Led Zeppelin: Original CDs vs Remasters

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Big A2, Dec 16, 2010.

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  1. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I just compared the remaster to the original Zep II. Man, the remaster really is harsher and nasty. The original could have a little more clarity, but it sounds better to me.
     
  2. Evan L

    Evan L Beatologist

    Location:
    Vermont
    Less dropouts too. The only remaster that is clearly better than an original.

    Evan
     
  3. ricks

    ricks Senior Member

    Location:
    127.0.0.1:443
    Edit's [truncated end of tracks, Stairway is most egregious] on the remaster aside......

    The Drum sounds on the remasters are wrong, especially on Levee. Original is close to the vinyl on drum sound, the 90's remaster sound like Bonzo is playing on an inexpensive plastic child's drum kit.

    To me neither mastering of IV is "clearly better" than the other. It's a song by song basis.

    On Original I like:
    Rock and Roll, Levee, 4 Sticks, Stairway and Black Dog better

    On the Remaster:
    GTC, MMH sound better to me [annoying truncated endings aside]

    Unless I play a compiled CDr from the two I always reach for the original as I want Bonzo's drumming to sound 'correct'. I will say it is now rare I even reach for this overplayed album anyhow.
     
  4. Evan L

    Evan L Beatologist

    Location:
    Vermont
    The songs that are better on the remaster:

    Battle of Evermore
    Misty Mountain Hop
    Going To California

    Evan
     
  5. JA Fant

    JA Fant Well-Known Member

    Original CDs for me.
     
  6. WTLB

    WTLB Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    I voted for the originals which I prefer to date. I ordered Presence SHM CD yesterday through hmv.co.jp so maybe I'll be blown away. We'll see.

    I'll make a blind test between Presence SHM CD & Presence from the Definitive Mini-lp collection. That way I will be able to hear a difference if there is one :)

    Thanks!
     
  7. Raf

    Raf Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    I posted this in another thread a few days ago but no one seemed to notice it:

    There's a slight difference between the original version (vinyl, Diament CD) of "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper" and the Marino remaster. The Marino version has a few more strums at the end and has a clean ending; the original quickly fades out.
     
  8. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    How could there be such a difference between tracks on each CD version of Zep 4? That is one messed up album on CD.
     
  9. progrocker

    progrocker Senior Member



    +1
     
  10. Stefan

    Stefan Senior Member

    Location:
    Montreal, Canada
    It's already been determined that the only difference between the SHM-CDs and the non-SHM Definitive Mini-LPs is the SHM material. It's exactly the same mastering, in other words, the same 1s and 0s, just a CD that may or may not sound better in realtime playback (depending on your player's ability to error correct).
     
  11. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I would like to know how many of you guys like the remaster of Zep 4 for the overall sound, or the original for its overall sound, without picking out songs?
     
  12. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    I like the originals Gerry. The remasters fall apart and inflict pain when turned up loud.
     
  13. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I know II does, even to me.
     
  14. Greg1954

    Greg1954 New Member

    Location:
    .
    The II remaster is a overly bright, crispy, edgy sounding thing.

    Don't like it at all.
     
  15. MikeP5877

    MikeP5877 V/VIII/MCMLXXVII

    Location:
    OH
    Good catch!

    I usually don't make it to the end of that song so I never noticed that before. :D
     
  16. TheCassidy

    TheCassidy New Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    So is the remastered IV worth picking up if I have the original CD and a Porky vinyl?

    Whenever I listen to the album on CD it always throws me off because it's (pardon my ignorance) not as "loud" as the other once since Barry didn't do it and it's inconsistent with the other albums.

    Don't get me wrong, it's crankable which is a good thing but the consensus seems to be that the remastered IV is ok?
     
  17. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    Yes, and I would also like to know if the original IV has the reversed channels or is it the RM?
     
  18. nbakid2000

    nbakid2000 On Indie's Cutting Edge

    Location:
    Springfield, MO
    Just picked up the original pressing tonight in KC at Half Price Books for 8 bucks. Sounds great.

    Sent from my EVO via Tapatalk Pro
     
  19. Raf

    Raf Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Why do you think it took me this long to notice? :D
     
  20. ShawnX

    ShawnX Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit, Michigan
    The originals! But the remasters aren't bad.
     
  21. All remastered IV CD's have the correct channels.

    The non-remastered IV CD is available in both channel orientations, i.e. the correct one and the wrong one.

    The target CD has the correct channel orientation, for example.
     
  22. Beech

    Beech Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    Originals all the way.

    Funny, I got a copy of IV on vinyl last year. I was shocked by the amount of distortion is had. Probably a bad pressing though.:D
     
  23. Beatle Terr

    Beatle Terr Super Senior SH Forum Member Musician & Guitarist

    Case by case....

    I'd have to just let it be at that once I've A/B'd each song one by one.
     
  24. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    Thanks, Roland. What about PG? One has the cough and one does not, but does one have correct and wrong channels, too?
     
  25. Stefan

    Stefan Senior Member

    Location:
    Montreal, Canada
    I've never heard of reversed channels on any of the LZs except in the case of the 1st, 3rd and 4th albums.

    I might add that there are channel order differences for certain tracks between the first release of the Marino remasters on the 1st "crop circle" boxe set from 1990 and later issues of the remasters albums. Specifically, my copy of the box set has Babe I'm Gonna Leave you with the guitar starting on the right, just like many of the old vinyl releases, my copy of the origianl LZI CD, and the Classic Records reissue, whereas it's on the left for the 1993 CSR box, the 2003 mini-LP, and the Mothership compilation (the only ones I have so far. It's been awhile since I checked these all so I can't speak for other tracks. I don't ever recall hearing a version of Gallows Pole with guitar starting on the right in any case of an LP or CD I've owned of LZIII.
     
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