Boston Section

The Boston Section of the Audio Engineering Society held it.s annual Banquet June 10th, 2003. It.s usual elegant atmosphere was superbly continued at the Henderson House in Weston, MA. After cocktails and a fine sit down dinner, a presentation and demonstration of 5.1 surround sound and the SACD was given by Tom Jung of DMP Records DMP Records.

Tom Jung is a well respected jazz producer, and principal of DMP Records. Through DMP, he has recorded and released numerous influential jazz recordings, often breaking new technological ground in the process. 1983 marked DMP.s release of the first jazz recording on CD. In 1991, DMP was the first to use 20 bit recording for commercial release, and starting with the 1995 release of the DMP Big Band, DMP Records began to pioneer surround recording for commercial release. In 1997, Mr. Jung began to use Sony.s DSD process for high resolution recording, releasing more than 8 albums in stereo format on SACD before releasing the first multichannel SACD in 2000.

In his presentation to the BAES, Tom Jung talked about the evolution of the signal path of the last 20-30 years, commenting on how each section of the chain has needed to grow and mature to allow for the pristine audio quality we take for granted today. He also noted that high resolution digital recording systems would fail to benefit us without the concurrent advances in microphones and pre-amps. When it came to discussing the benefits of SACD, Mr. Jung largely let the music do the talking.

His demonstration was done using a Philips SACD 1000 player with Meitner glass fiber multichannel DSD output, Meitner DAC8 Mk IV DSD D to A converter, Meitner Switchman Mk II multichannel monitor controller and Genelec 1032A monitors in 5.1 surround. The Boston Section would like to thank Genelec, and Will Egleston, for their support of this event. We were hopeful that we might be able to use the new Beolab 5 speakers, as they contain the High Frequency Dispersion Lens designed by section member David Moulton, and were to be reviewed by Tom Jung prior to this presentation. Unfortunately, the timing did not work out. Stay tuned for more on those speakers.

Tom played Sacred Feast, Gaudeamus, So Real, Warren Bernhardt, Gently, Bob Mintzer Big Band, Grace, Broadway Inspirational Voices, The Look of Love, Diana Krall, Mahler, San Francisco Symphony. He also included a jazz recording of Light My Fire (The Doors), Patricia Barber recorded by Eastern Regional VP of the AES, Jim Anderson. The music was stunning, strongly making a case both for surround recording and for multichannel SACD.

The Boston Section of the Audio Engineering Society would like to thank Tom Jung for an entertaining and educational evening.

- Jordan Tishler, Chairman
Audio Engineering Society, Boston Section