Rating: - Query for future reviewers to possibly answer...
Amazon doesn't address this question in the Product Details...are the DVD's on this IMPORTED version NTSC or PAL?
Rating: - Great SACD Box Set
The music contained in this box set is of such a high standard.The packaging is pretty good too and as a bonus for buying these new Genesis box sets you get a bonus SACD/DVD set enclosed in a very informative hardback book with essays by Genesis fanatic Michael Watts.The bonus SACD contains B Sides and extra tracks from single releases and EP's whilst the DVD has bonus video content and an extra reissues interview.These discs are not available seperately and are a nice bonus!
Ignore the reviews that complain about the new mixes/bad compression etc....,these people seem to have issues with remastered music in general.I'd like to write about the SACD/DTS 5.1 mixes as I talk of high standards.I'm listening to "One For The Vine" from "Wind & Wuthering" as I type this review and it is breathtaking.I also have the equipment to compare the SACD 5.1 verses the DTS 5.1(96k/24bit) and can faithfully report that they are both top notch.The SACD 5.1 mixes always seem to sound a little warmer to me as they are played back via analogue not digital.I can also write that the stereo SACD mixes sound pretty good,but not a patch on the 5.1.The same stereo mixes have been used for the standard cd layer so they should sound ok too.
I think in years to come,as Mike Rutherford says on the bonus DVD interview,these new mixes will be appreciated for what they are when more people open their ears to surround mixes.
I must also admit that there are some very bad surround mixes out there but Genesis and their trusty engineer Nick Davis have clearly done their homework.ALL mixes in this collection and the companion 1983-1998 boxGenesis 1983-1998 have been supervised by Tony Banks.Giving the listener a new experience with evey album(even "Calling All Stations" sounds great).Ok,so they are not the original stereo mixes,these new releases are clearly aimed at fans who have the capacity to hear these great albums in 5.1 via SACD or DVD.
So in summing up,if you've got the hardware to enjoy these fantastic remixed Genesis albums then your ears will love you for buying this set and it's companion.And if you don't have an SACD player(get one!) or a DTS decoder don't worry,you can also listen to the standard 5.1 dolby digital mixes(they are slightly lower quality)on the DVD's via most DVD players/home theatre setups.
Enjoy!
Note to U.S. customers:-Unlike the American release,this European version of the Genesis box set contains a Hybrid SACD rather than a standard cd giving the listener just that slightly better sound even if you don't have an SACD player.Hybrid SACD's play in most conventional cd players as well!
