HiRez Poll John, Elton - GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD [SACD/DVD-A/BDA]

[northernsoul]

The music is timeless & the mix excellent.
The mastering & EQ are poor.
I have a stereo SHM SACD that shows how good this can sound.

http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/52259

Is Blu Ray same master as SACD?

 

[northernsoul]

You are not alone Beefalo. I also mess with the EQ on this SACD...as well as all the other Elton John 5.1's for that matter.

What needs adjusting? Is it the highs above 10k? Or mid range?

 

[ar surround]

What needs adjusting? Is it the highs above 10k? Or mid range?

Specifically, here is the EQ curve that I apply to most of the EJ SACD's:



For my tastes, it softens some of the slight edginess that I find prevalent on these discs. On Tumbleweed Connection, I use a similar curve but with -3dB Tilt Equalization. Of course, you may prefer some other equalization or none at all.

 

[ssully]

Is Blu Ray same master as SACD?

Yes.*

Yet one 'sounds better'


*though technically, different fades means a different master..even if the compression, EQ, timings are the same

 

[ssully]

Specifically, here is the EQ curve that I apply to most of the EJ SACD's:

View attachment 52226

For my tastes, it softens some of the slight edginess that I find prevalent on these discs. On Tumbleweed Connection, I use a similar curve but with -3dB Tilt Equalization. Of course, you may prefer some other equalization or none at all.

I dunno. The heavy loudness/ EQ that was used for GYBR is not what I hear from the other EJ 5.1s I have.... Tumbleweed, Honky Chateau, Captain Fantastic -- though I haven't measured them to check that. I wonder if GYBR got 'special treatment' mastering because it's EJ's most popular.....

 

[ssully]

I took a quick look with Audition. I checked the front right channels of 'Ballad of a Well Known Gun', 'Honky Cat', and 'Bitter Fingers'. Turns out they are all pretty slammed , dynamics-wise...brick-ey looking.

Maybe the EQ for GBYBR is significantly different (more treble?) from the others ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ? I'm not motivated enough right now to check it!

 

[MarkyM]

I suspect that what happened with GBYBR was that the Dolby wasn’t properly decoded when the multitrack 2” master tape was transferred to digital. For that reason I generally stick to the original stereo mix of this.

 

[Matt Wilson]

I have the DVD-A, and I'm giving it a 9. The mix is superb, especially for something released in 2004. Yes, it's bright, but put away those wave forms and marvel at a great album released in three formats (DVD-A, SACD, & Blu ray) where we can't even come to a consensus as to which is the best. I used to think there was too much filler on this LP when I was growing up, but it all sounds pretty good to me now. Way more consistent than I thought for a double album from a guy who cranked out multiple records a year (this wasn't even his only release in 1973). Elton rules.

 

[mongojr]

I am really impressed with GYBR on DVD-Audio and well as Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection & MMATW on SACD. All feature flawless sound and excellent 5.1 mixes.

 

[par4ken]

I've had this SACD for several years, just never got around to playing it. I was a big fan of Elton but not so much of this album. I really didn't care for any of the hits. Candle In the Rain , Benny And The Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting. So somehow it got pushed to the side, forgotten. I pulled it out today and plopped it into the BDP-103. All I can say is wow! Despite the hits the album is far better than I remember, content wise and mix wise it rates with the best! The mix is very discrete all speakers pumping out different sounds simultaneously, fantastic! Have to give it a ten!

 

[mongojr]

I never could figure out why Benny and the Jets was a hit. I have loved this since I got it on DVD-Audio and amazed at the 5.1 mix but I skip this song. IMHO the best songs from Elton & Bernie aren't on the radio.

 

[Titch]

A 10 for the Blu-ray audio multichannel PCM mix. It is better than the sound quality on the SACD, which sounds harsher and has less bass than the blu-ray. Noticeable when cranked up. I would give the SACD an 8.

 

[quicksrt]

I never could figure out why Benny and the Jets was a hit. I have loved this since I got it on DVD-Audio and amazed at the 5.1 mix but I skip this song. IMHO the best songs from Elton & Bernie aren't on the radio.

Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, Sweet Painted Ladies, All the Young Girls Live Alice, and Grey Seal still rock my world once in a while. And others too.

I think I got this and Quadrophenia both on double LP sets around the same time in ‘73 my the time flew by didn’t it.

 

[Strilo]

Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is a freakin masterpiece. Love that track! And its surround mix is stellar.

 

[Larry Geller]

This Song Has No Title is the surround sleeper here.

 

[William Dudman]

Is Blu Ray same master as SACD?

I own a 7.5 ips tape of this bought in UK, still plays well!

 

[atrocity]

I own a 7.5 ips tape of this bought in UK, still plays well!

Is it a specific UK tape release or imported from the US?

As a reel collector I'm just curious. As far as I can tell, while there definitely were reels made for the UK market, there were far fewer than in the US.

 

[edisonbaggins]

Is Blu Ray same master as SACD?

On my system, to my ears, the BD is noticeably brighter than either the SACD or DVD-A, which both sound the same.
In a blind test, my parents also noticed the difference. They both prefer the brighter BD. I prefer the SACD or DVD-A.

 

[William Dudman]

Is it a specific UK tape release or imported from the US?

As a reel collector I'm just curious. As far as I can tell, while there definitely were reels made for the UK market, there were far fewer than in the US.

I'm sure it is a US release that had found its way to the Audiojumble Event in Tonbridge, Kent, England where I bought it.

 

[Lord British]

I never could figure out why Benny and the Jets was a hit. I have loved this since I got it on DVD-Audio and amazed at the 5.1 mix but I skip this song. IMHO the best songs from Elton & Bernie aren't on the radio.

Agreed. The fake live crowd doesn't do it any favors, either.