Master Superior 2020
A Strong 2020 Edition With Vocal Power and Jazz Sophistication
Master Superior Audiophile 2020 is one of the more polished modern entries in the Master Music sampler series. Released in 2020, it is listed as a Hybrid Stereo SACD with a stereo SACD layer and a standard Red Book stereo CD layer, making it playable on most regular CD players while giving SACD users the high-resolution layer for serious listening. It was also remastered by Raymond Lo at Audio Recording & Mastering Services, Hong Kong, and made in Germany.
This edition leans strongly into vocal jazz, female vocals, piano trio, big band texture, saxophone color and acoustic bass detail. It feels refined, warm and very hi-fi friendly, but it also has enough rhythmic energy to make a good system come alive.
The Music: Vocals First, But Not Vocals Only
The 14-track selection includes Sinne Eeg & T.D.R.B.B., Stefanie Boltz, Hanne Boel, Chie Ayado, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio, Simone Kopmajer, Mary Black, Three Tenors, Alexandra Shakina and Renaud Garcia-Fons/C. Antonini. Key tracks include “To A New Day,” “The Sound Of Silence,” “Holy Grail,” “Natural Woman,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Bless The Road,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Angel Eyes,” “Estate” and “Tavalod.”
That makes Master Superior Audiophile 2020 a very useful hi-fi test album. It has the natural vocal intimacy audiophiles love, but it also gives you big band scale, piano weight, jazz swing and world-music acoustic texture.
Best Tracks to Play First
Start with “To A New Day” by Sinne Eeg & T.D.R.B.B. This is one of the most important tracks on the disc because it brings together vocal presence and big band energy. A good system should sound open, dynamic and controlled, with the voice clearly separated from the band.
Then play “The Sound Of Silence” by Stefanie Boltz. This track is ideal for testing vocal texture and emotional restraint. The voice should sound close and human, not overly processed or artificially bright.
For power and soul, go to “Natural Woman” by Chie Ayado. This is a strong test of midrange body. If your system is too thin, the performance will lose weight. If it is too warm, the vocal may become thick and slow.
Use “You Don’t Know Me” by Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio to test piano realism. Piano is one of the hardest instruments to reproduce properly. Here, you want body, attack, natural decay and a believable sense of space.
For pure audiophile vocal smoothness, play “Wichita Lineman” by Simone Kopmajer. This track should sound intimate, relaxed and beautifully centered.
Finally, play “Tavalod” by Renaud Garcia-Fons/C. Antonini. This is the track to test acoustic bass texture, string resonance and low-frequency control. The bass should sound physical and detailed, not boomy.
Why Hi-Fi Enthusiasts Must Listen to This Album
1. It is excellent for vocal realism
This edition includes several strong vocal references: Sinne Eeg, Stefanie Boltz, Hanne Boel, Chie Ayado, Simone Kopmajer and Mary Black. If your system reproduces these voices naturally, your midrange is probably in good condition.
2. It gives you big band scale
The opening track with Sinne Eeg and the Danish Radio Big Band gives the album a larger soundstage than many intimate vocal samplers. It is useful for testing dynamics, separation and system control.
3. It tests piano and bass properly
The Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio track is excellent for piano tone, while the Renaud Garcia-Fons track is ideal for bass texture. These are two areas where weak systems are quickly exposed.
4. It is smooth, but still revealing
This is not an aggressive “show-off” disc. It sounds luxurious and easy to enjoy, but it still reveals poor speaker placement, hard treble, weak center imaging and loose bass.
5. It belongs in a serious audiophile demo library
For anyone searching for best audiophile SACD, Hybrid Stereo SACD sampler, hi-fi test album, speaker test music, stereo imaging test tracks, vocal jazz SACD, high-end audio demo disc, piano trio test recording or reference SACD for hi-fi systems, Master Superior Audiophile 2020 is a very strong choice.
Listening Tips
Listen first to “To A New Day” at moderate volume. The big band should open behind the vocal without becoming congested.
Use “Wichita Lineman” and “The Sound Of Silence” to adjust speaker toe-in. When the setup is right, the vocal should lock into the center and the speakers should disappear.
Use “You Don’t Know Me” to test piano tone. If the piano sounds hard or glassy, your system may be too bright or your speaker angle may need adjustment.
Use “Tavalod” to test bass quality. Listen for texture and pitch, not just low-end quantity.
Compare the CD layer and SACD layer if you own the physical hybrid disc. On a revealing SACD player, the SACD layer should sound more spacious, smoother and more relaxed.
Final Verdict
Master Superior Audiophile 2020 is a beautifully curated Hybrid Stereo SACD with a strong vocal-jazz identity and excellent hi-fi testing value. It combines female vocals, big band energy, piano trio realism, acoustic bass and smooth stereo imaging into a very enjoyable audiophile sampler.
Compared with the previous editions, 2018 feels smooth and intimate, 2019 feels polished and quietly sophisticated, while 2020 feels richer, more vocal-jazz focused and more dynamic thanks to the big band material.
For hi-fi enthusiasts, this album asks a simple but serious question:
Can your system sound warm, detailed, dynamic and emotionally convincing at the same time?
Rating: 9/10 for vocal jazz realism, piano tone and all-round audiophile value.
