It went for me primarily a question of whether there are real improvements with this audio format, which would justify a new purchase of already known and beloved titles and publications.
As the industry now in addition to the well-known 25th Anniversary Editions as early as 10, 20, 30 and now 35 years (eg, "Rumors" by Fleetwood Mac Deluxe Box) repeatedly published the same title, I was very curious about the result. From "Rumors" Incidentally, I have the LP, the CD, the remastered double CD with bonus material and DVD-Audio and SACD.
But here it's all now about the Stones. For my test I chose the title "Wild Horses".
Why?
Well, the song I have 5 x present in various publications. A comparison has also in view of the age of admission to but mainly because of the instrumentation through the intro with acoustic guitars through to use drums and the vocals and electric guitar. Here the corresponding Media:
1) CD Sticky Fingers Sony EAN 5 099 745 019 526
2.) CD Sticky Fingers Polydor EAN 6 02,527,015,620 Mastered by Stephen Marcussen and Stewart Whitmore
3.) CD Hot Rocks 2 London 0 EAN 42282014221 Digital mastering by Mobile Fidelty Sound
4.) SACD Hot Rocks 2 ABKCO EAN 0 42,288,230,526 mastering by Bob Ludwig
5.) BluRay Audio Grrr! UPC 00602537233922 - there is no information on who created HERE!
Let's start, in the exact order.
1.) Sony CD via analogue outputs (Kimber Cable)
2.) the Polydor also via analog, but sometimes switched on digital cable
3.) the London, analog
4) the SACD, of course analogue
5.) the BluRay via the optical output Digital polished finish with a fiber optic cable to the amplifier.
First, an enormous difference in volume falls on. The "old CD" does not sound bad, the remastered Polydor sounding but detailed and the heights were raised. The London was actually my "old favorite" until I grew my SACD. Now the BluRay. My statement this refers explicitly only to PCM, I have not even switched around here between Dolby Digital and DTS. All tests were conducted on "Stereo Direct" ie without the influence of tone control or loudness.
To make it short: The SACD from 2002 sounds best for my taste! The instruments are clear locatable, pearl, every little thing just sounds airy, the drums powerfully, Mick Jagger whispers there, but here are all the hissing and clipping still present and the electric guitar then sets a powerfully.
My Conclusion:
I could not identify any significant improvement in sound in this title by the BluRay. But it is not clear to me what master tapes using found. Maybe that can be seen from the triple CD. For the BluRay format speaks the continuous playing time, because you need not change the disks.
Whether the perhaps next 40, 45 and 50th Anniversary editions of eg "Rumours" on BluRay should do Audio himself, everyone must decide for themselves. Unless we all experience the 2027, but I have to ask whether we really still able to perceive any differences in sound!
