Rush "Hemispheres" (40th Anniversary Box Set with 5.1 Blu-Ray Audio!)

[4-earredwonder]

You could mess around with it just for kicks- I’d try mixing the center into the rears (get those bits of isolated activity coming from behind you) and maybe lower the fronts a couple of dB to get it more balanced.

Too bad about this one- SW really did kill AFTK.

Jonathan, fiddling with those dials is the antithesis of a GREAT SURROUND Mix.

Rich C, I'm sure was privy to Steve Wilson's stellar [and I mean STELLAR] remix of a Farewell to Kings but apparently....didn't take notes.
,
IMO, this was a CASH GRAB on Rush/Universal's part. Although the Vinyl Discs, I see, are DMM [Direct Metal Mastered] so for Vinyl Fans, not so much of a bust!

 

[GOS]

Jonathan, fiddling with those dials is the antithesis of a GREAT SURROUND Mix.

Rich C, I'm sure was privy to Steve Wilson's stellar [and I mean STELLAR] remix of a Farewell to Kings but apparently....didn't take notes.
,
IMO, this was a CASH GRAB on Rush/Universal's part. Although the Vinyl Discs, I see, are DMM [Direct Metal Mastered] so for Vinyl Fans, not so much of a bust!

Ah, so before I give in and sell mine...I should spin the vinyl and see what's up with that?

 

[sjcorne]

Jonathan, fiddling with those dials is the antithesis of a GREAT SURROUND Mix

Oh I don’t disagree, I’m just wondering if anything can be done to improve/salvage this (other than getting SW to remix it ).

 

[4-earredwonder]

Oh I don’t disagree, I’m just wondering if anything can be done to improve/salvage this.

Yeah, get Steve Wilson to REMIX it when he's available. Sorry I sound so terse, but too many recent remixes have been **** {In Search of the Lost Chord comes instantly to mind} and NO amount of tinkering will provide the desired results, IMO.

It either works......or IT DOESN'T!

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Oh I don’t disagree, I’m just wondering if anything can be done to improve/salvage this (other than getting SW to remix it ).

I think this might be a case like the Moody Blues set...the value was in the stereo layer...for some....the value here might be that it is better than previous versions(non surround) in a fidelity sense...

 

[GOS]

I think this might be a case like the Moody Blues set...the value was in the stereo layer...for some....the value here might be that it is better than previous versions(non surround) in a fidelity sense...

Well, I did a quick spin of the vinyl and geez....sounds amazing. But, that's not to say that the stereo on the blu doesn't sound killer as well. Hmmmm

 

[MyCuff]

Good to know the vinyl at least is a keeper. Since it has been a while, I will play my 1978 PRC pressing tomorrow and get a sense of how good it sounds. Curious if the new vinyl pressing sounds as good as the Blu ray 2.0 version, and would be good to get an opinion on that. Really though it is just a shame about the 5.1 and such a lost opportunity. As the follow up (and a continuation) to AFTK, it would have made so much sense for SW to do both at the same time.

 

[marpow]

Well it arrived, no time to listen though. Funny, my Hendrix box with inner bubble padding came dented, this with nothing in the oversized box came perfect. Still waiting on my White album from Japan, I have a feeling the Japanese are going crazy for the White album.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Well it arrived, no time to listen though. Funny, my Hendrix box with inner bubble padding came dented, this with nothing in the oversized box came perfect. Still waiting on my White album from Japan, I have a feeling the Japanese are going crazy for the White album.

They probably dented the Hendrix box before they packed it. I'm sure TWA will come soon. There's all kinds of airport delays on the East Coast due to the bad weather in the midwest. Patience, Markie.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I know a lot of people are disappointed in this title...but on the positive side...the mere fact that it was released is good...and it was in the preferred format...yes it would have awesome to have SW do the mix...but I doubt it was the fault of the record company...he was probably not available....it would have much worse to not have any anniversary set...then you would have to wonder if they were going to stop the box releases....I l try to look at the big picture...we got 2 titles that few thought would ever be surround releases and they were both excellent and they weren't just any performers...The Beatles and Hendrix...and Tull THIS WAS...was well done...so there are 3 we got in the span of a couple of weeks...let's not forget that...and looking back a few months...on the stereo SACD front...a Hendrix title and Simon and Garfunkel...both excellent...and most of us knew there could be problems with the Moodies and this one...so IMO we are way ahead of the game...and in the distance I can see that other Hendrix stereo SACD...the one I REALLY want...and Pink Floyd is lurking...and then...out of nowhere...just like before..Rhino will unlease the Doobies on us when we least expect it....lots of good stuff ahead folks...don't let this be a distraction...our musical futures are so bright we are gonna need shades

 

[GOS]

I know exactly what is going to happen...someone is gonna raise the rear channels and it might...just might sound better. I think minimally, this is a classic case of that......hmmmmm. Should I? I bet someone else will beat me to the punch. lmao

 

[peterzach]

One thing I was curious about do we know if the Rush guys even liked SW's 5.1 mix?

