Seven Steps To Heaven is widely regarded as one of Davis' best from the 1960s and is considered a transitional work between his earlier bebop and hard bop recordings and his later fusion and electric period.
Artist(s): Trumpet – Miles Davis
Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums [Cal.] Frank Butler (tracks: 1,3,5)
Drums [N.Y.] Anthony Williams (tracks: 2,4,6)
Piano [Cal.] Victor Feldman (tracks: 1,3,5)
Piano [N.Y.] Herbie Hancock (tracks: 2,4,6)
Recording Info: Tracks 1,3,5 recorded in Hollywood, Cal.
Tracks 2,4,6 recorded in New York
Producer - Teo Macero
Sourced from a 15ips 2-track tape
Analog: Transferred using a modified Studer 810 tape deck feeding a Merrill Tape Preamp
Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by a Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock
Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for analog components
Shunyata Research Triton and Typhon for digital components
1 Basin Street Blues 10:29
2 Seven Steps To Heaven 6:24
3 I Fall In Love Too Easily 6:47
4 So Near, So Far 7:00
5 Baby Won't You Please Come Home 8:27
6 Joshua 7:01
Please Note: This release was mastered in DSD with no PCM. (Pure DSD)
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Seven Steps to Heaven
This review discusses the actual performance, the recording and production of the musical work. By comparing this work to other productions, I hope to give the reader some insight into the DSD listening experience. The performance came at a time in Miles' life when he was forming his second quintet. Seven Steps to Heaven ("SSH") is the cover piece. Other selections were added to fill out the album. For fans of Miles, this is a "must have" because of its place in the development of Miles' discography. The recording was originally done on tape so its a logical for HDTT DSD production. A comparison of the DSD 256 production was made to the CD "Red Book." Some key passages are: Time Sound DSD 256 vs CD 0:42 Trumpet Increased detail, reverb of horn 1:15 Trumpet Improved realistic layered depth, clarity 1:54 Cymbal Clear, life-like, not as "tinny" 2:33 Percussion Clear, fuller bass, tight and not boomy 3:03 Saxophone Clearer reed vibration, dimension of tone 4:35 Piano Improved clarity and reverb of strings 5:35 Trumpet Drm Improved "livenes" better separation Overall, the CD was enjoyable, but the DSD 256 was captivating. It was difficult to write down the comments as the music was captivating. Overall, more life, clarity and improved breadth and depth of sound stage. Improved sound layers Why go back to the CD? No good reason. This is wonderful source of music for either the audiophile or the jazz aficionado interested in the highest quality of listening experience. Buy it!

Seven steps to heaven DSD256
I own several digital versions of this album already, CD quality as well as high resolution PCM but this DSD256 transfer is clearly the best sounding of them all. Yet another winner.

Clear skies…
Well balanced, well seperated, all instruments clear and precise, a sheer delight to listen to. Much better than all PCM versions known to me.

HDTT Hits It Out Of The Park Again
While I am certainly a fan of Miles, I have to admit I have come to party a little bit late. So, I asked my good friend, who is a REAL Miles aficionado, to hear your Seven Steps transfer. My friend is in his 80's, has seen and heard Miles in concert and at small clubs, and he is thoroughly familiar with his music and discography. Words are hard to express his excitement as he listened. He said, "its like I won the lottery and got an opportunity to sit in on the recording sessions ... it sounds like Miles and his cats are here in the room with us." Not bad for an album that was recorded in 1963! What can I add, other than the sound was real, immediate, transparent and it literally sounds as if the album was recorded yesterday. My reproduction chain was: DSD128 to CF card; CF played through a Tascam DA-3000 DSD mastering recorder, to a Mark Levinson ML12A pre-amp, then to a Conrad Johnson MV100 tube power amp, and then out to Apogee Duetta speakers -w- dual subs. Miles lives in my room!

Couldn’t be better
Download smooth and simple. Audio quality excellent. A very good on line experience. Thanks
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Gold Premium Compact Disc 300+ years longevity - The recording layer resists UV and heat better than other discs. Includes Complete Jewel case and Liner Notes
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