"Kind of Blue" is indeed hissy, and it is on the master tape. Any recording made before 1968 or so is going to have audible hiss: master tape machines, the tape formulations then available, and the lack of Dolby "A" noise reduction is the cause of this. The signal to noise ratio of professional tape recorders at that time, such as the workhorse Ampex 300/350 series was in the vicinity of -55db. Digital has a signal to noise ratio of -90db and better. Big difference.

[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited November 08, 2002).]