Sonic issue-Static or hiss on an SACD???

mmadden28

This question is a continuation of a previous thread-I didn't want to throw the original thread off track so here it is in a new post:

I bought the SACD mentioned in this thread:

TroyD wrote: »

I picked up Mozart Chamber Music for Winds and Strings by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players and got around to playing it yesterday.....this is THE SACD to own. If you want to hear what the format is capable of in terms of musicality and resolution, this is the one. I know that this is a dead format and you can't put the SACD layer on your computer but I'd consider it anyway.

This is the disc that acousticsounds keeps pushing, now I know why.

Even if you don't like classical, get this. You will love it.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=38651

BDT

I am hearing a hiss or static-or perhaps some other anomaly that I don't know the proper adjective for. It almost makes me think of a song that is ripped to MP3 at too low a bitrate and it lost something. I hear it at various parts throughout the song, but its especially noticeable at about 33 seconds thru 36 seconds into Track #1.
Its a dynamic sound-changes in intensity-its not a steady level hiss or static. I hear it on both the SACD and CD layers, Anyway if anybody has this-please take a listen and let me know if you hear it or not.
You have to turn it up a bit and listen closely.

I listened on my Pioneer DV46AV in SACD 2 channel mode as well as in CD mode. I listened on my computer, and in my car. I even ripped it to MP3, in all cases I can still hear it. Although its most noticeable to me on my 2 channel setup- perhaps because its the most revealing so far.:cool:

I am trying to figure out if I have a bad disc or there is actually something wrong with the recording. O rmaybe its just me . I haven't listened to the whole disc yet to see if this sonic issue is present anywhere else yet.

As noted in the previous thread, xandra and polkitup2 have listened already and haven't heard the same issue.

Right now, I'm trying to rip a small section of the song to MP3 so I can post it here. Maybe if it is a problem with my source somebody can tell me if they hear it in the mp3.

Thanks for any feedback.

mmadden28

OK since nobody else seems to have the same issue with the disc and I've ruled out my equipment, its likely a defective disc so I started the RMA process.

Anyway, in the meantime, I ripped a few seconds of the first track and attached it. Its a zipped mp3 file. Just unzip and give it a listen- Pay close attention (turn it up) to between 3 and 6 seconds, as well as mostly throughout between 12 and 22 seconds.

Let me know if you can hear the static or hiss, and if there is a better term to describe it let me know.
If you hear any clicks or pops-just ignore them I think they are an artifact of the freeware mp3 splitter I used.

Thanks

F1nut

Are you sure it's not just tape hiss?

mmadden28

Tape hiss? from an SACD? Na -I think I know what you're talking about but no- this is a dynamic kind of hiss that follows some of the highs-did ya get a chance to give the mp3 a listen?

This is not the kind of anomaly I would expect to hear on an SACD, esp one that has been highly rated.

bikezappa

I used **** computer speakers but I think I hear back ground hiss modulating. To me this is like some dynamic range noise compression circuit. It's almost like the hiss is breathing, in and out, loud and soft.

mmadden28

YES! somebody else hears it!! I'm vindicated! :cool:.

That's what I thought it sounded like-like poor compression artifacts. Its like that thoughout parts of the song-actually just now I'm listening to some other tracks-I hear it htere too. And it doesn't matter what source I play it on. Although its much more obvious on the 2 channel rig.
FYI I set the MP3 rip to 320kbps at the highest qual setting so as not to introduce any of my own compression artifacts

Damn those clicks and pops on this mp3 are annoying

Thanks for listening.

mmadden28

Anybody else here also have that CD care to rip the 1st track at a high bitrate (192 or higher) and send me a copy (email) so I can give a listen to a known good copy?

Polkitup2

You are definately not hearing things - it's there in a number of places but at 12 seconds, 17 seconds, and especially arround 30 seconds in I definately hear it. When I listened last time it was in the morning at low levels (wife sleeping), but I just played it at louder levels and it is very obvious.

Damn you, I though this CD was perfect!:D

mmadden28

Polkitup2 wrote: »

You are definately not hearing things - it's there in a number of places but at 12 seconds, 17 seconds, and especially arround 30 seconds in I definately hear it. When I listened last time it was in the morning at low levels (wife sleeping), but I just played it at louder levels and it is very obvious.

Damn you, I though this CD was perfect!:D

Are you saying you listened and heard it on the original SACD?? :eek:

Polkitup2

Yes, my SACD.

mmadden28

Polkitup2 wrote: »

Yes, my SACD.

ahh man--, and here I had my hopes up that I would be able to get it exchanged and be in bliss ---crap crap crap! Unless of course its just a bad batch. Maybe I'll try to contact the publisher.:o

I suppose I can save myself the return shipping charges and just keep it as is-Dammitol--that hiss really bothers me.

We need a new superb reference SACD peeps!!

Ern Dog

Nope, don't hear any hiss on my copy. I'm only listening to the cd layer. Good thing because I really like that track the best.

treitz3

I have found that a hiss, or background noise is present on not all, but some of my SACD's. The same CD's that I have that's just the redbook layer do not exhibit this sound as prevalent. Personally, I believe that it is introduced or accentuated during the mastering. Maybe they set the gain too high or something. I really don't know as I'm not a recording engineer. This sound only bugs me when the silent passages come but can sometimes [on some recordings] be audible throughout.

What I'm hearing doesn't exactly match what you are describing but I thought that I would throw it out there anyway.

Face

I noticed background noise on some tracks of Nora Jone's "Come Away With Me" SACD. It's a little disappointing to find this on the SACD layer IMO.

mmadden28

Ern Dog wrote: »

Nope, don't hear any hiss on my copy. I'm only listening to the cd layer. Good thing because I really like that track the best.

I hear it on both SACD and redbook layers.

Hey Ern Dog, can you take a look at Post #7, Maybe you could just do the first minute-not the whole track. I want to see if I can (or can't) hear it in your copy as well. If I can't I might pursue getting my copy replaced-could just be a bad batch.

And/or take a listen to the copy I attached in post #2, see if you can hear what I describe there.