I've got the SACD, always thought it was the best available version. Perhaps I need to somehow get a copy of the blu ray now...
Imagine how great it would be if there were more classic albums with multiple surround sound mixes to have this kind of discussion and debate.
You don't have to imagine it, there's already more than a few (and I'm sure I missed some).
2x Surround Mixes:
3x Surround Mixes:
- Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
- Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
- Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach
- The Band - Music From Big Pink
- Carly Simon - No Secrets
- Carole King - Tapestry
- Chicago - II
- Chicago - V
- Chicago - X
- Derek & The Dominos - Layla
- Doobie Brothers - The Captain & Me
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
- Gentle Giant - Free Hand
- Jethro Tull - Aqualung
- Jethro Tull - Minstrel In The Gallery
- Jethro Tull - WarChild
- John Lennon - Imagine
- Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
- King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
- Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
- Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
- R.E.M. - Automatic For The People
- Rush - A Farewell To Kings
- Steely Dan - Gaucho
- Yes - Fragile
- Allman Brothers - Live At The Fillmore
- Deep Purple - Machine Head
- Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard
It’s hard for me to say which one I prefer. Each one has its Pros and Cons.
I have all versions (actually, Tommy was my second vinyl purchase with my parents' reduced pay, back in the 70's) and I need to ‘change’ from one to another to look for and listen to the “Pros”.
Not included in the multichannel versions, there are Stereo 1996 USA remix versions that sound much better than the original masters. Some voice and drums parts are completely “good restored”. For instance, “1921” now sound way better and looks totally different.
‘2003 DVD-A/SACD – Pete Townshend MCH mix
It has clearer sound. Good instrument separation.
Very nice Good Daltrey’s voice “inside your head”, BUT only if you are in the sweet spot (Central + Rears).
BUT, I don’t like the Daltrey’s voice lack of the reverb of previous masters that seems to be in an anechoic record chamber.
‘2013 – Blu-ray
More fidelity, dynamics and Daltrey’s reverb voice is here again. Not bad with DSU upmix, that send much content to my wide speakers (9.1.4).
BUT, this 70’s Quad mix style, either with channel swap error or not, makes me nervous, and I quite like discrete multichanels.
It is really annoying to hear the drums all the time in your left ear. This reminds me the album “Uninvisible” from the trio “Medesky Martin & Wood”, in which the drums are continuously coming from the right surround speaker. (This listening compensate my left saturated ear after listening the Keith Moon’s drums).
Final word:
“Underture is a religious experience” says @Larry Geller. I completely agree.
This reminds me the album “Uninvisible” from the trio “Medesky Martin & Wood”, in which the drums are continuously coming from the right surround speaker.
For 461, there's the quad mix and the SACD mix. What was the third?You don't have to imagine it, there's already more than a few (and I'm sure I missed some).
2x Surround Mixes:
3x Surround Mixes:
- Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
- Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
- Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach
- The Band - Music From Big Pink
- Carly Simon - No Secrets
- Carole King - Tapestry
- Chicago - II
- Chicago - V
- Chicago - X
- Derek & The Dominos - Layla
- Doobie Brothers - The Captain & Me
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
- Gentle Giant - Free Hand
- Jethro Tull - Aqualung
- Jethro Tull - Minstrel In The Gallery
- Jethro Tull - WarChild
- John Lennon - Imagine
- Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
- King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
- Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
- Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
- R.E.M. - Automatic For The People
- Rush - A Farewell To Kings
- Steely Dan - Gaucho
- Yes - Fragile
- Allman Brothers - Live At The Fillmore
- Deep Purple - Machine Head
- Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard
For 461, there's the quad mix and the SACD mix. What was the third?
I hear the drums throughout Uninvisible as coming from both the front right and rear right speakers, whereas the drum kit on 2013 Tommy is completely isolated in the rear left speaker.
Best version of Tommy ws the version on Ode records with Richard Harris and the London Symphony. Period! Two record set. Wish it could be redone in surround but sounds good anyway.So the original SACD/DVD-Audio mix came out in 2003 to our delight, then we were surprised with a 2013 re-issue with a completely different 5.1 mix. It's been some time and looking through the QQPoll threads, there still seems to be quite a split of which mix is preferred by members. Some folks believe the 2013 mix needs a channel swap while others disagree.
I'd like to hear from you 'Tommy' experts as to what version you prefer and why. This thread can then become a reference for future members with this question. Who knows, there may be a new Atmos mix appearing some day, based on one of these two different mixes.
To refresh your memory, here's a look at the wav files of the two mixes which shows the obvious difference between the two mixes. This is for looking. As for listening, you'll have to do that on your own.
Thanks
:-jon
View attachment 75129
Well, I have a surround version of this.Best version of Tommy ws the version on Ode records with Richard Harris and the London Symphony. Period! Two record set. Wish it could be redone in surround but sounds good anyway.
I think the QS version is fine, especially through the SM.No love for the original QS?
Any idea if any particular CD release has the QS encoding?I think the QS version is fine, especially through the SM.
No love for the original QS?
That was in reference to this recording.Not sure what you're referring to here, to my knowledge neither the studio album nor the movie soundtrack were released in quad.
I would guess the CD used the same master as the LP, so I'd say it's also encoded.Any idea if any particular CD release has the QS encoding?
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