Reason I ask is SW has only done the one mix and not sure if we will ever find out why SW did not get a crack at this one as Rick C. has been Rush's choice for 7 albums now in surround, 1974’s Fly by Night, 1976’s 2112, 1977’s A Farewell to Kings, 1981’s Moving Pictures, 1982’s Signals, and 2007’s Snakes and Arrows] and now Hemispheres.

 

[rtbluray]

My box is stuck in the office until I can go in and get it tomorrow. (Late mail delivery today screwed me up...)

Anyway, here's the poll:https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...spheres-blu-ray-audio-disc.25675/#post-398710
(Listen to it a few times at least before voting, por favor)

 

[GOS]

I know exactly what is going to happen...someone is gonna raise the rear channels and it might...just might sound better. I think minimally, this is a classic case of that......hmmmmm. Should I? I bet someone else will beat me to the punch. lmao

OK, I sort of laugh when folks start messing with channel levels......I know...I Know. But....
I'm going to tell you right now, the surround levels in this one are so pathetic (IMO), that raising them makes a big difference. I took the first song and raised the rears by +3db, lowered center by -1.5db and lowered front's by -2db.

Sounds way better to me...but what do I have now? Maybe nothing more than "bigger" stereo....not sure. There is NO doubt in my mind that making some similar adjustments will make it "seem" like a better surround mix. But, I also notice by increasing the rears....that the fidelity is simply NOT on the same level as the previous one. I don't know why....

Whatever the hell Wilson does...just works. That dude is a effing monster........

 

[GOS]

My box is stuck in the office until I can go in and get it tomorrow. (Late mail delivery today screwed me up...)

Anyway, here's the poll:https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...spheres-blu-ray-audio-disc.25675/#post-398710
(Listen to it a few times at least before voting, por favor)

I'm gonna wait a few days before I vote. I need to let it all sink in. This weekend will be a great time to do so...

 

[4-earredwonder]

OK, I sort of laugh when folks start messing with channel levels......I know...I Know. But....
I'm going to tell you right now, the surround levels in this one are so pathetic (IMO), that raising them makes a big difference. I took the first song and raised the rears by +3db, lowered center by -1.5db and lowered front's by -2db.

Sounds way better to me...but what do I have now? Maybe nothing more than "bigger" stereo....not sure. There is NO doubt in my mind that making some similar adjustments will make it "seem" like a better surround mix. But, I also notice by increasing the rears....that the fidelity is simply NOT on the same level as the previous one. I don't know why....

Whatever the hell Wilson does...just works. That dude is a effing monster........

Gene, as I've been listening to surround for years [and years] I've noticed that the strength of both Steve Wilson and Elliot Scheiner is that they treat all the channels with equal amplitude.....meaning, you don't have to strain to hear the rears in relationship to the front channels and vice versa [I'm not counting the center channel].

IMO, when you start 'futzing' with the levels on your preamp to attempt a more balanced remix you are also 'messing' with the exact levels the remixing engineer has attempted to achieve with their remix.

In the final analysis, it's your disc and your individual system and you're free to do what you want to achieve your personal level of satisfaction but if the remix engineer did their job correctly in the first place, there would be no need to 'fiddle' with those dials.

As I mentioned previously, with all those two~fers and individual QUAD SACDs which Dutton Vocalion has released over the past few years, I never felt a need to touch any of my pre~pro's adjustment levels.......N E V E R!

And yet with a lot of recent remixes, more and more posters feel the need to do so because in my mind it's the work of a HACK ...... plain and simple. For those HACKS.....study the past and current remixes by Wilson, Scheiner, Clearmountain, etc. before you attempt a 5.1 remix ....especially on revered sacred cows which some listeners know intimately and there would be NO need to do your own 'customized' 5.1/7.1 remix.

Until then, READ the reviews before purchasing, MOST especially if you're buying SOLELY for the 5.1 remix or end up with eBay fodder or dust collectors. I know that syndrome WELL! Anyone need a few hundred polycarbonate coasters?

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Well, I did a quick spin of the vinyl and geez....sounds amazing. But, that's not to say that the stereo on the blu doesn't sound killer as well. Hmmmm

You should rip that vinyl...just saying

 

[GOS]

You should rip that vinyl...just saying

Yes, I should...among others.

 

[marpow]

Listening now to CD1, my rip DR levels per track are, 13,12,12,13. It sounds no better or worse than my other CD, but I have only been a casual listener to this music.
The live CD2 has an average DR of 12. I'll listen to 5.1 later.
This link for all releases DR values, all pretty good, no version should cause ear fatigue.
Hemispheres DR list

 

[peterzach]

I see someone from SHF has this to say:

Got the deluxe set an hour ago. Listening to the 5.1 right now. For the first time, I think Chycki got the mix and sound right. You really have to crank this to hear it properly. Doesn’t feel “loud” at all, for lack of a better descriptor. The packaging itself is beautiful. I’m liking what I’m hearing so far.

This from Chycki in the liner notes:

“I chose to to completely eschew modern loudness standards. In fact, the mix reference I requested was the Hi-Rez 96kHz/ 24 bit transfer from the original unmastered stereo analog mix masters. The 5.1 mixes echo the dynamic range of the original mixes.”