I have read all the Poll posts and I believe all have valid points, but also taken out of context by just having a Poll based on one of 5 discs, this is not how you put value to a box set, or in this case a book set. I'll give you my opinion that is solid with all discs and packaging, with the hopes that I raise the level of enjoyment of what Superunknown can bring you.
Packaging: A stunning coffee table book with hologram front of Superunknown, fine art print, pictures, lyrics, the making of and a timeline of coming in and out of this masterpiece of music.
Menu of Blu Ray: Simple, 3 choices, easy to read, and 3 choices for sonic delivery.
RBCD Discs: 1 remastered 2014, Disc 2 B sides and more, the more are live recordings, dance mix, etc, Disc 3 Demos, all great, the pure recordings, Disc 4 kind of like a continuation of 3, real good.
Performance: Solid, a top rock disc that has a huge fan base, dedicated and ready to fight for the importance of this music, for me it does die out after Spoonman like a two disc set, first half great, second not so great.
Blu Ray Audio 5.1, I listened per other poll suggestions, Dolby True HD, I usually don't, but I went back and forth with DTS Master, I could hear a slightly better punch in the rears, fronts where equal. Volume was 74.5db from start to finish. Once I got over the excitement of how great this sounds about 3 songs in I realized I was having a bit of ear fatigue, but as a long time rock dude, it's not that big of a deal, as an audiophile hobbyist it is a big deal.
Before I forget the artwork that is live on the TV screen, while listening is fantastic, super great.
So we all know by now the DR Values are 10, which is barely transition, we have to put that aside and let it be a factor. The MIX is actually quite GREAT, it has it's dual stereo moments, it's fantastic discrete moments , the bummer is the compression, remember 10 DR Value, so what this means is all the music is so squashed within the 5.1 spectrum that some people just can't appreciate the mix. If you where to read the liner/recording notes "Thayil says, laughing but not kidding- and the groups impatience with the time and labor that went into something that sounded too much like polish", so there it is, artists wanting to just fucking turn out whats in them vs a producer wanting to make something shiny and different, this the reason Superunknown is not a sonic masterpiece but a musical masterpiece. It is a hard rock disc in any form you like it, yes I have the original RBCD, but this is 5.1 baby and I love it.
I write all this just after Chris Cornell's death and I am sure I maybe adding more props due to his death, but I certainly am aware of this and still trying to be a real audiophile and not slam the door on a wonderful release that I am very happy to own.
After all that I give this a 8 on the poll, I so much wanted to give it a 10, all the parts are absolutely perfect, but the compression and my ever so slightly ear fatigue blows it for me. Don't be a dummy buy this release, get past whatever, assuming you are a hard rock fan of good fucking music.
My final advice, if a box set of whatever kind of music gets released, don't short change your self by only wanting the 5.1 disc, you'll lose, The words, pictures, RBCD's, whatever, it is all part of the ultimate experience that we love.
