Thread: Argh...Distortion on Kind of Blue...

Posts: 6

Post by Dimitri January 23, 2004 (1 of 6)
My search didn't yield any discussion on this topic-->

I clearly hear something like a sizzling/crackling distortion accompanying the horn tones on most tracks' head motives. Do I have a bad disc? Do I simply have to deal with this imperfection? Why does the distortion disappear in solos?

Post by MerlinMacuser January 28, 2004 (2 of 6)
Dimitri said:

My search didn't yield any discussion on this topic-->

I clearly hear something like a sizzling/crackling distortion accompanying the horn tones on most tracks' head motives. Do I have a bad disc? Do I simply have to deal with this imperfection? Why does the distortion disappear in solos?

I'll give a careful listen to my copy tonight but I do not recall hearing anything like you describe. My wife says she sees colors behind her eyes when we listen to this in the dark. She says this is some kind of perception spill over effect in the brain. She should know, she's a PhD psychologist.

I have noticed that the multichannel effects on this disc (as on most jazz titles) are quite subtle compared with say Aerosmith's Walk This Way...I wonder what Pharoh Sanders' Karma will sound like on SACD?!?

Post by MerlinMacuser January 29, 2004 (3 of 6)
Dimitri, I can hear quite a bit of distortion on the SACD version of this disc. In the first 35 seconds or so when the horns join the piano, bass and drums in a chorus there is a distinct buzz from the left tract that I had assumed previously was excess saliva in the trumpet. The right channel also exhibits a lower frequency buzz that almost sounds like the harmonics of a frayed speaker somewhere in the studio. This happens again at 7:35 into the first cut , "So What" and again to a lesser extent near the end of cut 4 "All Blues".

I also heard an unacceptable level of tape hiss in both left and right channels when only the rhythmn section is playing. The horns drown it out effectively otherwise but I know it is there.

To be fair, I also pulled out the remastered redbook version of the same disk. I changed nothing on the receiver or dvd player settings except to switch the input from SACD/Multichannel to DVD/Stereo. I hear the same buzz and rattle in the same places but less distinctly. All these years I'd written off that background stuff as sloppy muscians too caught up in the groove to use their spit valves...

The CD version sounds brighter and perhaps with more punch in the upbeats. I am not sure now, but this is likely the qualit y that made me think the remastered cd sounded better than the original version. Now that I hear the greater range and depth on the SACD, I'm not sure I like this first tune at all anymore...that buzzing and rattle really bothered me.

I also listened to an old favorite cd (not a SACD yet) this evening. John Klemmer's Waterfalls was one of my favorite LPs. It was damaged at some point so I was pleased when the cd version eventually came out (Impulse MCAD-33123). I have played the cd countless times but tonight I heard something new...the clicking of the keys on the sax in between the riffs and the decaying echo. If you know this album, John uses an echoplex to create a haunting, hynotic sound. I think he is clicking the keys in anticipation of the next riff he's about to launch! That I heard this tonight, the first time I played it on my new equipment, is a testament , I think, to the higher sensitivity and better quality of the laser in the new Yamaha 2300 player than in my venerable dbx DX3.

Sorry to be so chatty...new toys and all...

Post by Dimitri January 30, 2004 (4 of 6)
!! Merlin,

Who doesn't love to chat about new toys? I'm glad someone else is hearing the same distortion(on the same tracks, too). I try to keep myself from getting annoyed with the disc's inconsistency--it is, after all, phenomenal music. You mentioned that yours is a multi-channel disc--mine is stereo--I was hoping the multi-channel issue might be "cleaned-up"...I guess not.

Along with the positives of high-quality gear come the negatives--flaws are enhanced. Oh well. I'll have to check out that John Klemmer, sounds interesting. Nice chatting with you,

Dimitri

**edit My copy is multi-channel...oops. But now I wonder again, will the hybrid reissue have the same problems?

Post by tbabb February 15, 2004 (5 of 6)
Dimitri said:

My search didn't yield any discussion on this topic-->

I clearly hear something like a sizzling/crackling distortion accompanying the horn tones on most tracks' head motives. Do I have a bad disc? Do I simply have to deal with this imperfection? Why does the distortion disappear in solos?

The horn distorition is within the master tapes themselves and even can be heard on the vinyl release. At least it is on mine.


- tb

Post by Dimitri February 16, 2004 (6 of 6)
Thanks tb--that's good to know.

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