A Classy, Mature Entry in the Master Superior Series
Master Superior Audiophile 2019 is another carefully curated release in Master Music’s long-running audiophile sampler series. MusicBrainz lists it as a Hong Kong 2019 SACD release by Various Artists, with 14 tracks, catalogue number MASA 51962, and barcode 9789626051962. HRAudio also identifies it as a Stereo Hybrid SACD in the Demos/Samplers category.
This 2019 version feels elegant and mature. It is not the most aggressive demo disc in the series, but it is very useful for judging the things that matter in high-end audio: vocal realism, natural tone, stereo imaging, acoustic bass, jazz flow, classical texture and musical atmosphere.
The Music: Vocals, Jazz, Classical and Acoustic Sophistication
The 2019 tracklist includes artists such as Rainer Kussmaul, Sonja Prunnbauer, Stefanie Boltz, Die Drei Damen, Josefine Cronholm, Inger Marie Gundersen, Massimo Faraò Trio, Claire Martin & Jim Mullen, Kari Bremnes, Harry Allen Quartet and Simone Kopmajer. Elusive Disc lists tracks including “Rondoncino. Allegro,” “Adorable Stupid Girls,” “Time After Time,” “From My Window,” “Long As I Can See The Light,” “Sheep May Safely Graze,” “I Could Get Used To This,” “Hvis Du Kommer Tebake Igjen,” “Venus In The Backyard” and “The Summer Knows.”
That selection gives the album a beautiful hi-fi balance. You get classical openness, jazz intimacy, female vocal presence, acoustic bass control and the kind of relaxed musicality that makes a system sound expensive when everything is set up correctly.
Best Tracks to Play First
Start with “Rondoncino. Allegro” by Kussmaul/Prunnbauer. This is a useful opener for checking string tone, treble refinement and transient speed. A good system should sound open and lively without turning thin or sharp.
Then play “Time After Time” by Die Drei Damen. This familiar song is a strong vocal test because you already know the melody. Listen for midrange body, vocal separation and the natural shape of the performance.
For emotional intimacy, try “From My Window” by Josefine Cronholm. This kind of track is excellent for checking whether your speakers disappear and whether the voice floats naturally in the room.
Use “Long As I Can See The Light” by Inger Marie Gundersen to test vocal warmth and low-level ambience. The voice should have weight and texture, not just clarity.
For jazz lovers, play “I Could Get Used To This” by Claire Martin & Jim Mullen. This is where timing, swing and tonal balance matter. The guitar and vocal should feel relaxed but precise.
Finally, use “The Summer Knows” by Harry Allen Quartet as a small-ensemble jazz reference. The saxophone should sound rich and breathy, with clean bass support and believable room space.
Why Hi-Fi Enthusiasts Must Listen to This Album
1. It is excellent for vocal realism
The 2019 edition gives you several strong vocal references, including Inger Marie Gundersen, Josefine Cronholm, Claire Martin, Kari Bremnes and Simone Kopmajer. If your system sounds natural here, your midrange is probably doing something right.
2. It tests smoothness and detail at the same time
This is not a loud “wow effect” sampler. It is more useful than that. It reveals whether your system can produce detail without glare, warmth without muddiness and space without artificial brightness.
3. It is a strong stereo imaging disc
Many tracks are built around voice, strings, guitar, piano or small jazz ensemble. That makes it ideal for checking speaker toe-in, center focus and soundstage depth.
4. It gives you classical and jazz references on one disc
The combination of classical strings, vocal jazz, Nordic atmosphere and small-ensemble recordings makes Master Superior Audiophile 2019 very practical for comparing equipment.
5. It belongs in a serious SACD demo library
For anyone searching for best audiophile SACD, Hybrid Stereo SACD sampler, hi-fi test album, speaker test music, stereo imaging test tracks, audiophile vocal recording, high-end audio demo disc, jazz SACD sampler or reference SACD for hi-fi systems, this 2019 edition is an easy recommendation.
Listening Tips
Listen first at moderate volume. The album’s best qualities are texture, timing and space rather than extreme volume or heavy bass.
Use “Time After Time” for vocal placement. The center image should be stable, focused and natural.
Use “Rondoncino. Allegro” to check treble behavior. Strings should sound airy and energetic, never brittle.
Use “I Could Get Used To This” to judge rhythm and flow. A good system should make the performance feel effortless.
Use “The Summer Knows” to test saxophone tone. The sax should sound warm, dimensional and human, not metallic.
Final Verdict
Master Superior Audiophile 2019 is a refined and highly useful Hybrid Stereo SACD for serious hi-fi listeners. It may not be the flashiest edition in the series, but it is one of the most tasteful. Its strength lies in natural vocals, jazz elegance, acoustic space and clean stereo imaging.
Compared with the earlier editions, 2016 feels colorful and cinematic, 2017 feels rhythmic and cosmopolitan, 2018 feels smooth and intimate, while 2019 feels polished, balanced and quietly sophisticated.
For hi-fi enthusiasts, this album asks a very important question:
Can your system sound detailed, relaxed and emotionally believable at the same time?
Rating: 9/10 for vocal realism, jazz texture and refined audiophile listening.
