Exceptional SACD's for Classical music

[Ern Dog]

I bought myself my first Sony SACD player for Christmas and want to purchase some classical SACD's for it. I have a handful already, but want to build a collection. Tell me your favorite SACD's that are top notch recordings. I'll be listening to it via 2-channel. I tend to like powerful performances. Thanks.

[Keiko]

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/38651/Boston_Symphony_Chamber_Players-Mozart_Chamber_Music_For_Winds_and_Strings-Hybrid_Multichannel_SACD

Check out this link Danny provided in another thread. Amadeus Soundtrack for 11.98.

http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/promos/sacds/

This is another good one for classical.

http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Overture-Kunzel-Cincinnati-Multichannel/dp/B00005AVNH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1261285898&sr=8-1

[F1nut]

Check out http://www.sa-cd.net/ for reviews and suggestions.

[mmadden28]

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/38651/Boston_Symphony_Chamber_Players-Mozart_Chamber_Music_For_Winds_and_Strings-Hybrid_Multichannel_SACD

...

Unless it was related to a bad batch of discs, that SACD may not be the best choice for a top notch recording.

I posted a thread on it here (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71859) in case you're interested.

[Ern Dog]

mmadden28- Yup, that's one of the handful of SACD's that I already have.

The $11.98 promotion going on at Telarc is Excellent. I saw a few on there that sparked my interest.

Keep 'em coming....

[Keiko]

Unless it was related to a bad batch of discs, that SACD may not be the best choice for a top notch recording.

I posted a thread on it here (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71859) in case you're interested.

Interesting. Never noticed any hiss on my copy, but I have less than golden ears also. :confused:

[Graboid]

Try some of the RCA Living Stereo SACDs available. There are about 50 of them. They are all classic analogue recordings from the mid 1950s to early 1960s. Great recordings, including Pictures at an Exhibition, Scheherezade, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1, Saint Saens Symphony No. 3 (organ). Many of the titles are 3-channel recordings, with left, center and right channels giving a nice stereo soundstage. Try some, I think you will like them, many others have fallen in love with them.

[Polkitup2]

My favorites are the Julia Fischer Pentatone SACDs. They are all excellent.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=julia+fischer+SACD+pentatone

[Ern Dog]

I have a couple of the RCA Living stereo cd's and like them. Don't have any Julia Fischer, might have to try one of her sacd out.

Thanks guys.

[TNRabbit]

x2 on 1812 Overture!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EN3ACKGTL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Holst: The Planets - http://www.amazon.com/Holst-Planets-Hybrid-SACD-Gustav/dp/B0002C4IJK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1261416267&sr=8-1

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51D478XGB5L._SS500_.jpg

[rlmacklin]

Ivan Fischer conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra for
Mahler 6th, Mahler 2nd, and recent Mahler 4th Symphonies (all on Channel Classics) are all near state of the art sonics for stereo/multichannel DSD recordings.

The RCA "Living Stereo" SACDs are indeed excellent -
Fritz Reiner conducting Chicago Symphony Orhcestra for Scheherezade, Pictures at an Exhibition, Mahler 4th Sym, etc. are wonderful, as are their recordings with soloists such as Van Cliburn, Arthur Rubinstein, and Jascha Heifetz.

I definitely second recommendations for all Julia Fischer violin recordings on Pentatone.
[She will play (unaccompanied) Bach "Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin" at Univ. North Carolina, Chapel Hill in April 2010.]

[Danny Tse]

Not a classical music fan, therefore I don't have that many such SACDs. However. amongst those that I have, these are my recommendations....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/3857516577_6e942c517e.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/3858306586_eb535d9619.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3322033348_c61ef8e18d.jpg

[John K.]

ED, as has been mentioned, the RCA Living Stereo SACDs are one of the likely sources, especially if you'll be listening without surrounds. A five disc collection of my favorites which haven't been mentioned yet would be: Spain (http://www.amazon.com/Spain-Hybrid-SACD-Isaac-Albeniz/dp/B000KP7LZC/); Daphnis et Chloe (http://www.amazon.com/Ravel-Daphnis-Chloe-Hybrid-SACD/dp/B0002TKFHW/); Harold in Italy (http://www.amazon.com/Berlioz-Harold-Italy-Overtures-Hybrid/dp/B000QEIM8W/); Gershwin collection (http://www.amazon.com/Rhapsody-American-Paris-Pasquale-Cardillo/dp/B0002XNLTW/); Gaite Parisienne (http://www.amazon.com/Offenbach-parisienne-Rossini-Respighi-boutique-fantasque/dp/B0006PV5VW/).

[Erik Tracy]

Check out http://www.sa-cd.net/ for reviews and suggestions.

Holy crap - there are titles on sa-cd.net that I thought I was the only one that had the vinyl copy of ;)

I see most of sources are overseas amazon sites - has anyone purchased from sa-cd.net from say amazon.de and gotten good customer service?

I'm just starting to build up my SACD collection - what do folks think of single layer SACDs? Is it really all depend on the specific title?

Thanks.

[Danny Tse]

what do folks think of single layer SACDs? Is it really all depend on the specific title?

Single-layer SACDs are typically early SACD titles, like those from Sony and Universal Music. Another reason for the release of single-layer SACDs was that there wasn't enough production capacity for hybrid SACDs at that point in time. In short, hybrid SACDs will sound just as good as single-layer SACDs.

Keep in mind that very few single-layer SACD got re-released as hybrid SACD....exceptions that come to mind include the "Titanic" soundtrack and certain titles from the Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock catalog (from Japan Sony Music).

Some single-layer SACD that are excellent include Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and John Denver "Greatest Hits Live".

If you are to get involved in SACD, expect to deal with foreign vendors because they get the SACD releases, not us here in the US. With that said, I have received excellent service from vendors in the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong.

[DeusExa]

F--- Sony for excluding SACD support on the newest PS3s...