Bernstein/NYPO+IPO/Sony single-layered SACDs are a MUST!

[John Kim]

I recently acquired a used (but in a pristine condition) box set of the Japanese single-layered SACD box set of Bernstein's first Mahler cycle, and my heaven, this is a BLAST!

The remastered sound (which apparently originates from the same source as Sony's remastered CD set) heard on these discs is REVELATION. Furthermore, each symphony is contained on a single disc so I don't have to switch the discs! It all comes in 9 discs.

The sound is much cleaner and clearer with no hint of tape dropouts or saturation, and the dynamic range has improved substantially too. I can hear all the nitty gritty details that were audible only vaguely (even on the Japanese hybrid SACDs) and now the listening experience comes closest to listening to LPs minus surface noises.

It is pricy (close to or over $200) but by all means, get the set if you can.

John

 

[barryguerrero]

Bernstein's M3 is on one disc also?

[erikwilson7]

I'm confused about that too. I've seen some CDs stretch to 84 minutes so this M2 can fit... but 99 minutes on a single CD?

Also John, do you have a link to this I can check out? I'm really intrigued.

[John Kim]

Yes,

The M3rd is on ONE disc running 100 min. So is the M2nd. The M1st & M4th are together on a single disc.

The M9th + M10th Adagio are on one disc. So are the M6th + KTL.

John

[barryguerrero]

Not all players can play those lengths - even sacd players.

Barry

[John Kim]

I have an old Sony SACD player and it has played all of the 9 discs pretty well.

John

[waderice]

Not all players can play those lengths - even sacd players.

Barry

Barry,

My Yamaha Universal format player was able to accommodate the Japanese single-layer SACD entire first act of Knappertsbusch's 1962 Parsifal - all full 2 hours of it!

John:  You said that you got a used copy.  Is the same issue you got still available from Tower Records or a different online vendor?

Wade

[John Kim]

Wade,

Yes, it is still available for purchase.

Try ebay, or www.hmv.co.jp, for example.

John

[erikwilson7]

https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%EF%BC%881860-1911%EF%BC%89_000000000019272/item_%E4%BA%A4%E9%9F%BF%E6%9B%B2%E5%85%A8%E9%9B%86%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC1%E7%95%AA%E3%80%9C%E7%AC%AC10%E7%95%AA%E3%82%A2%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A7%EF%BC%89%E3%80%81%E5%A4%A7%E5%9C%B0%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%8C%E3%80%81%E4%BB%96-%E3%83%AC%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%83%BB%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%EF%BC%86%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A8%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%AB%E3%80%81%E3%83%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%83%B3%E9%9F%BF%E3%80%81%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%AB%EF%BC%889SACD%EF%BC%89%EF%BC%88%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AB%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A4%E3%83%BC%EF%BC%89_8941285

I think I found it. Sorry the link looks ridiculous.

[John Kim]

Erik,

Yep, that's the set I got. I paid $145 for the discs and S&H. They are used ones but I found NO sign of wear or damage. I was very lucky, I guess.

John

PS The notes that come with many rare and interesting photos from the recording sessions are all in Japanese. The lyrics are in German and English.

[Last_Evolution]

Do you know if there's any difference from previous release?
M2: https://www.discogs.com/release/15836644-Gustav-Mahler-New-York-Philharmonic-Leonard-Bernstein-Symphony-No-2-In-C-Minor-Resurrection
It appears to be same except the previous release is hybrid SACD.

[John Kim]

The notes say they are based on the same remasterings done by Andreas K Meyer in 2007. But because of the higher resolution (or more data), to my ears they sound very different and much improved (see my detailed description above). My experience of single-layered SACDs thus far is as follows:

single-layered SACD >> hybrid SACD > CD

[John Kim]

The biggest improvements in sound are in the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 9th. I never heard the hybrid SACD versions of the 1st, 2nd, and DLVDE so cannot comment on them.

[barryguerrero]

The "Carnegie Hall" Bernstein Mahler box is good enough for me. I found it used and didn't have to spend a ton of money on it.

[John Kim]

Barry,

I too have the Bernstein: the Complete Mahler Symphonies box set which I believe originates from the same remastered source and I quite like it. But I find the sonics in the set somewhat too boxy and constricted in dynamic range. The single-layered SACDs OPEN IT UP with more details. I really like the way the 3rd, 4th, and 9th (and others to a lesser degree) sound on these discs.

John