The Phantom of the Opera [The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [Hybrid SACD]

 (8 customer reviews)

I was rather dissapointed in this Hybrid SACD. After listening to other SACD's that were remastered to provide the fullest 5.1 experience this was fairly lacking.

I expected to be fully immersed in the Orchestra and it just appeared to be the 5.1 movie audio transferred to SACD.

This is a review of the SACD of the highlights of The Phantom of the Opera. I didn't read the Amazon product information carefully, thinking I was buying an SACD version of the original Michael Crawford & Sarah Brightman soundtrack. It isn't and what a disappointment it is. I compared it to the CD highlights version with Michael & Sarah, playing them side by side using two players and swapping between the two, the SACD player and the CD player. The SACD sound is clearer for sure, but it just didn't have the impact factor I expected from an SACD. The organ opening sequence is a bit anaemic, and my overall impression of the SACD recording is it has no power or depth. The CD is better in these areas. If you are willing to pay for a clearer recording with a bit more detail, okay. But if you're looking for that Michael Crawford rich voice, and for a powerful, stirring SACD version of the production that makes you want to hear it again, save your money.

We can listen to the music without having to watch the movie - which we enjoy the movie just can't spend time sitting now we can travel and listen.