SHM-CDs on there way

Erik Tracy
Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
edited January 2012 in Music & Movies
I went a bit wild and ordered some SHM-CDs (yup CDs not SACDs) back in Nov and they are shipping today.

Sabbath - Vol 4, Sabotage, HnH
Humble Pie - Smokin'
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Who - Live at Leeds
Peter Frampton - Live
Traffic - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Howling Wolf - London Sessions
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Lynyrd Skynyrd - One more from the Road

Will be interesting to see how these sound - esp the Sabbath compared to some of the CDs and LPs I have.

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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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited December 2011
    Keep us posted. Be interested if there is a noteable differance for the money.
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  • DForeman
    DForeman Posts: 468
    edited December 2011
    There is nothing more exciting than a shipment of CDs on the way.

    I got my shipping notice too for some SHM-CDs and SHM-SACDs:

    Supertramp - Crime of the Century
    Styx - Equinox
    Stones - Tatoo You (Sacd)
    Stones - Exile on Main Street (Sacd)

    These will be my first SHM-CDs as well - crossing my fingers.
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited December 2011
    My Dire Straits - Love Over Gold SHM-SACD is also on its way :) I have the regular SHM of it from Japan as well.

    Good to see another Supertramp fan btw!
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited January 2012
    Excellent choices. Let me know how the PF "Live" cd is.
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  • cwsmith68
    cwsmith68 Posts: 434
    edited January 2012
    DForeman wrote: »
    There is nothing more exciting than a shipment of CDs on the way.

    I got my shipping notice too for some SHM-CDs and SHM-SACDs:

    Supertramp - Crime of the Century
    Styx - Equinox
    Stones - Tatoo You (Sacd)
    Stones - Exile on Main Street (Sacd)

    These will be my first SHM-CDs as well - crossing my fingers.

    What is SHM-SACD, SHM-CD? SHM?
    Main system:
    Denon PRA-1500, Denon POA-2400, Denon TU-660, Denon DCD-2560, Denon DVD-2910, Denon DRS-640, Denon DP-30L II w/DL-301 mc cart, BSR EQ-3000, DCM Timeframe 600's
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2012
    cwsmith68 wrote: »
    What is SHM-SACD, SHM-CD? SHM?

    SHM - "Super High Media"

    Japan is releasing alot of older titles on these SHM media. Some are "Super Audio CDs" which use a different digital encoding (higher resolution) than standard CDs.

    But for me, whether SACD or CD - its about how well the title was recorded, mixed, and mastered - so sometimes I'll prefer the SACD, sometimes the CD. Ears on baby....:cheesygrin:

    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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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited January 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    SHM - "Super High Media"

    Now with XRCD....

    6311616812_07d032e63f_m.jpg
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2012
    Just picked up my package today from the Post Office.

    Playing Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" now.

    Wow....great sonics and clarity, clean mix, clear bass - I swear Stevie Winwood is sitting at his keyboards in my room.

    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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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited January 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    Just picked up my package today from the Post Office.

    Playing Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" now.

    Wow....great sonics and clarity, clean mix, clear bass - I swear Stevie Winwood is sitting at his keyboards in my room.
    Sound like you likey. Where did you order them from. I want some too.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2012
    CDJapan

    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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  • DForeman
    DForeman Posts: 468
    edited January 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    Just picked up my package today from the Post Office.

    Playing Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" now.

    Wow....great sonics and clarity, clean mix, clear bass - I swear Stevie Winwood is sitting at his keyboards in my room.

    Have you listened to your Crime of the Century yet? Am curious and hopeful of this SHM version (mine won't be in for another week or so). Let us know!
    Parasound P5 Pre
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    Outlaw 7500 Amp
    Marantz SA14s1 SACD/CD
    Rega Planar 2 TT
    Polk Audio Speakers: LSiM 705 Fronts, LC65FX Surround, LSiM 704c
    Oppo BDP-103
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited January 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    CDJapan
    Just looked at there website, a couple of questions though. Do they translate the yen to dollars at final checkout and what about the import fee's or custom fee's. Thanks for the info.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,723
    edited January 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    SHM - "Super High Media"

    It's Super High Material, http://shm-cd.co-site.jp/about/about_e.html
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2012
    DForeman wrote: »
    Have you listened to your Crime of the Century yet? Am curious and hopeful of this SHM version (mine won't be in for another week or so). Let us know!
    chumlie wrote: »
    Just looked at there website, a couple of questions though. Do they translate the yen to dollars at final checkout and what about the import fee's or custom fee's. Thanks for the info.

