A Calm, Elegant and Very Listen-Able 2022 Edition
Master Superior Audiophile 2022 continues the Master Music annual audiophile sampler series with a beautifully refined selection of vocal, jazz, Nordic, gospel and acoustic recordings. It is listed as a Limited Edition Hybrid Stereo SACD, with a stereo SACD layer plus a standard Red Book stereo CD layer, so it can be played on most conventional CD players while still offering SACD playback for compatible systems. The 2022 edition was remastered by Raymond Lo at Audio Recording & Mastering Services, Hong Kong, and made in Japan.
Compared with the richer vocal-jazz personality of the 2020 edition and the cultured, international feel of the 2021 edition, Master Superior Audiophile 2022 feels more atmospheric, spacious and Nordic in character. It is not a loud show-off disc. It is a serious album for listeners who value tone, air, silence, vocal texture and natural musical flow.
The Music: Nordic Space, Gospel Warmth and Jazz Sophistication
The 14-track selection includes Elisabeth Karsten, Oslo Gospel Choir, Kari Bremnes, Ketil Bjørnstad, Sinne Eeg & Thomas Fonnesbæk, Simone Kopmajer, Mulo Francel, Josefine Cronholm & IBIS, Aaron Heick & John Di Martino, Nicki Parrott, Malene Mortensen and Renaud Garcia-Fons. Key tracks include “Pardon, Goddess of The Night,” “A Hvor Salig A Fa Vandre,” “Coastal Ship,” “Molo,” “Those Who Were,” “Time,” “Poet On A Mountain Top,” “My Room,” “Smooth Operator,” “Laughter In The Rain,” “It Might Be You,” “Empty Skies,” “Silent Moon” and “Chiche Hoop.”
That makes the 2022 version especially useful for testing midrange transparency, vocal imaging, piano atmosphere, acoustic bass control, saxophone tone and soundstage depth. It is an elegant hi-fi album, but it is also revealing: if your system is too bright, the vocals may become exposed; if your system is too warm, the Nordic atmosphere may lose air and definition.
Best Tracks to Play First
Start with “Pardon, Goddess of The Night” by Elisabeth Karsten. This is a strong opening track for checking vocal presence, room ambience and the stability of the center image. A good system should make the vocal sound clear, expressive and naturally placed between the speakers.
Then play “A Hvor Salig A Fa Vandre” by Oslo Gospel Choir. This is one of the most interesting tracks on the album because choral music quickly exposes soundstage limitations. The voices should spread naturally across the stage without becoming a flat wall of sound.
For Nordic atmosphere, go to “Coastal Ship” by Kari Bremnes. Her recordings are excellent for testing vocal texture, low-level detail and emotional restraint. The track should sound spacious and human, not clinical.
Use “Molo” by Ketil Bjørnstad to test piano tone, decay and silence. Piano is unforgiving on a hi-fi system; it should have body, air and natural fading notes.
For jazz vocal intimacy, play “Those Who Were” by Sinne Eeg & Thomas Fonnesbæk. Listen for the relationship between voice and bass. The bass should be tuneful and woody, not oversized or disconnected.
Finally, use “Chiche Hoop” by Renaud Garcia-Fons for acoustic bass speed and texture. This is the track that can reveal whether your system has low-end control or only low-end quantity.
Why Hi-Fi Enthusiasts Must Listen to This Album
1. It is excellent for vocal realism
The album gives you several serious vocal references: Elisabeth Karsten, Kari Bremnes, Sinne Eeg, Simone Kopmajer, Josefine Cronholm, Nicki Parrott and Malene Mortensen. If these voices sound natural, textured and emotionally believable, your system is doing something right.
2. It tests space, not only detail
The Oslo Gospel Choir, Ketil Bjørnstad and Josefine Cronholm tracks are useful because they reveal air, silence and room depth. A truly good hi-fi system should reproduce space as convincingly as it reproduces notes.
3. It is strong for acoustic bass and timing
With Thomas Fonnesbæk and Renaud Garcia-Fons in the selection, this edition gives you valuable low-frequency references. The bass should sound agile, pitched and physical, not bloated.
4. It is refined but still revealing
This is not a “wow effect” demo disc designed only to impress for thirty seconds. Master Superior Audiophile 2022 rewards careful listening and exposes tonal imbalance, weak imaging and poor speaker placement.
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, Nordic audiophile music, high-end audio demo disc or reference SACD for hi-fi systems, this 2022 edition is an easy recommendation.
Listening Tips
Use “Pardon, Goddess of The Night” and “Time” to check vocal focus. The voice should lock into the center without sounding narrow or artificially forward.
Use “A Hvor Salig A Fa Vandre” to check soundstage width. The choir should feel layered and open, not compressed between the speakers.
Use “Molo” to test piano decay. Listen to how the notes fade into silence; that is where a refined system shows its quality.
Use “Those Who Were” to test voice-and-bass balance. The bass should support the vocal naturally without covering it.
Use “Chiche Hoop” to test bass speed. A good system should make the acoustic bass sound alive, textured and fast.
Final Verdict
Master Superior Audiophile 2022 is a graceful, atmospheric and highly useful Hybrid Stereo SACD for serious hi-fi listeners. It combines Nordic mood, vocal realism, gospel spaciousness, jazz elegance, piano intimacy and acoustic bass detail into one mature audiophile sampler.
Compared with the previous editions, 2020 feels richer and more vocal-jazz focused, 2021 feels intimate and international, while 2022 feels spacious, atmospheric and quietly sophisticated.
For hi-fi enthusiasts, this album asks a subtle but important question:
Can your system reproduce air, texture, silence and emotion without forcing the music?
Rating: 9/10 for Nordic atmosphere, vocal realism and refined audiophile testing.
