A fellow member was kind enough to point out that CDJapan carries several Renaissance albums, issued on SHM-CD. Renaissance is one of my favorite bands and, in search of the “ideal master”, I own every known Redbook issue of most albums and was keen to give the SHM-CD a spin. For comparison purposes, I used the best issue extant I know of – Repertoire’s remaster from a couple of years ago, REP5078. I have a number of Repertoire remasters of various bands and, with few exceptions, they do an exceptional job.
Predictably, the two CD’s were mastered at different levels (Repertoire’s about 3dB hotter), so I calibrated comparison volume by measuring the prolonged deep gong which begins the album and adjusting volume accordingly. Having done that, it quickly became apparent that these are two distinctly different masters. Everything about Repertoire is better – more metal, more skin, more gut. Annie’s gorgeous vocals, incredibly realistic on the Repertoire, were slightly muted on the SHM-CD. Everything about the Repertoire, in fact, shone through against a blacker background – more air around the vocals and various instruments, to use the common parlance. Finally, background/peripheral instruments clearly heard on the Repertoire were dim and distant on the SHM-CD. Near the end of the first cut, violins in the right soundstage provide lovely counterpoint to the melody. On the Repertoire, these are clearly and beautifully heard. On the SHM-CD, they’re barely audible.
As a last resort and because I can, I tried tweaking the FR curve for the SHM-CD to see if I could get it to sound more like the Repertoire. After an hour’s work, I could not. No amount of frequency-band tilt or tweaks could provide the level of realism found in the Repertoire and described above – it’s simply a better master. I suspect that the SHM-CD is based upon the original Sire master, but I looked in most of my hidey-holes for redundant CD’s and couldn’t find the damned thing to compare. If it turns up, I’ll post an addendum later.
Do I regret the purchase? Not a bit. Over the years I’ve spent far more for obscure Renaissance issues and I’ll continue to do so, simply for love of the band. In fact, I’ll probably pick up the SHM-CD of either Novella or Song for All Seasons. These have not (yet!) been remastered by Repertoire, and I’m willing to pay to find out if they’re an improvement over the Wounded Bird editions.
Predictably, the two CD’s were mastered at different levels (Repertoire’s about 3dB hotter), so I calibrated comparison volume by measuring the prolonged deep gong which begins the album and adjusting volume accordingly. Having done that, it quickly became apparent that these are two distinctly different masters. Everything about Repertoire is better – more metal, more skin, more gut. Annie’s gorgeous vocals, incredibly realistic on the Repertoire, were slightly muted on the SHM-CD. Everything about the Repertoire, in fact, shone through against a blacker background – more air around the vocals and various instruments, to use the common parlance. Finally, background/peripheral instruments clearly heard on the Repertoire were dim and distant on the SHM-CD. Near the end of the first cut, violins in the right soundstage provide lovely counterpoint to the melody. On the Repertoire, these are clearly and beautifully heard. On the SHM-CD, they’re barely audible.
As a last resort and because I can, I tried tweaking the FR curve for the SHM-CD to see if I could get it to sound more like the Repertoire. After an hour’s work, I could not. No amount of frequency-band tilt or tweaks could provide the level of realism found in the Repertoire and described above – it’s simply a better master. I suspect that the SHM-CD is based upon the original Sire master, but I looked in most of my hidey-holes for redundant CD’s and couldn’t find the damned thing to compare. If it turns up, I’ll post an addendum later.
Do I regret the purchase? Not a bit. Over the years I’ve spent far more for obscure Renaissance issues and I’ll continue to do so, simply for love of the band. In fact, I’ll probably pick up the SHM-CD of either Novella or Song for All Seasons. These have not (yet!) been remastered by Repertoire, and I’m willing to pay to find out if they’re an improvement over the Wounded Bird editions.