Super High Material CD

[Rupam]

I came to know about this format when I was searching for Enya's CD. Apparently she has released an Album on this format. I have never seen or heard about this format. It features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic Does any forum members has this format or experience the real word advantages of this format ?

SHM-CD

 

[Shivam]

Seems like the regular red book standard CD.

I have tried copying various types of JVC XRCDs & Japanese mini-LPs (Audio CDs) to no-name CDR discs and later I could not find any difference among the two in terms of sound quality. I am sure that using a better material will not affect the sound quality in any way.

 

[thx911]

guess we should factor in Ageing of the media and then compare the quality. the shelf life of SHM is going to outlive any no-name CDRs i think.

 

[wishihadtubes]

Snake oil plus. Another way to make you part with your hard earned cash for no reason. Have heard several SHM CDs and SHM SACDs, couldn't discern any advantage or difference over same albums on regular discs.

 

[abhijitnath]

It's complete bollocks. Especially since the mastering on most modern Japanese CDs is nuked.
If you really want to go down this route though, UMG has new platinum SHM-CDs (time to throw away all my existing CDs and buy this format. Not.)

 

[ROBIN LANDANSON]

I came to know about this format when I was searching for Enya's CD. Apparently she has released an Album on this format. I have never seen or heard about this format. It features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic Does any forum members has this format or experience the real word advantages of this format ?

SHM-CD

I've Enya - The very best album. But couldn't found this format logo

 

[ranjeetrain]

I have a different understanding.

The literature just says it uses a better material to manufacture the CDs. If it enhances the sound that's just a bonus.

I want to say this: How many CDs would anyone have bought in India that stopped playing after a while or started skipping much earlier, compared to the same CDs imported from USA? I'd say a lot. In my experience, USA/Germany made CDs simply have better shelf life. Many CDs bought in India (Mostly T-Series CDs) failed to give me a jitter-free rip even at the first read. That's the manufacturing quality here.

SHM-CD, in my understanding, should be taken as something manufactured using a better technology rather than being taken as a necessarily better sounding pressing.

 

[Shivam]

I have a different understanding.

The literature just says it uses a better material to manufacture the CDs. If it enhances the sound that's just a bonus.

I want to say this: How many CDs would anyone have bought in India that stopped playing after a while or started skipping much earlier, compared to the same CDs imported from USA? I'd say a lot. In my experience, USA/Germany made CDs simply have better shelf life. Many CDs bought in India (Mostly T-Series CDs) failed to give me a jitter-free rip even at the first read. That's the manufacturing quality here.

SHM-CD, in my understanding, should be taken as something manufactured using a better technology rather than being taken as a necessarily better sounding pressing.

All my CDs (each and everyone of them) plays the same way as they did on their first day of purchase. None of the CDs have started skipping after sometime. I do take care of my CDs though.

There have been instances when a new CD didn't play properly but that happened on the day of opening the box itself. The exchanged CDs in such instances also play the same way as they did on their day of purchase.

What causes the deterioration of the CDs that you have mentioned in your opinion ?

(I have seen some glass fungus growing on some of the very old CDs especially where I touched the CDs but that is irrespective of the place of origin of the disc.)

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

"Foreign" CDs are not perfect. I have European-made CDs that won't play. I also have one Indian (carnatic) CD that has actually de-laminated!

Even thought the majority of my CDs are just fine, however old, and mostly survive far better than any vinyl I own, the indestructibility of CDs (rather like early GRP boat hulls) was always exaggerated.

More to the point of this thread, why would anybody invent a new form[at] of CD in this age? It's a decade or three too late to sell!

 

[IndianEars]

Hi Rupam,

The diagram seems to indicate a Premium Quality CD made as per the Red book Standard. If the Red Book standard was not followed, it would not read on a regular CD player.

That said, I am a fan of premium CDs.

The XRCD ( another similar premium CD label) does sound Consistently different, on my system and to my ears ( YMMV )

I believe that SHM = Steve Hoffman Mastering ie mastering by Steve Hoffman.

These CDs DO sound distinctly different... probably because of a slightly different tonal balance used by Steve Hoffman.... To my ears the sound is more incisive and a forceful, with a bit bit of treble edge. I even have these CDs on my HDD and the rip too sounds different.

Most Boutique labels remaster there CDs to present a particular sonic signature. they charge a premium for their products, and they DO sound different .... though you may or may not like their "house sound."

Therse include JVC's XRCDs, SHM & MFSL ( Music Fidelity Sound Labs).

Incidentally, SHM also sels some of their CDs in pairs... One CD regiular and the other identical music SHM CD. It is their way to reaffirm their faith that the buyer WILL find an audible difference.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I'm confused as to whether you are crediting mastering or physical CD difference for what you hear?

 

[IndianEars]

Primarily the Mastering (90%) with some credit (10% ?) for the physical disc

Of course the % numbers indicated by me are Purely speculative