I didn't pay too much attention to the Shout version of S.R.O. when it first came out, but upon listening to it more closely on my system earlier this year, it struck me how dull and lifeless it sounded. Granted even then it suffered from some tape degradation, but it almost feels as though they were trying to cover up some of it. This new S.R.O. is back to being closer to the LP version, noticeably brighter than the Shout version (as it should be). Yes, there is still a tape issue with "Our Day Will Come" but that's unavoidable--the tapes are around 50 years old at this point, and that type of damage just can't be undone. They just made do as best they could.
The soft innersleeves that MFSL is using for their SACDs in recent years are really nice. Like the LPs, they also include a "stiffener" insert around the disc, inside of the mini LP jacket.
I've seen some really lousy packaging as well...
I guess I'm OK with any CD hub that will keep the disc in place while it is in storage. I remember a couple of times early in the CD era, I had ordered some import discs years before they came out in the US, and found that a couple had come loose from the hubs (partly from brittle plastic on the tines). The worst offenders were the "fat boy" 2-CD cases. Thankfully the discs played OK, but it's a bit disheartening to see a brand new disc scratched up. For some of those, I ended up buying replacement cases with much stronger hubs.Well, okay. Perhaps others may benefit from my explanation. Either way, the MFSL lift-lock is still my all-time favorite cd holder, and the card sleeve (absolutely no plastic - i.e., the new HAP series) is my second favorite.
The soft innersleeves that MFSL is using for their SACDs in recent years are really nice. Like the LPs, they also include a "stiffener" insert around the disc, inside of the mini LP jacket.
I've seen some really lousy packaging as well...