to compare to) but it just doesn't have the power that this album should. Having seen the band live more times than I can count, I'm pretty familiar with how they like things to sound. Last week, when Geddy Lee was going hard at that bass guitar, Madison Square Garden was like a thunderstorm. You didn't just hear it. You FELT it.

    I never got that from the MFSL. And I'm pumping Sonicap'ed SDA 1C's with a Krell amp that has enough power to light a small city. It just never got to me the way the vinyl did in the 80's, on consumer grade equipment.

    Now granted I'm not listening to the DVD-Audio or the BluRay, I've got the 2496 downloads from HDTracks. But I'm not even listening to them in 2496 yet, they're downsampled to 16 bit because I haven't gotten my Squeezebox Touch yet. But even downsampled, this new mastering kicks ****. It's tight, it's fast, it's clear as hell, and it's got the punch to it that I always found missing in the MFSL.

    Everyone's ears are different. Everyone's tastes are different. Everyone's equipment is different. And that, as they say, is what makes horse races.

    I'm glad people feel differently. I love discussions like this one. It's what keeps the hobby interesting. If we all agreed 100%, this would have been a very short, boring thread!


    Also, note that tastes also vary from album to album. I also have the MFSL version of 2112. I love it. Warm and airy works well for that album. There's a lot of echo-ey, reverb-ey vocals and instruments that sound so great in the MFSL mix. I remember getting that MFSL cd over 20 years ago. I remember doing a bit of back and forth listening between the original and the MFSL, after which I threw the original in the bin.

    Now a 2496 mix of 2112... THAT would be interesting.....
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited April 2011
    I have the Blu-Ray and DVD-Audio, but still need to listen to it. I'll post some thoughts after I do....Hopefully tonight.:smile:

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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