Playing it through for the first time in Stereo...
Observation 1.) The Stereo is not immediately bright and it is not loud, it can be cranked. What a relief..!!!
Observation 2.) Bass is incredible. Rich, full of warmth and depth but not overblown.
Observation 3.) No ear-piercing treble. WOW! at last! cymbals sound like cymbals and not like crisp packets.. drums generally sound better than I've ever heard them on digital disc, they have a real palpable texture.. wonderful. Strings in "I've Seen That Movie Too" shimmer but aren't strident.
Observation 4.) Mid-bass seems more fulsome and detailed than I remember either the DJM CD or MFSL sounding but I will be comparing this new disc to every other CD/SACD/DVD version I have presently to be sure it's not the old memory playing tricks.
if you hated the Stereo on the SACD I think you are going to love this! I think Universal finally got it right.
Of course there will always be people who prefer the MFSL or the DJM CDs but for anyone not wanting to go the expense of the MFSL or hassle of tracking down a DJM CD and who has a Blu-ray player, this is a complete no-brainer.
I haven't tried the 5.1, as I expect it'll be just like the old SACD but I'll give it a play later to make comparisons for QQ, I'm enjoying the Stereo too much at the minute to be honest
I'm going to play this through many times before I make a final assessment but on the basis of one complete listen-thru, I'm going to stick my neck out and say this Stereo presentation sounds absolutely superb. I'm shocked and relieved to say, I was fearing the worst.
FWIW, I am pretty familiar with this recording, this Blu-ray marks my 8th digital disc version of this album.. 1986 DJM CD2 (821 747-2), Gus Dudgeon 1995 remaster (528 159-2), MFSL Ultradisc II (UDCD 526), Japanese PaperSleeve (w/Gus' '95 remaster), 2003 2 x SACD Deluxe Edition (981 320-5), 2004 DVD-Audio (BOOO2307-19), 2014 Super Deluxe Set, 2014 HFPA Blu-ray.
