Audiophiles Revel In Smooth Detail

Zappa, Beatles classics sound better than new

CD Preview
By Michael the K

In our last issue we explored the DTS 5.1 surround sound as vividly mastered on…3 CDs. Yes, CDs. Since CDs are recorded in PCM (pulse code modulation), they have more information than DVDs and thus sound more natural. Their inclusion in this new column I felt would broaden the audience among DVD aficionados. Judging by readers’ reactions, there is quite a market to be tapped into here, especially as all of these enhanced CDs are compatible with DVD units.

All of the CDs mentioned in my previous review were voyages inside the music, a journey not often experienced. Myself and a few of you audiophiles, as we’re known, have obtained equipment such as surround gear that lets us be much more involved in the music. Here are the latest two discs in this exciting new format presented to me by a trusted friend from the industry.

Apostrophe - Frank Zappa (1974) - Frank has always been the perfectionist in his recordings, he prefers to produce very lifelike images in the music. By this I mean the instruments are very true to their tones. This type of recording doesn’t sound good on inferior equipment, it makes the sound thin and blurry. Today we have a much higher level of reference in our audio equipment and this disc shines! The instruments sound alive and right there in front of you. Seems here they kept the soundstage up front. This was smart as I said previously, you can’t mess with an accurate to life recording and get great results. Here you get the feeling of being in the room with the band. This shows some kind of live sound field was in the mix somewhere. Digital sound processing seems to unlock these soundfields.

One of my favorites, ‘Stinkfoot,’ never sounded better. As the track unfolded, I heard things I had never experienced before. Switching back to two-channel on my system made those revelations disappear! Bravo DTS for such an expansion on the mix. I prefer to review the quality of the disc rather than the music as it’s a classic and doesn’t need another slant on the now deceased master. Frank Zappa has influenced an army of musicians over the years and continues to today. This update of his work adds another feather in his legacy.

The White Album - The Beatles (1968) - Yes, it’s the White Album in DTS 4.1 surround! Those of you who experienced the Beatles firsthand know they were the most powerful force in a century of music. No one ever before or to this day has had the impact the Beatles have. Those experienced know how they would cherish the day their new album was released so they could experience the music and the direction the music industry would have to take to catch up with them. The white album is my all time favorite (I even have my original with the serial number stamp on it). Even with the CD transfer they did quite a good job on.

Going back to our DTS version I can safely say was quite an experience as the DTS coding revealed so much harmonics which were lost in previous efforts. Strings are very fragile to lost information. It makes them shrill and bitter-sounding in digital when information is overly limited. They also chose to present this disc in 4.1, four channels of information and one LFE (bass) channel. The four channel method eliminates the center channel, used in home theater to bring the dialogue to the screen among other steering effects. In music, the center channel can blur the two main channels’ information and thin out the richness of the sound. By doing this the front image is more realistic, as DTS renders strings smooth and detailed. This is essential on many Beatles recordings since they used real orchestras, cellos, violins and such.

Now the real secret to this album is that they showed they could play any style of music and do it well. I can pick out the references to groups of the day in the songs here. The opening track, ‘Back in the USSR,’ is immersed in Beach Boys harmonies and there are shades of Dylan in ‘Rocky Raccoon.’ Their track ‘Why Don’t We Do It In The Road’ gyrates like Jagger and the Stones. Yes these boys from Liverpool had it all. I must add they were in the hands of creative people like George Martin (who produced the White Album among others) and Brian Epstein, their original manager and creator.

This version rocks. It’s exciting music when heard this way. It was created during troubled times and we’re going through similar times now, and this music seems to fit so well. Since, as I’ve stated, my copy is off some master so no tracks or skipping is possible. No matter, this disc is worthy of listening from beginning to end. See we don’t have the right directors up there like the Beatles and Elvis at the moment, so today’s music is a scatter of disassociated things. Hopefully we will return to those glorious days. In the meantime this is the ticket to as close as it gets. I implore you to explore its endless bounties! Thanks to DTS and the pioneer artists who go out of their way, to make the audience's experience more enjoyable.