SHM-CD

[admin_exported]

Afternoon

Has anyone experienced this format? It is said to close the gap between CD and SACD about 90% and stands for 'Super High Material CD'. All discs are playable on a standard red book player.

The first 12 Rush CDs will be out soon as a Japanese import and I wondered if it was worth replacing my remastered versions with these?

Any thoughts welcome.

Perhaps the WHF staff have experienced them on their travels?

Thanks

 

[Andrew Everard]

One of several 'upgraded CD' formats coming out of Japan at the moment.

Have just slapped in an order for some SHM-CD, HQCD and Blu-Spec CD samplers, so watch this space for some thoughts on the differences, if any, the various technologies make.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Andrew, look forward to that and will keep my wallet closed until then.........

 

[bigblue235]

I look forward to your thoughts on these too, Andrew.

Then again, if they are any good, I'd most likely just end up buying a selection of recordings by artists I don't normally listen to. As I did with both HDCD and SACD

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

So do I Graham, keep me informed maybe CD is on its way to higher ground

 

[Anonymous]

Nice one Mike!

Andrew, do you have a timescale for when you will be able to post reviews of any of these new formats?

Thanks

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ordered yesterday, 3-6 working days from Japan apparently, and then give me a few days to have a listen.

Couple of weeks, prolly.

 

[JoelSim]

Andrew Everard:

One of several 'upgraded CD' formats coming out of Japan at the moment.

Have just slapped in an order for some SHM-CD, HQCD and Blu-Spec CD samplers, so watch this space for some thoughts on the differences, if any, the various technologies make.

The perks of the job huh!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Hardly a perk - they'll go into the listening rooms for future reviewing use.

 

[the record spot]

Are there any copies of The Yes Album on this format by any chance? Reason I ask is I have a stunning copy - first generation disc - which has a superb mastering. Totally blew me away when I heard it, but the end result is about the best argument for digital I've heard yet. Think it was done by Barry Diament, but the sleeve gives nothing away.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Yes, among the planned Japan-only releases on the new better CD formats are the complete Yes catalogue, and the entire Rick Wakeman one, too...

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the timescale Andrew.

I bought one anyway as a test myself - £22 total including P&P. It is Permanent Waves by Rush. I have the standard CD and Mobile Fidelity Sounds Labs Gold version so should be able to test quite well.....

 

[Anonymous]

Some more information regarding SHM-CD's from Echoloft (Most famous audiophile forum in Singapore)

http://www.echoloft.com/hifi-forum/index.php?topic=18106.0

Nothing special really, if you're willing to pay double for SHM-cd's, it may sound just a tad better...never tried it though.

 

[Tonya]

Talking of formats, am I the only one collecting DTS Audio albums? Just picked up the MJ HIStory double (RIP) and the sound quality in 5.1 is truly astonishing.
Most of the Elton John and Paul McCartney back catalogue is available, as is The Beatles White Album.
To acheive the sound quality they did back then is amazing.
Pink Floyd is also a big supporter of the DTS format, thank goodness!

If you ever come across any of these discs in your local record store, try one.
You won't be disappointed and you'll probably get hooked on the experience of being totally immersed in the sound field.
Admittedly the albums sound different, but that's a good thing.
Youtend to hear instruments and phrases that had been buried in the original two channel mixes, everything appears much more open when they have 5.1 channels to play with . . . .

 

[Anonymous]

sound_wave:
Some more information regarding SHM-CD's from Echoloft (Most famous audiophile forum in Singapore)

http://www.echoloft.com/hifi-forum/index.php?topic=18106.0

Nothing special really, if you're willing to pay double for SHM-cd's, it may sound just a tad better...never tried it though.

Thanks for that. I'll post my test results here when the disc comes.

 

[Anonymous]

Looking forward to your review

 

[the record spot]

Andrew Everard:Yes, among the planned Japan-only releases on the new better CD formats are the complete Yes catalogue, and the entire Rick Wakeman one, too...

Thanks Andrew - that makes interesting reading; will be VERY keen to hear TYA on this format. With that and the Steve Hoffman "Pet Sounds" out on Audio Fidelity (finally....I pre-ordered it back in February) this next week, there could be some serious listening sessions coming up soon!

 

[idc]

Interesting thread, I had no idea that there was such a market for higher quality CDs. Does anyone think that you would hear a difference between the two types having imported them and created a music file for itunes etc?

Thanks

 

[Andrew Everard]

Not sure - the explanations all seem to be about the changes making the discs easier to read accurately, which I guess would be of more advantage in the real-time reading environment of a CD player, rather than in a ripping process where there's the potential advantage of enhanced error correction and repeated passes to ensure the disc is stored accurately.

 

[idc]

Thanks Andrew. Are these new formats that are being produced as CD attempts to fight back against the rise in download and streamed music SQ? Or are they the niche market CDs that you see on Amazon costing £20 or so, when the normal price is £7.99?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Neither: at the moment they're limited to the Japanese market, which has always had endless new editions of discs claiming better sound quality, and tweaks on the CD format.

I guess there are more Japanese audiophiles willing to pay for potentially better-sounding discs, as I suggested in my blog a while back

 

[idc]

Thanks agian Andrew. Pondering aloud, I wonder if Japan will produce the first £1000 download?!

 

[Anonymous]

Graham_Thomas:I'll post my test results here when the disc comes.

Well, at first play not that impressed (although impressed with 3 working day delivery from Japan). Sounds cleaner than the non remastered German CD, a bit dull and lacking in treble, but makes my Mobile Fidelity Gold sound absolutely wonderful!!!!

Caveat is that it is a 29 year old recording. It will be worth reading the results of Andrew's test discs.

 

[Anonymous]

For news on this and the various new CD 'technologies' or materials from the What Hifi team, see Andrew's blog here.

Thanks. Interesting reading.

 

[Anonymous]

I haven't had a chance to listen yet, but I bought a bunch of these recently. Hopefully I'll be able to listen soon and post my impressions. The discs I bought are:

The Led Zeppelin SHM box set

GN'R - the entire catalog, including Chinese Democracy, minus The Spaghetti Incident?

Aerosmith - Get a Grip