I’m big fan of Blue Note’s classic jazz albums and not surprise that I bought most of their remastered vinyl records I just love to imagine myself being in Japanese jazz kissa cafe. But as I recently sold my LP12 for a major TT upgrade later, that at the moment I have to with CDs and streaming.
Personally not a big fan of any Hi-Res CDs – also sceptical about these UHQCD series with Japanese obi (it always implicates a brighter and thinner sound with vinyl…), given I owned BN’s normal CDs release like Blue Train Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Rollins…and have enjoyed every moment of those. I just don’t get why BN had decided to release those lovely Kevin Gray’s remastered albums with UHQCD.
Bought a few anyway, and the playbacks just proved I was wrong. Interestingly it sounds remarkably close to my vinyl series – unlike the rest of my BN CDs, there is a natural warmth blends in so well with these classic albums, just like its surface in golden colour.
Did a research and found UHQCD was for a warmer and more natural presentation than CDs…very interesting the format does really contribute a sound. I had quite a few of the same albums but mastered by RVG, even he mastered it in a forward and ‘hotter’ way there was an inherited coldness that I would feel fatiguing soon. I bought 10+ of those later.
Anyway worths trying BN’s UHQCDs if you like a similar experience of its vinyl counterpart but in CD format.