Best Version of Pink Floyd's "Meddle"

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by robertawillisjr, Dec 27, 2008.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. robertawillisjr

    robertawillisjr Music Lover Thread Starter

    Location:
    Hampton, VA
    Just bought the Canadian copy of "The Wall" as recommended from a different thread (and am really impressed). "Meddle" is another favorite and my CD copy is is Capitol CDP 46034 2 and I have often wondered if there is a better sounding copy.

    I see many used copies of the MSFL pressing. I also see many other different pressings and need some help. I would appreciate any assistance.

    Thanks

    rw
     
  2. johnny33

    johnny33 New Member

    Location:
    usa
    Here is a thread that might helpful :

    http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=87802&highlight=meddle

    the MFSL and black triangle seem to be the best according to opinions on the forum. With the MFSL edging out on opinions. I have the black face which sounds good to me.

    IIRC I think the regular remaster of this is suppose to sound nice also. I havent heard it though.

    (Speaking of which I was looking for this last night about 2 am and couldnt find it. gah. Then my mind wondered over to the Jan and Dean Liberty singles discs and I played it instead lol. Quiet a jump :p)
     
  3. wolf66

    wolf66 New Member

    Location:
    Austria
  4. johnny33

    johnny33 New Member

    Location:
    usa
  5. Gang Twanger

    Gang Twanger New Member

    Location:
    Canton, CT, USA
    I have the MFSL CD and I wouldn't change a thing. It actually made me start to appreciate the other songs (basically, anything besides One Of These Days and Echoes). It also made me stop looking for a better version, although I'd still love to hear the "black triangle" disc for comparisons' sake. With the Wish You Were Here album, if you compare the 35DP4 version to the Sony Mastersound CD, the difference between those is quite extreme (although they are both outstanding). The 35DP4 has a smooth, early '80's Japanese CD sound, while the Mastersound has a clearer, more dynamic sound. That extra clarity, however, takes away some of that smoothness. I doubt that the difference between the Meddle "black triangle" and Mofi is that drastic.
     
  6. Sheik Yerbouti

    Sheik Yerbouti Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    This CD is really top-notch, but I can´t get rid of the impression that the very last seconds of "Echoes" have been faded out too quick, i.e. the volume decreases too fast, although the song lasts the usual 23:31 (or maybe 23:32).
     
  7. wolf66

    wolf66 New Member

    Location:
    Austria
    Yes Johnny, I think it is. The WG "Wall" is my favorite digital version of the "Wall" and I find the "Meddle" disc absolutely wonderful .
     
  8. Gang Twanger

    Gang Twanger New Member

    Location:
    Canton, CT, USA
    That's a good thread. A lot of info that I hadn't heard yet regarding the "black triangle" CD.

    I really like the balanced sound (and depth) of the Mofi. It sounds closer to my LP than the remaster (like a clearer, better-sounding version of my LP). Put it this way, I won't be buying the "black triangle" any time soon just to compare it to the Mofi. I'm quite satisfied.
     
  9. Gang Twanger

    Gang Twanger New Member

    Location:
    Canton, CT, USA
    I'm going to have to check that out. Did you notice if it's like that on the remaster?

    I remember that on the album, at the very end of the fade-out, you are hearing that upward spiral tone of the synthesisor (I realize the whole thing is spiraling upward at the end, but at the very end there is a single tone that you begin to hear). I'll have to see if I hear that on the Mofi.

    If it IS fading too quickly, then that's really weird considering the length is the same.

    Either way, the Mofi has really made me appreciate the album as a whole. When I was a kid, I used to listen to "One Of These days", and maybe "Fearless", and then go straight to "Echoes".
     
  10. scocs

    scocs Forum Resident

    Location:
    NY
    MFSL Ultradisc I
     
  11. Pug

    Pug The Prodigal Snob Returns!

    Location:
    Near Music Direct
    I really like the MFSL CD. :thumbsup:
     
  12. robertawillisjr

    robertawillisjr Music Lover Thread Starter

    Location:
    Hampton, VA
    Thanks everyone. I need to get a better handle on the way I do searches here. All of the information was available, I just didn't find it.
     
  13. Gang Twanger

    Gang Twanger New Member

    Location:
    Canton, CT, USA
    It took me a while to learn that when doing searches, it was best to use as few words as possible (especially here) and avoid common words like "and" and "the".

    BTW, is the Canadian version that you're referring to a CD or an LP? Is it better than the Mofi? I have the Mofi which is okay, and I have an original US LP that is the best version I've heard so far. Probably the best example of a "hot stamper" that I own. Just sounds amazing. When you listen to the part where the girlfriend is wandering through the rooms while "Pink" sits there watching TV, it totally sounds like you are sitting right next to him. I use that as a reference when checking out other versions.
     
  14. Gang Twanger

    Gang Twanger New Member

    Location:
    Canton, CT, USA
    The part I'm talking about is at the beginning of "One Of My Turns" (I love that song - Short but great).
     
