Diamonds And Pearls (Audiophile ATMOS / HD Audio Blu-ray)

This is a review of the Audiophile Blu-Ray of Diamonds and Pearls - not the Blu-Ray contained within the recent SDE Boxset. Tested on an 7.1 compatible system - not Dolby Atmos capable, rather Dolby TrueHD.This isn’t one of the great Prince albums. With that said this release is one of the most radical releases that has been issued so far. Badged as an audiophile Blu-Ray, it contains a Dolby Atmos surround sound mix that has been completed by Chris James and mastered by Brad Blackwood.What has been delivered is a surround mix that doesn’t really play lip service to the original 2ch version, they have been able to break down the songs and use more aggressive separation than the vast majority of surround mixes. Prince himself may not have agreed here or liked it, but you’ll definitely hear things in this mix you’ve never heard before.Finally you can make sense of “Thunder” which had so many layers it was hard to understand just what was going on in the original mix. I sincerely hope that both Chris and Brad are free to do the entire back catalogue in this way - and long may these individual physical surround mixes continue to be produced (it should have been included in the SDE box set as well, but I’m also glad that this edition is available separately).This is the most revelatory Estate release since the SOTT Vault tracks. More please

Good collection

Great remaster, great artist, gone too soon!!’

I've liked Prince on and off for years. Never got round to buying this when it was released.But now on Blu-Ray Audio disc, I'm pleased I have eventually. Great music, sound quality brill.

I hear more in this version than the original release, the keyboards in the rear speaker on willing and able in my highlight, let's have a blu ray release of the rainbow children and the truth please

I got this on the day of release and will be sending it back.I dont have atmos but have a 7.1 /5.1 home cinema system.It plays fine in stereo and sounds excellant.But when i click onto Atmos the sound should drop down from atmos to either 7.1 or 5.1 suround and this disc doesnt.I checked all my settings and then tried pink floyds dark side of the moon atmos and that works perfect.Might be a bad batch.Getting a replacement and will see what happens.Its a shame becouse the album is fantastic.Got the replacement and was exactly the same.Will be sending back for a refund.

This doesn't mix down to 5.1 so if you don't have atmos don't bother purchasing it. Don't particularly rate this mix the punch of the bass in the original mix is missing leaving this sound far to bright for my ears.

I bought this specifically for the atmos surround mix. I don't know who mixed this (I'll check so I never buy anything they've mixed ever again) but after two minutes I ejected the disc. Its horrible. Fortunately I still have the original CD, but atmos mixes like this are never going to do any favours for an audio surround market that's never been anything other than a novelty for as long as surround has been in existence. Maybe the other mixes aren't quite so objectionable, I didn't bother to check.