Improved a good album

Mir is the group "Dredg" not yet known so long, but have "El Cielo" is one in a bar and found them very good spontaneously. Of course I looked at the CD concerned, etc. descriptions and synopses, one may indeed well read in the other reviews.

However, I have then also bought this SACD, to enjoy the noble work sometimes in 5.1 and in better quality because the normal CD has a slightly amateurish for me and mixed too shallow and too compressed.

With increasing awareness of the band this album was probably again remixed for this SACD. In particular, the percussion and the drums to gain in details, not by volume but clarity. Even the bass is more apparent. The good and some pretty dominant guitar but has been lowered somewhat. This is what happened in the famous final piece.

This new mix is ​​certainly better, but was in turn heavily compressed, especially in loud passages. In such a dynamic album like "El Cielo" and a "high-end format" as the SACD I would have expected more. In the end there remains but not quite as bad as on the normal CD, ie particularly in quiet passages of the sound effects are quite clear and natural.

The 5.1 mix is ​​unfortunately disappointing. He is extremely front-loaded, ie actually listen to the stereo mix and va little reminds of "Surround". There are a few effects here and there, but the complexity of the album had almost forced upon me a better distribution of the instruments. The 5.1 Mix contained apparently more of a marketing gimmick and could have been omitted.

Va that costs the point deduction.

And for "normal" CD player: the SACD is a hybrid SACD and will play on any CD player. This CD-compatible portion also includes the new mix, of course, without 5.1 or enhanced sound quality.

Conclusion: The main advantage is the improved mix, but unfortunately hardly the sound quality and have not at the 5.1-ways.

And as on any CD player, the disc can be played and the plays better mix I see little reason the old "only CD" to buy.

So nevertheless: fully empfehlensert!