Volume 3 of the compilation series s.a.m. - selected audiophile music consistently continues the line of its two predecessors. The recording is for music lovers for whom first-class sound quality is just as important as stylistic diversity. s.a.m. confidently moves once again between genres: singer-songwriter, indie pop, retro soul, nu jazz, electronica, world blues and neo- or cineastic classical music merge into a harmonious, relaxed and flowing overall picture. Instead of committing itself to one style, the sampler presents a balanced musical mix in audiophile quality.
The sampler s.a.m. - selected audiophile music invites you to enjoy your hi-fi system in every detail and experience sound with a depth and precision that has become rare in everyday life. Thanks to RESO Mastering 2.0, each recording unfolds its individual spatiality and subtle nuances. The 180-gram vinyl, manufactured using the Direct Metal Mastercut process from pure virgin vinyl, ensures exceptionally dynamic and detailed reproduction – ideal for discerning listeners.
On the compilation s.a.m. - selected audiophile music technical perfection and artistic ambition go hand in hand. The covers, lovingly designed by Jürgen Oschwald, add to this experience. A sampler for connoisseurs who not only want to hear music, but also want to consciously experience it. Play it again, s.a.m.!
Music lovers are often perfectionists
Those who configure their hi-fi system with great care and attention to detail know the challenges: unconventional speaker placement, meticulously optimized room acoustics, premium-grade cabling, custom-made racks – nothing is left to chance. But even with perfect equipment, the journey doesn’t end there. To truly unlock its full potential, one crucial element is still missing: the right music.
Do you truly know your system’s potential?
Many standard recordings fail to fully tap into the acoustic capabilities of high-end audio systems. They often lack spatial depth, finely tuned dynamics, clear bass, and authentic tonal color. This is precisely where the s.a.m. edition comes in: a carefully curated collection of contemporary music, mastered to audiophile standards and refined on outstanding sound carriers.
RESO Mastering 2.0 – audiophile perfection redefined
The s.a.m. edition builds on the advanced RESO Mastering 2.0 – a consistently refined version of the proven RESO technology that has already shaped the Reference Sound Edition.
- An analog high-end equalizer with integrated dynamic processing
- Specialized analog techniques rarely used today
- Invaluable years of experience from renowned mastering engineers
- Realized at the legendary Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg
The result is a sound image of exceptional precision: with a transparent soundstage, nuanced dynamics, and deep yet controlled bass – vivid and authentic.
How CDs work – and what affects their sound quality
During CD production, digital audio data is represented as tiny indentations and elevations on the disc—known as pits and lands. These microstructures encode the digital ones and zeros of the music. A laser reads them at high speed during playback. The clearer and more precise these tiny differences are, the more accurately the player can read the music signal and convert it into analog sound. If the surface is dirty or imperfect, the player has to compensate more often—through error correction or interpolation. This negatively impacts the sound quality.
Pits & Lands
As mentioned above, music on a CD is stored through small indentations and elevations called pits (and lands). These represent the ones and zeros. The easier it is for the laser to scan the pits, the more accurately the music signal can be reproduced.
Greater Clarity
Comparison between a standard CD and an Ultimate High Quality CD: The improved flow properties of the photopolymer layer applied in addition to the polycarbonate result in better-defined distinctions between the elevations and indentations of the information layer, leading to higher data transfer accuracy of the UHQCD, especially in the tangential direction.
CD & HQCD Pressing
The polycarbonate does not fully penetrate the tiny indentations of the stamper, resulting in blunt edges.
U-HQCD Pressing
Photopolymer with high flowability can penetrate every tiny corner of the indentations, ensuring precise edge transitions between pits and lands.
In the traditional CD production process, these structures are mechanically pressed into a polycarbonate layer, which is then coated with a reflective layer. This can lead to imprecise edges—especially at the transitions between pits and lands. The blurrier these transitions are, the more the laser beam scatters inside the CD. The result: less stable signal processing and potentially less smooth sound quality.
The U-HQCD (Ultimate High Quality CD) uses a new replication process. Here, the information layer is cast from a highly flowable photopolymer that captures even the finest details precisely. Curing is done with UV light, producing very smooth, exact surfaces.
An additional layer of high-purity polycarbonate is then applied, serving both as protection and enhancing the optical properties. The result is a noticeably clearer, quieter, and more detailed sound reproduction—with a naturalness reminiscent of analog master tapes. At the same time, the UHQCD remains fully compatible with all conventional CD players.
Compared directly to standard CDs or HQCDs, the U-HQCD offers audible advantages: the more precise transitions between information structures reduce jitter—that is, fewer timing irregularities in the data stream. This results in a more stable, spatial, and finely resolved reproduction of the music signal—even on conventional playback devices.
Tracklist