    As you browse and shop, the prices will be in both yen and dollars.

    When you place your order the prices will be in yen, but your total will be translated to dollars.

    If there are any import or custom fees - I guess it depends on what country you are in. For the US, I didn't see any such fees on my order - just a single "shipping fee".

    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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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited January 2012
    Sweet . Thanks for the info. Sorry, one more question, how long to get to you after you ordered them.
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  • DForeman
    DForeman Posts: 468
    edited January 2012
    chumlie wrote: »
    Sweet . Thanks for the info. Sorry, one more question, how long to get to you after you ordered them.

    CD Japan offers different shipping speeds. I go with the cheapest - called SAL (forget what that stands for) and takes 2-3 weeks for delivery.
    Parasound P5 Pre
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited January 2012
    DForeman wrote: »
    CD Japan offers different shipping speeds. I go with the cheapest - called SAL (forget what that stands for) and takes 2-3 weeks for delivery.
    Thanks
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2012
    DForeman wrote: »
    Have you listened to your Crime of the Century yet? Am curious and hopeful of this SHM version (mine won't be in for another week or so). Let us know!

    So, I have the A&M CD copy and now the SHM-CD.

    The A&M CD is *really good* btw, imo.
    - v.g clarity and balance
    - v.g. separation and soundstage

    The SHM-CD is also really good.
    - a tad louder
    - a tad 'cleaner' - which may be due to the level boosting, but it sounds like there is just a tiny bit more clarity into the music
    - still really good separation and soundstage
    - bass is really clean

    The best value would be to find a $5 copy of the regular A&M cd - it is that good.

    But if cost is no object, then by a hair - I'd go w/ the SHM-CD.

    Now, unfortunately, as a die hard Sabbath fan - the SHM-CD of Sabotage is not as good as the 1986 Castle remaster CD I have.

    The SHM-CD is WAY louder and treble boosted - which makes it uncrankable. It might be fine if you want to listen to Sabbath at low volumes as you dust the coffee table or sort magazines. But who wants to do that with Sabbath??? :confused:

    I'd go with the Castle CD for those two.

    Now the SHM-CD of Heaven and Hell IS crankable and has some wicked bass and low drum sonics - v. clean, but it'll make your head vibrate! Clean sonics, good separation, balanced eq on top - not tilted up, but still clear.

    I haven't had a chance to listent to anything else today.

    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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  • DForeman
    DForeman Posts: 468
    edited January 2012
    Erik - thanks for your reviews. I'll definitely pick up the SHM-CD of Heaven and Hell based on what you've stated.

    As for Crime of the Century - I've currently got the 2002 A&M remaster which I find bright and hard to listen to. I am guessing the A&M version you are referring to is the one from the 90's. I had that at one point, wished I would have kept it. But, sounds like the SHM-CD version is pretty good and I've got that one on the way.

    Thanks again for your reviews.
    Parasound P5 Pre
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    Outlaw 7500 Amp
    Marantz SA14s1 SACD/CD
    Rega Planar 2 TT
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    Oppo BDP-103
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2012
    Depending on the artist or title I've found that there could literally be dozens of different re-mixes/masters to choose from - all of them different.

    At first I found that hard to believe, but after listening to different remasters of the same title - it is for real - they can sound radically different - some sublime to an assault to the ears.

    I've also found that opinions will vary wildly as well where 'expert' opinions don't match my ears or preferences.

    So, its all about ears on cuz rigs will be different as well as sonic preferences.

    Be sure to share what your opinion is for your orders! :cheesygrin:

    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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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,328
    edited January 2012
    Mobile Fidelity Vinyl/CD/SACD and SHM-CD/SACD is where I spend the most on material/music everything else I buy mostly used.
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