Disco de Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Creedance Clearwater Revival: Absolute Originals”

I am not an SACD person, but this is an excellent set. Even though I just bought a bunch of CCR earlier in the year to replace old discs, I got this, but not here. And I am thrilled with the quality; when I saw Steve Hoffman's name on the project, that was all I needed to know. Also, I am a diehard Amazon Prime member, but this set is quite a bit cheaper even without free shipping direct from Acoustic Sounds.

There's little for me to add regarding the sheer quality of CCR's mainstream album output, and this set is faithful music content-wise to the originals. Thanks CCR for all the musical joy over the last 40+ years! Needless to say, I've owned CCR albums in all guises - LP, 8-track, Cassette, first CD releases, a couple of audiophile (DCC) discs and the 2000 (20bit remasters). I've finally got my hands on (borrowed:-) ) this SACD set. Yes indeed, it's two channel only. And now to the bit you've been waiting for - how do they sound?

In a word - wooly. Just like the DCC discs, that were (also?) digitised using vacuum tube equipment in the front-end (to extract the original analogue content from master tape). Great sounding if you're listening using honky, extra punchy and bright 70s speakers from Altec or JBL, but deadly dull and mushy when listened via contemporary quality equipment, or indeed any equipment (it's mainly in the speakers) with a relatively flat frequency response. I won't bore you with my (pathetic) audiophile leanings, suffice to say my life includes terms like ribbon, planar, electrostatic, beryllium, active-crossover, etc etc - 'nuff said!

For folk who like the dull, slow transient, (or politically correctly put, warm) sounds these remasters produce, may I suggest a cheaper alternative: buy any of the other remastered versions (they're significant improvements over the original CDs clarity-wise) and listen with the treble control on your contemporary stereo tweaked down some. Then sit back, levitate to the music and gloat over how much you've saved yourself.

My hat is off to the good people in Salina,KS (of all places) and the perfectionists who run Acoustic Sound Studios. If you love Creedence Clearwater Revival and know they are a band for the ages, who created timeless music, then you might be prepared for the magnificent job of restoration, mastering etc. that this box set represents. There is, as far as I know, nothing comparable technically to what has been done here. As always, good things don't come cheap---I've been waiting for this since the cd format made it's first appearance. Kudos and congratulations to all involved!!!

All these 7 DISKS ARE 2 channels SACD - NOT "The absolute best 5.1 SACD mix I've ever heard in a Rock format. ..and it's Creedence!"