Review: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue DSD Rip

Never had I heard so much nonsense talked about a single album "it's as vital as air and water" and "without this in my day I cannot function" - something tells me these guys have never known the touch of a woman.

Am I going to give an in-depth spiritual review of a 'Kind of Blue' - No I'm going to review the sound quality of the DSD rip from the Japanese SACD purchased from CD Japan http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/ against my previous favourite which was the gold cd Mastersound edition.

I'm also a lucky chap because I have heard an original pressing of the album on my brother in laws Naim Reference system with a Shindo 301 turntable, Shindo reference phonostage and Focal Utopia speakers - special times indeed.

This SACD was ripped using a PS3 http://bit.ly/17CPUX9 and converted on my Windows PC before being copied to my Drobo NAS and transfered into the Pure Music player on my MacBook Pro.  

I am going to operate a five star system against each CD / SACD in five categories:

Value For Money ***
£24.18 CD Japan + £15.25 Post Office handling charge

Content *****
It's my favourite jazz album

Production ****
Nice work on the production - Bill Evans piano seems more forward in the mix but other than that - very little tinkering from the Mastersound copy. 

Sound ***
It's a typical DSD over CD package - it's better at the edges and keyboards seem more realistic. You can hear more of the brushstrokes on Jimmy Cobb's drums and follow every pluck of Paul Chambers bass. The piano by Bob Evans & Wynton Kelly is clearer and more distinct on all tracks. This DSD rip is slightly better than the Mastersound cd bot not revelatory like some DSD recordings. The Mastersound cd has a way with the trumpet of Miles Davis that seems strangely lacking from the DSD. 

Overall Package ***
This is an purchase for real die-hard Miles Davis fans - of which there are many. The difference in sound quality from the Mastersound edition is noticeable but not always positive. I still play both editions so that is an indicator that it has not followed most of my DSD rips into the 'must listen' category.