HiRez Poll Cobham, Billy - SPECTRUM [Blu-Ray Audio]

[rtbluray]

Please post your thoughts and comments on this new Blu-Ray Audio release of the classic Billy Cobham album "Spectrum".
Released as part of Rhino's ongoing Quadio series, this new Blu-Ray Audio release features both the original 1970s Quadraphonic mix and the more recent 5.1 surround mix originally released on DVDA-V back in 2001. This release is the first time that both of these surround mixes have been collected together and released in high-resolution on the same disc.

 

[Musichronosphere]

I just listened to Billy Cobham's Spectrum from Rhino. Great album with three mixes: Quadio, DTS 5.1 and DTS stereo. Very interesting. Check out Snoopy's Search. The Quadio mix starts with the fast arpeggios in the left channel. The DTS 5.1 and DTS stereo are reversed, starting with fast arpeggios in the right channel. When the song goes multi-channel, I like the DTS 5.1 the best, but each mix has its own merits. I think the DTS 5.1 has the most directional and cohesive sound overall.

 

[RustyM]

SURROUND MIX - 3
AUDIO FIDELITY - 3
CONTENT - 3
OVERALL PACKAGE - 1
The QUADIO mix was my favorite. The mix is wonderful and lively. The audio fidelity is perfect. The content is very entertaining. The packaging is consistent with the previous QUADIO releases. Highly recommend. Rated 10.

 

[marpow]

I voted 10 on the Audio Fidelity 4.0 SACD Poll. I will be honest, that after that Feb 28, 2016 vote, I evolved into not as good as I thought, mainly I had so much surround under my belt, I can discriminate better. The reason I soured a little with the AF it sounded flat to me, even though the separation within the Quad was great.
All that said, I vote 12 on this new Rhino Quadio release.
I had a Goldilocks affair with this release, I was ripping other discs, I finished ripping this disc and I was so anxious to listen I popped it into the Blu Ray player and listened in sequence, 4.0-5.1-2.0. My Goldilocks jumped in the 4.0 bed.
I'll explain but some facts first.
Blu Ray Rips, 4.0 FLAC file-24bit/192Khz-DTS HD MSTR-DR's are 11's, 12's, 13's, 14, 15, 16. 5.1 FLAC file-24bit/96Khz-DTS HD MSTR-DR's are 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's, 16's. 2.0 FLAC file-24bit/192Khz-DTS HD MSTR-DR's are 11's, 12's, 13's, 15, 17.
Back to Goldilocks listening: My choice was the 4.0, far superior to the AF 2016 version, more fuller in sonics, not as flat as the AF.
I heard in the 4.0, the star Billy Cobham with his drums very present and in all 4 speakers, much of a even surround. The 5.1 had Billy's drums up front and laid back sometimes being hidden behind Tommy Bolin's guitar, the rears where kind of a reverb of all. The stereo, well for a surround listener such as we are, given the choice, the stereo is just too flat and all buried.
This album originally released in 1973 just had to be Jeff Becks template for Blow By Blow in 1975, and Tommy Bolin was, had to be an effort even for Jeff Beck to keep up.
Billy Cobham's drumming with his double bass technique is outstanding on Spectrum.

I love this album and now the surround improvement over the AF, puts a giant smile on my face.

Please Keep Poll Threads Pure To Your Listening Experience Only.
Keep it going Rhino, we support you immensely.

 

[Musichronosphere]

Check out Snoopy's Search. I prefer the DTS 5.1 mix to the Quadio mix, but both are valid mixes. I enjoy the interplay/contrast between Cobham and Bolin (and Hammer, et al). This album grooves and shakes like few others and I do like the comparison to Jeff Beck. Cobham is truly the maestro for this aptly-titled album.

 

[Ódoligie]

@marpow Thanks for the detailed review and your comparison with the Audio Fidelity SACD! I already have the AF disc which I love so I wasn't sure if I wanted to double dip. The improvement you observed convinced me and I just placed my order. Hopefully I hear the same with my ears and on my system; regardless, I'm grateful you took the time to share your thoughts.

 

[edisonbaggins]

This is a sick BD.

 

[Todd 987]

I’ll leave all the technical stuff to the experts, but as a fan, who knew this album only marginally, what a fantastic release, in particular the 4.0. Dynamite playing, and Bolin on guitar! Drums everywhere! Has to be a 10.

 

[Michael Marshall]

I voted 10 on the Audio Fidelity 4.0 SACD Poll. I will be honest, that after that Feb 28, 2016 vote, I evolved into not as good as I thought, mainly I had so much surround under my belt, I can discriminate better. The reason I soured a little with the AF it sounded flat to me, even though the separation within the Quad was great.
All that said, I vote 12 on this new Rhino Quadio release.
I had a Goldilocks affair with this release, I was ripping other discs, I finished ripping this disc and I was so anxious to listen I popped it into the Blu Ray player and listened in sequence, 4.0-5.1-2.0. My Goldilocks jumped in the 4.0 bed.
I'll explain but some facts first.
Blu Ray Rips, 4.0 FLAC file-24bit/192Khz-DTS HD MSTR-DR's are 11's, 12's, 13's, 14, 15, 16. 5.1 FLAC file-24bit/96Khz-DTS HD MSTR-DR's are 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's, 16's. 2.0 FLAC file-24bit/192Khz-DTS HD MSTR-DR's are 11's, 12's, 13's, 15, 17.
Back to Goldilocks listening: My choice was the 4.0, far superior to the AF 2016 version, more fuller in sonics, not as flat as the AF.
I heard in the 4.0, the star Billy Cobham with his drums very present and in all 4 speakers, much of a even surround. The 5.1 had Billy's drums up front and laid back sometimes being hidden behind Tommy Bolin's guitar, the rears where kind of a reverb of all. The stereo, well for a surround listener such as we are, given the choice, the stereo is just too flat and all buried.
This album originally released in 1973 just had to be Jeff Becks template for Blow By Blow in 1975, and Tommy Bolin was, had to be an effort even for Jeff Beck to keep up.
Billy Cobham's drumming with his double bass technique is outstanding on Spectrum.

I love this album and now the surround improvement over the AF, puts a giant smile on my face.

Please Keep Poll Threads Pure To Your Listening Experience Only.
Keep it going Rhino, we support you immensely.