Thread: Dire Straits "Making Movies" and "Communique" SHM-SACDs are BAD!

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Post by lennyw February 29, 2012 (11 of 19)
Quick report on Alchemy Live (as it arrived 5 mins before I had to leave to get the nippers): not much change on the original CD release :-(
Will report back when I've had a little longer.

Post by mariano March 13, 2012 (12 of 19)
Espen R said:

I have about 40-50 japanese SHM-SACDs, most of them very good to excellent in sound quality.

But these two Dire Straits titles are "dogs". It seems to me that bad dub-tapes has been used. Everything is wrong with the sound.
Avoid!

My ratings of Dire Straits SHM-SACDs so far:

Dire Straits S/T = 6 out of 6
Love over Gold = 4/5 out of 6
Making Movies = 2/3 out of 6
Communique = 2/3 out of 6

I was thinking to buy Making Movies, Communique and Alchemy. In which sense are they bad? Harsh and bright sound? Or muffled sound with too heavy bass and highs roll-off?
I have many SHM-SACDs and the sound can be bad in two opposite directions:
sometimes is very bright (Rainbow Rising), sometimes it seems that you are hearing with a heavy cover on the speaker (Gentle Giant Octopus).
Could you please give me more detail about the sound?
Thanks
Mariano

Post by Espen R March 13, 2012 (13 of 19)
mariano said:

I was thinking to buy Making Movies, Communique and Alchemy. In which sense are they bad? Harsh and bright sound? Or muffled sound with too heavy bass and highs roll-off?
I have many SHM-SACDs and the sound can be bad in two opposite directions:
sometimes is very bright (Rainbow Rising), sometimes it seems that you are hearing with a heavy cover on the speaker (Gentle Giant Octopus).
Could you please give me more detail about the sound?
Thanks
Mariano

Hi!

First I have to say that I like "Making Movies" a lot more now than in the first two days. I have played it for some days.
The good thing about this release is that you can really crank it, without listening fatique.

It's not a hint of brightness or heavy bass in it. The problem is the opposite; it could "shine" a bit more. The problem as I see it, is that the japan tape is not on pair with the original tape. And a bit of mastering work could helped. This is a flat transfer(most of the time I'm happy with that), but a bit of EQ could helped, IMO.

But I can't listen to the CD's of this title, so this is my preferd digital version.

New rating for Making Movies: 3/4 out of 6.

Post by Lucabeer March 19, 2012 (14 of 19)
I have received Making Movies and Communiquè right now...

I am listening to Making Movies and it does NOT sound bad at all... Maybe slightly bright, and the recording level is higher than "Dire Straits" and "Love over gold", but sounds good overall to me, quite lively and natural. Low tape hiss, and a nice improvement over the Red Book CD...

Post by Lucabeer March 19, 2012 (15 of 19)
Listening to Communiquè now... Well, even better than Making Movies! Same great dynamics, clarity and separation as the self titled album and Love Over Gold, without the tape hiss.

A great version... Drums have presence and weight without getting boomy (they are full, natural, but DRY), guitars are crystal clean, voice is warm... what more could be asked?

I really don't understand the complaints... Technically, for me Communiquè is clearly a 4 (on a scale of 5) and Making Movies is a 3.5...

Listening equipment used: Denon 1930 player (I know... the weakest link, but I am saving for the KI Pearl...), Graham Slee Solo SRG amp, Denon AH-D 7000 headphones.

Post by Lucabeer March 19, 2012 (16 of 19)
For comparison, I must say that the S/T was (for my taste) a 4.5/5 (spoiled only by excessive tape hiss) and Love Over Gold was a 4/5.

Post by TxMark1962 March 19, 2012 (17 of 19)
Lucabeer said:

I really don't understand the complaints... Technically, for me Communiquè is clearly a 4 (on a scale of 5) and Making Movies is a 3.5...

Just remember that listening to music, like drinking wine or viewing art, is VERY subjective...what sounds great to one listener may sound bad to another...

Cheers,

Post by Tim-sacd March 21, 2012 (18 of 19)
HDtracks has announced Dire Straits last week... Curious if it will be the original masters or the remasters.

Post by PortHopeMan March 27, 2012 (19 of 19)
Just received my copy of "Making Movies" tonight. First impressions was that it was quiet, with no audible tape hiss that I found to be somewhat distracting from their S/T Shm-SACD. I found the bass to be good - nice depth to the drums, and the sound quality in general to be quite good. I must admit that I still enjoyed "Love Over Gold" more on first listen then this one. I prefer the more complex arrangements and instumentation of the later Dire Straits albums versus the more basic guitar/drums and piano compositions.
A nice sounding, satisfying CD nonetheless though.

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