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Reviews: The Doors: The Doors

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Reviews: 4

Review by Audioflea February 28, 2013 (5 of 8 found this review helpful)
Sonics:  
First-time release of The Doors 6-album catalog on SACD from Analog Productions. Each disc contains both multi-channel and stereo. The multi-channel layer comes from the original 96K, 24-bit files that were originally mixed and mastered for the 2006 DVD Audio Doors/Perception release. For stereo purists, the re-mastered, hi-rez stereo layers on all of the discs are fantastic and have never sounded better. However, in my opinion, it’s the multi-channel presentation that, when done right, takes this music to a whole different level. My reviews are based solely on the quality and fullness of the stage presence of the multi-channel layer of each respective disc in the set.

On the classic 1-10 scale, IMHO, here’s how each disc ranks in quality and fullness of the stage presence of the 5.1 layer. Strange Days (9) The Soft Parade (9), LA Woman (8.5), Morrison Hotel (7.5), Waiting for the Sun (7), The Doors (3)


The Doors

With regards to multi-channel presentation, this disc is the weakest link in the otherwise pretty strong 6-disc catalog. Not that the sound quality is poor, it certainly has pretty good sonic presence and clarity in the front 3 speakers. But, with few exceptions, the multi-channel arrangement is mostly front channel, front left, and front right. This is just not the immersive sound stage that is offered in the multi-channel layers of the other 5 Doors discs; most of the time the rears are just barely audible.

With that said, I do think that there is a definite uptick in quality over previous CD releases that are out there. For one, even though there is, for all intents and purposes, only 3 active channels, there is some separation of the musical parts within that 3-speaker framework. Some tracks shine a lot more than others, depending on how much of the vocal is separated out & focused in on the center channel; and some tracks definitely have higher recording levels on the vocal than one other tracks.

The tracks that benefit from the 3-channel SACD upgrade most are; “Light my Fire”, “I Looked at You”, “The End Of The Night”, “Take It As It Comes”, and “The End”; which all display a strong vocal presence in the center and surprisingly crisp percussion in the FR & FL.

Unfortunately two of my favorite tracks, “The Crystal Ship” and “Back Door Man”, have really suppressed vocals and are mostly drowned out by the instrumentation that come out of the two side channels. Unless you have the capacity to adjust the relative volume level on your center channel, these tracks are almost better represented in their original stereo format.

At the initial retail of $30, I still recommend it for those who want a 3-channel version, which definitley an improvement over the CD format. Just adjust your expectations slightly if you happen to hear the other 5 Doors SACDs first.

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Review by analogue June 4, 2013 (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
A truly great debut album from a classic rock band.

This review is of the new Analogue Productions sacd which features a new Dsd stereo transfer by Doug Sax.

The original two channel tapes are no longer with us so for this release Sax used a second generation tape which was the best one that could be used.
Unfortunately this sacd sounds like a third generation tape was used. This is not the fault of Mr. Sax but it still makes me wish I hadn't purchased this disc. Especially when you compare what he did for lets say......L.A. Woman on sacd.

This sacd does sound like a dub tape and it never gels. When it starts out it sounds decent enough but soon after one begins to notice the severe limitations of this tape source. Dynamic range is clipped, there is little in three dimensional rendering. Transparency is also lacking greatly here. Its simply a drab affair. Rather dull.

There are some good things to be had. Its at least organic sounding and there is that analog feel to it. When i compare it to the Dvd Audio version from the box set there are some differences too. I don't usually find the pcm version better but here I do. By a long shot. While the sacd has better sound stage the Dvd Audio is better overall even with the new remixing. The pcm version has better vocals and separation and much better bite.. Its louder than the sacd too but has better bloom. Its the preferred version by far.....and actually the more musical version to own. I am a huge fan of the Doors box set .

I cant recommend this sacd as the tape source doesn't even come close to capturing those delicate nuances that make recorded sound so compelling. I get bored and listless when I hear this sacd after about 5 minutes.

Stay away from this release but not the others . They are great.

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Review by raf72953 August 24, 2014 (1 of 6 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
I purchased this disc after I called the company and they said that the disc was going to be like the original album mix that we all grew up with and instead it has the mix just like the DVD-A release in the Perception box set. I like the slower mix that was originally released and this is a rip-off.

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Review by tdunster December 12, 2014 (1 of 2 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
Perhaps one of the greatest debut albums of all time. Unfortunately, the sound quality of this disc is woeful. I prefer the sound of the original CD and the remix CD over this one - and by a good margin as well.

Analogue's review pretty much says it all

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