JVC remastering of St. Saens #3, Munch BSO

Listened today (using headphones) to the 1959 recording of Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 in c, Op. 78 'Organ' by Munch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 'Digitally remastered at JVC Mastering Center, Yokohama.'

JMCXR-0002

This CD has a 'total time' of 34:46; I can't imagine what they could have coupled with this recording, so I'm not complaining.

This is designated as an XRCD ('Extended resolution CD). Whatever that is, it is (hope you will pardon the phrase) friggin' awesome to listen to. I can find no coherent way to describe it, beyond that.

My reason for posting this isn't to extol the CDs delights so feebly, but to ask how such a thing is possible. I haven't heard the original release on RCA, but I recently listened to the Graffman/Munch/BSO recording of Brahms' PC1 on LP, also from 1959, and the sound is *nothing* like this. The XRCDs liner notes go into some detail, including a 'block diagram', but the apparently unavoidable jargon is beyond me. Can anyone explain the seeming impossibility of this transfer in everyday language?

1959? 1959!

I am not sure what you are asking. Once the analog signals are digitized, the recording can be digitally remastered, of course.

Kal

On Tue, 17 Jun 2003 15:46:54 -0400, Bob Lombard

Remastered, certainly, but how can the digital remastering restore (or seem to restore) the realism of sounds when those attributes didn't make it into the analog signals? Sorry I can't be more explicit; if your hear JVC's results I'm sure you wil understand my question, even if my conclusions are in error.

OK. I am familiar with many XRCDs which have almost invariably been superior to any other release of the same materials, regardless of source. There are many technical issues but they all devolve to care in production. As for how they can restore information that didn't make it into the analog signals, they cannot. However, you have not heard the analog mastertapes or the original session tapes, only the processed releases, analog or digital. JVC has simply done a better done of retaining more of that information and conveying more of that information to you.

BUT, you have not heard the original lp or the cd reissues. How can you compare?

The most relevant comparison would be with the current 'living stereo' package.

I have either the Living Stereo or the one of the various CD releases, and I far prefer the sound on the coupled works to the Saint-Saens (I think there's an Ibert Ports of Call and another work I don't remember at the moment). Personally, based on the versions I've heard, the sound on the Munch Organ Symphony is overrated (and not at the level of Reiner '54 Heldenleben or Zarathustra, for instance). I'd be interested to hear if JVC has been able to fix the sonic problems I typically hear with this performance.

Matt C

Unlike previous CD transfers, the xrcd was made from the original three-track recording session 'work part' That, and JVC's exceptional attention to mastering and CD cutting, account for the better sound of the xrcd disc.

FYI, the Japanese produced CDs are mastered from 30 ips, 1/2 inch analog copies of the original masters. The American-produced discs, however, use the original session tapes themselves.

In either case, the resulting discs are far superior to the original BMG transfers. Look for additional exciting CDs in this series in 2003.

Mike Gray

Inference? induction? Dunno what the term is. I have heard no other recording from the '50s that comes close to this. Some of the best late '60s stuff is maybe in the same ballpark.

Reducto ad absurdium? Dunno.

Just went to archivmusic.com and looked up JVC xrcd. They have 25 productions listed (not all in stock), all of them either Reiner/CSO or Munch/BSO, and all at $30.99. Hoo-hah. I got mine used, and chances are it'll be the only one I own. Damn good sound though.

i have a related question. most bmg japan classical discs are 'K-2 cutting', does it help in a big way ? or just a minor improvement ?

those US released living stereo are already remastered using CELLO electronics, according to the notes. so, to me, the whole picture is composed of (1) original tape mixing, a-to-d, whatever, and (2) manufacturing, like K-2. don't have the money to try the XRCD yet.

Been watching Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman lately, Bob? <g>

Regards,

# http://www.users.bigpond.com/hallraylily/index.html See You Tamara (Ozzy Osbourne)

Ray, Taree, NSW