Search - Dire Straits :: Brothers in Arms (20th Anniversary Edition)

Beyond Great, Brothers in Arms remastered SACD

EdM | Alexandria, VA | 06/25/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Played on my OPPO BDP-83 SE, Nuforce Edition, OPPO BDP-83SE - Nuforce Edition I listened to it on my high quality stereo, with my jaw dropped and my eyes wide with excitement. This is the music we know, yet like we've never heard before; the improvement is so outstanding. A whole new experience of the same songs, only remastered to quality better than possible for consumers, back in the day. The sounds from guitar have all the character, twang and original Dire Straits sound you could dream of. It must be heard to understand. Imported from England, but worth every penny.



In "So Far Away", during the chorus, the low growling guitar notes are heard to advantage, and similarly at the end of lines, such as following "blister on your little finger". Throughout, the percussion is tightened up in the remaster, weigh in the lows, fast and crisp for cymbals. "Money for Nothing" is the album version, at 8 minutes, 26 seconds. The percussion in the intro to Money for Nothing" is heard to particular good effect, with the ethereal "I want my, I want my MTV ..." lead in. The price of this Hybrid SACD album is not "money for nothing"; the money is for a fine improvement/remaster of particularly high quality.



There are CD stereo, SACD stereo, SACD multichannel tracks. I didn't listen multichannel as I only have stereo gear, although my OPPO did down-mix the 5.1 audio track as stereo. Even playing it as an ordinary CD on a nice, older Sony CD player, it was nicely improved. The musical upgrade of this disc is not as fine when the CD layer is played, compared to SACD, but it is still no small improvement in my opinion. Particularly recommended for those with quality music setups, especially played as SACD, both stereo and surely also as multichannel, although the multi-channel assessment is based only on the quality experienced in stereo. It's made me feel like a kid again, only with better toys and music. Listening as SACD, I wanted to listen all the way through, the music drew me in so. Listening as a CD, was more like in the old days, where, after the great songs, one might be motivated to jump to the next great song rather than just listen. High quality, reasonably priced, audio equipment can show the audio improvement to good effect. "Be-Bop-A-Lula Baby What I Say ... do the walk of life", to great music."