  15. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    +1 :agree:
     
  16. Sheik Yerbouti

    Sheik Yerbouti Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    The only "Meddle" editions I have on CD are MFSL UD, MFSL UD II and the Japanese export EMI Harvest CDP 7 46034 2 / CP 32-5032. IIRC, the fade-out is really different there.
     
  17. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Hi Robert, I did a lot of comparing different pressings to arrive at my choice.

    The MFSL, a complete disappointment for me on this one. When I turned up the volume on One Of These Days where the growly voice comes it just about blew my eardrums out it was so harsh sounding. This one does not do well at loud volumes.

    The EMI Harvests (for Europe, UK etc.) are very good indeed. The same goes for the original Canadian and USA CBS/Columbia pressings. However, they sound on the veiled side when compared to the CP32 black triangle.

    The CP32-5032 with no CDP 7 46034 2 or TO stamped in the matrix is the one that sounds best to me with the best imaging and definition I have heard on a CD pressing.
     
    Front 242 Addict likes this.
  18. wolf66

    wolf66 New Member

    Location:
    Austria
    Are some of you guys talking bout The Wall now :confused:
     
  19. Meddle_Guy

    Meddle_Guy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Woodland Hills, CA
    Yup, I have one of these and it is great.
     
  20. bluesky

    bluesky Senior Member

    Location:
    south florida, usa
    Meddle is one of my most favorite albums of all time, if not my most favorite. Everyone has to have a most favorite, and I guess Meddle would be it for me. I, like you, have heard this album hundreds of times. I have the MFSL CD and I am very pleased with the sound quality. End search for a better sounding pressing. It sounds as perfect as perfect can get. What could possibly be better? Having Pink Floyd in your living room playing live? Help yourself to the fridge! Maybe someday I will get a mint Meddle MFSL LP for the fun of it. I really only want 2 more LPs, both MFSL: Meddle and Sticky Fingers, but I am in no hurry to get them. MFSL CD Meddle sounds simply wonderful to my ears!
    :edthumbs::cheers:
     
  21. Meddle_Guy

    Meddle_Guy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Woodland Hills, CA
    I wouldn't bother with this one, it sounds like mud. I bought one used several years ago and could not believe how bad it sounded (but sold it for 2x what I paid for it). IMHO just get an original early pressing of this great record and be done with it.
     
  22. bba1973

    bba1973 New Member

    Location:
    Alabama
    I've got a Japan blackface Harvest and a US non-remastered Capitol (made by Disctronics). Both sound really good IMO, but the Harvest is smoother with a little better bass. Found mine for less than $20, so it's a great way to hear this album without going broke on the MFSL. I've heard the MFSL, and it's really good too, but it's rather expensive these days.
     
  23. kevin5brown

    kevin5brown Analog or bust.

    I am just now joining the search for Meddle. I have the US version of the CP32 (which is the same, digitally, as the 1st WG, Japan, and UK?), 3rd and 4th US edition versions, and both the UK and US remasters. For how very similar the packaging is between those two remasters, the UK remaster seems to be a level shifted version of the original EMI mastering. EAC #'s, from Vernon's site:

    orig rem mult
    84.1 82.2 0.977
    57.8 56.5 0.978
    100. 97.7 0.977
    99.0 96.8 0.978
    43.8 42.8 0.977
    100. 97.7 0.977

    Now for the listening ... :)

    (Still need to check out the BT thread though too.)
     
  24. Fo what it's worth, these "Meddle" CD's all share the same mastering:

    West Germany „Meddle“ (CDP 7 46034 2)
    Black label with white text.
    54.3 / 38.2 / 68.8 / 62.5 / 28.2 / 53.3

    Japan for UK „Meddle“ (CDP 7 46034 2)
    Black label with silver text.
    54.3 / 38.2 / 68.8 / 62.5 / 28.2 / 53.3

    Japan for Japan „Meddle“ (CP32-5032)
    Black Triangle.
    54.3 / 38.2 / 68.8 / 62.5 / 28.2 / 53.3


    It is quite possible (if not even likely) that there are some small differences in sound quality between these different pressings (depending how good your ears and your system are), but all these offer great sound quality in my opinion.
     
  25. Hi Dave, while I would really not go that far to call the MFSL of "Meddle" a complete disappointment (I still think it is a nice mastering, just a different approach), I agree with you that at louder volumes, the MFSL can be quite piercing and almost harsh sounding. I notice this especially on the louder parts of "Echoes", where the EMI/Harvest mastering stays smooth even at louder volumes and where I really have to turn the volume on the MFSL down because it becomes uncomfortable. For low volume listening, the MFSL is great though (I think).

    I haven't heard a really bad version of "Meddle" on CD. There are many versions out there, but quite a few are based on that original EMI/Harvest mastering, some are exactly the same and some are level-shifted versions. Even the level-shifted versions sound nice to me.

    There is no CD mastering out there which is compressed or no-noised (as far as I know). Whether you prefer the smooth EMI/Harvest mastering or the more detailed MFSL mastering is just personal preference and quite similar to the discussion whe have/had with regards to "Animals".
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine