Written by Karl Erik Sylthe, January 2009.

Two years ago, the record label 2L had their first Grammy nomination with the release Immortal Nystedt. This year the success is repeated with increased power, as the release of Divertimenti Trondheimsolistene have caused three nominations.

The three classes where Divertimenti has earned nominations are:
- Best Surround Sound Album
- Best Engineered Album
- Best Small Ensemble Performance

It is remarkable that a small Norwegian label achieves Grammy Nominations with only two-year intervals. Yet it is hardly a coincidence. Lindberg Lyd has continuously demonstrated by their records, a superior sound quality, and when this is combined with a brave approach to multi-channel experience that violate stereo police cemented dogmas, the result must be in high class. But then 2L has also received a major international attention after the Grammy nominations two years ago. In particular audiophile authorities lead by Stereophile has given the record loads of honor.

The music
In this release it's Trondheimsolistene that provide the music. And also this time they have made the trip to Selbu church, the same crime scene that the recording of Mozart's violin-concertos that we wrote about a couple of years ago. This time it is works by various composers being performed - Benjamin Britten, Grazyna Bacewicz, Terje Bjorklund and Béla Bartók. And although there is great scope in the material, it is a bouquet that still appears to be harmonious and comprehensive. This is a feature that is known from previous releases from 2L, perhaps topped by Tor Espen Aspaas his Mirror Canon, where very significant advance in the time between compositions not prevent a comprehensive publication.

Alongside Carmina composed of Terje Bjorklund, it is perhaps Britten's Simple Symphony that hit my best strings on Divertimenti. Performance of the latter is dynamic, which is supported a dynamic audio production.

Production

As mentioned earlier, this is a Blu-Ray release, and indeed the world's first pure audio-releases with music. But 2L has a strong tradition as a publisher of multi-channel SA-CD with high quality, and fortunately they did not fail in this sector now, either. Like the previous release with Trondheimsolistene this is also a 2-record box, which this time is a Blu-ray disc, and a hybrid CD / SA-CD. On BD, one can choose between LPCM and high-resolution format from Dolby and DTS in 5.1 and 5.1 DD and two-channel PCM. SA-CD that contains both a regular Redbook CD-layer, as well as 2.0 and 5.1 DSD. And just like last time, you can always send a troubled mind concerning production, while rejoice over the flexibility this provides for us users. Includes the ability to keep the plates separated by each their facilities.

The sound is also the time in class, despite the fact that it in my ears does not exceed previous performance from 2L. Maybe I was even more fascinated by both Stig Nilson's Solo +, and switched on Tungasletta of Berit Opheim Versto?

Regardless, this is amazing, and Lindberg's perspective from the tip of the conductor's baton beat is absolutely in holdings, and perhaps even strengthened? Sound, the highlight must surely be under the worst pizzicato-race in 2.movement from Britten. Turning up well, and you almost feel a need to duck instantly in fear of being struck by a cello string of free dressage.

Blu-ray as a music format?
It's incredibly exciting that 2L take this step to introduce a new music format, which in practice is that the release means. Here it is of course important to distinguish between the Music Blu-ray video as it is part of the publications, and pure audio releases on Blu-ray where 2L is first, and with their next release coming up.

If we have look to the side (and back), it is of course SA-CD and DVD-Audio which are predecessors - two formats that have had limited success. Personally, I have a sole clear favorite among these, and it is the SA-CD. This is not justified in sound-technical factors - I have not found any reason to favor DSD before LPCM. But when it comes to the user-interface, SA-CD have been outperforming DVD-Audio by far, given that we are not using any form of display during music listening. Because while the SA-CD has a CD-style use interface where soundtrack preferences are stored in the player, many DVD-Audio releases have the drawback that it depends on the navigation menu to select the correct settings.

How is this situation for the Blu-ray? Here, I'm afraid that the format has some of the same Achilles' heel as DVD-Audio. On Divertimenti you are dependent on a display to get started - at least the first time, before you learn to press 1x "Arrow down" and 2x "enter". Although it is an advantage to be able to choose between different tracks, it would have been much better if this was an opportunity you had to actively seek out - for instance, LPCM was preset if you just press the "play".

What I do not know is whether this can be bypassed by the manufacturer, or if you have a visit to the menu to initiate a Blu-Ray anyway. On this release Sony DADC is credited for the Blu-ray authoring, so the key is maybe in their hands?

That said, it is attractive and restrained use the menu on Divertimenti, especially the screen during play is characterized by discrete elegance dishes minimal attention to the visual.

In comparison, I had big problem hearing difference of DTS HD Master Audio and LPCM, and really I do not know if it should be much difference, either.

However, there was clearly audible difference between the playback of Blu-ray and SA-CD. Probably this is due primarily at playing happens on two different players. We are talking about the Sony DVP-NS9100ES for SA-CD, and the Pioneer BDP-LX70A for Blu-ray. Both connected to the analog multi-channel preamp. In addition to those having different sound-signature, there is the lack of options for full-time delay on the Pioneer, which is vital in such a direct multi-channel mix that we have here. This aspect is eliminated by connecting via HDMI to my secondary setup "side stage", where processing takes place in the receiver. But this is not the same sound quality as the "main stage". Therefore, it is not possible for me to reward some sound victory between SA-CD and Blu-Ray, even if I on my equipment achieved even better results with SA-CD than BD.

Despite the fact that they're sharing an Achilles heel, the pure audio releases on Blu-ray two sole clear advantages compared with DVD-Audio. Blu-ray is responding to the sampling frequency of up to 192kHz in the multi-channel, while DVD-A stop at 96kHz. In addition, there is reason to hope that the market-penetration of Blu-ray players eventually will be far greater than the situation has been for DVD players with expertise in the DVD-Audio. Therefore, it will be very exciting to see if more follow suit with this kind of audio release on Blu-ray.

And so it just shines through that my favourite format for multi-channel discs still is SA-CD, because of its excellent user interface. But what is better than when 2L provides an opportunity for both?