Thread: Why does a company such as Chandos not release all their recordings in sacd?

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Post by luvselgar April 11, 2014 (1 of 15)
Hi. The is my first post so please forgive me if this question has been asked and answered before. I recently bought the new set of Sibelius symphonies from Chandos and wondered why they weren't recorded in sacd as so many of their discs are.

Thanks.

Post by Fugue April 11, 2014 (2 of 15)
Indeed, there are several threads about it. I suppose it all boils down to what would sell the most copies. Now, I'd think Sibelius would sell more than Lutoslawski, but the latter's music is on SACD! Maybe there's no true rhyme or reason.

Post by steviev April 11, 2014 (3 of 15)
It's just one of those sweet sweet mysteries of life....

Post by Chris April 11, 2014 (4 of 15)
The Sibelius set is available as 24/96 masterfiles,and judging by the excellent performance and recording of the third which I have already downloaded, I am thinking of getting the whole set once I am back on a faster wi fi connection again.
Where I am now in the rainforest of Gunung Leuser NP Sumatra,all I can do is listen to what I already have downloaded and check mail and post here. Wifi is superslow here.
But the third symphony as conducted by Storgårds has whetted my appetite for more from that set.
Basically all their SACD releases are also available as mch downloads.
And if you pay for the mch masterfile version you get both stereo and mch included.
And unlike stubborn Pentatone they leave it to the customer to decide when and how to download purchased music. But the BBC Radio three co-productions are for some reason only in stereo which according to Chandos is the reason they are not releasing those recordings on SACD.

Post by zeus April 11, 2014 (5 of 15)
Chris said:

The Sibelius set is available as 24/96 master files ...

Feel free to ignore the original question and (continually) push your own barrow ...

Post by Jonalogic April 12, 2014 (6 of 15)
zeus said:

Feel free to ignore the original question and (continually) push your own barrow ...

Rot. I read it, quite obviously, as Chris being helpful and informative by informing someone that this particular recording (which started the thread) is available in another format. One you clearly don't acknowledge*

He was quite clearly on-thread. You're not.

In fact, you are definitely (still) pushing your own wheelie-bin of prejudice. And still not explaining your anti-download agenda/vendetta.

Oh, I forgot. Residents of Olympus don't need to explain. Anything.

Bummer when the site founder and generalissimo starts sniping at well-informed and long-standing contributors like Chris. For shame.

And, by the way - just look at the Forum, and see how many of the top-trafficked threads now relate to downloading. Maybe time to ban them, perhaps?


* this kinda reminds me of the attitude of some of the more luddite members of the audiophile community who continually ignored - and still do - SACD.

Post by Jonalogic April 12, 2014 (7 of 15)
luvselgar said:

Hi. The is my first post so please forgive me if this question has been asked and answered before. I recently bought the new set of Sibelius symphonies from Chandos and wondered why they weren't recorded in sacd as so many of their discs are.

Thanks.

You are forgiven, my son. Pax vobiscum.

In fact, following on from Chris's (helpful) comment, I would go on to say that a very large proportion of Chandos recordings is now available only in RBCD or download. The downloads are all in hires, of course, so guess what's the better choice?

In fact, Chandos non-SACD recordings tend to be amongst the jewels of the download repertoire, both sonically and musically.

I'll lay good odds with you. At some stage in the next few years, I bet Chandos stops SACD production altogether, as costs are so high, and settles on RBCD and download release only.

And so will everyone, in due course. You might not like it, but the dead hand of economics always wins in the end. Denying it is like King Canute commanding the tides to turn back*

Hope this helps. Do persevere ... there are loonies here, for sure, but also some good stuff.

Cheers.


* which there is no historical evidence he ever did, of course. But a good story is always a good story.

Post by diw April 12, 2014 (8 of 15)
Jonalogic said:


I'll lay good odds with you. At some stage in the next few years, I bet Chandos stops SACD production altogether, as costs are so high, and settles on RBCD and download release only.

And so will everyone, in due course. You might not like it, but the dead hand of economics always wins in the end. Denying it is like King Canute commanding the tides to turn back*

It is possible that this is true, although I certainly hope not.

This has been discussed before in other threads, but to address the OP...Chandos records a number of different orchestras in many different halls. In some cases, it is the Chandos recording team, making a multichannel master, and then it will be released in SACD. Approximately 2 a month.

Many Chandos releases are recorded by inhouse production teams or using non Chandos equipment at various sites, and licensed to Chandos for release. These are typically stereo only recordings and not released on SACD. Unfortunately, these do include a number of very desirable issues, including recent recordings of the Elgar cello concerto, the Britten Piano concerto, all 5 Prokofiev piano concertos, etc.

By the way, Jonalogic, it would be useful information to me if someone started a separate thread which specifically addressed multichannel downloads. Including what's available, and the means by which one integrates them into one's existing multichannel rig. I must say, I haven't paid much attention to threads on streaming, downloading, etc. If someone demonstrated to me that there are or shortly will be significant MC recordings which are not available on SACD, and that I could easily add this capability to my system; well I would read and appreciate such a topic.

Post by Jonalogic April 12, 2014 (9 of 15)
diw said:

It is possible that this is true, although I certainly hope not.
....

By the way, Jonalogic, it would be useful information to me if someone started a separate thread which specifically addressed multichannel downloads. Including what's available, and the means by which one integrates them into one's existing multichannel rig. I must say, I haven't paid much attention to threads on streaming, downloading, etc. If someone demonstrated to me that there are or shortly will be significant MC recordings which are not available on SACD, and that I could easily add this capability to my system; well I would read and appreciate such a topic.

Hi. Much as I would love to assist in detail. I am a relentlessly stereo and not MCH listener. However, integrating downloads - whether 2CH or MCH - seems relatively straightforward nowadays.

It strikes me that the simplest solution in the here and now is to buy an Oppo 103 or 105 universal player. Then you can download hires music on your PC, transfer the files to bog-standard USB memory sticks, and play these directly from the front panel socket of the Oppo. The Oppo will output analog (balanced or unbalanced) or digital via USB, HDMI or Coax. So you can connect it to just about anything.

That's how I started!

It's not rocket science. But note that files can be large, so a reasonable broadband connection is necessary.

As a bonus, the Oppos also play SACDs, BluRay Audio and DVD-A. Talk about a one-stop shop!

And, yes, it was the tempting array of non-SACD HiRes Chandos recordings that first got me into downloads. But once you take the plunge, you will find thousands of High Res (24/44 or better, often MUCH better) recordings that never made it onto SACD from Chandos, Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, Reference Recordings, Ondine, Acousence, Hyperion, Decca, Everest, Myrare, Cybele and many more.

OK, I changed my mind. I WILL start that thread.

Post by Iain April 12, 2014 (10 of 15)
Jonalogic said:

...

It strikes me that the simplest solution in the here and now is to buy an Oppo 103 or 105 universal player. Then you can download hires music on your PC, transfer the files to bog-standard USB memory sticks, and play these directly from the front panel socket of the Oppo. The Oppo will output analog (balanced or unbalanced) or digital via USB, HDMI or Coax. So you can connect it to just about anything.

...

As a bonus, the Oppos also play SACDs, BluRay Audio and DVD-A. Talk about a one-stop shop!

...

To further clarify this, Sony BDP-S6200 and BDP-S7200 which will be released next month will also do this.

That other machine Jonalogic mentioned is no longer the only player on the block.

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