Pharos – Dynamic Voice (2007/OCTAVE Preamps/Intermusic SA-CD/Super Audio
Compact Disc Hybrid/Top Music International)
Sound/DSD
2.0 Stereo: B PCM 2.0 Stereo: B- Music: B-
PLEASE
NOTE:
This Super
Audio Compact Disc is only available from our friends at Top Music
International, has a Compact Disc layer that will play on virtually all CD
players and can be ordered at the link below.
In an
interesting audiophile release to promote the high-quality OCTAVE per-amplifier
line, Top Music has issued Pharos –
Dynamic Voices, an SA-CD designed to show how a warm new recording can
sound through optimal, top-of-the-line equipment using the latest digital and
tube technology at the same time. There
is no doubt that this has good sonic quality for a two-channel presentation.
For
technophiles, here are the specs for how the disc was made:
The
Project re-mastered by Povee Chan
32Bits/192kHz
High Resolution Mastering
SADiE DSD
Digital Precision
Mastering
Monitor: Almarro M1A
Monitor
Amplifier: OCTAVE Jubliee Preamp
Power
System: Isoclean Power Conditioning System
Mastered
with Zu Cable
Hybrid
Stereo, Plays on all SACD and CD Players
Made in Germany and Austria
The songs
are wide-ranging and include:
1)
Alejate
2)
Medley:
Besame Mucho / Contigo Aprend / Amigos Para
Siempre
3)
Yesterday
When I Was Young
4)
Feliz
5)
Only
Love
6)
Sigue
Sin Mi
7)
Hold
Me Till The Morning Comes (the Paul Anka-penned hit that Peter Cetera
originally did backing vocals on)
8)
Quando
Sento Que Mi Ami (When You Tell Me That You Love Me)
9)
Come
To Me
10) Hero
11) Caruso
12) Turiddu
Some of
the performances were fine, though some of the covers (tracks 3 & 7 in
particular) did not work as well for me, lacking empathy and range. However, it is a decent set and definitely
interesting demo material.
The DSD
2.0 Stereo is warm and rich throughout with hardly any issues, though some of
the bass-heavy moments may seem to border on compression, this is minor and
does not happen much. The PCM 2.0 CD
tracks are not bad, but they cannot compete against the higher resolution of
the DSD (Direct Stream Digital) signal that has an intentionally (by not
produced in a phony way) bass-rich and warm presentation. As I listened, I suddenly realized how badly
standards had fallen for general hit music in general and the really bad hits
in particular in another new way.
A paper
foldout with brief notes is also included.
To find
out more about ordering, start with this link, then go to the HOW TO ORDER tab
on the left-hand side column:
http://www.topmusic.com/tm-sacd9010.2.htm
The
direct order link is:
http://www.topmusic.com/to-order.htm
- Nicholas Sheffo
