Best-sounding CD for the Carpenters "Close to You"

A sample wouldn't be of much help. Especially if it's just one part of one song.

I'd have to see a screenshot of the entire CD image loaded into a program like Audacity to check the entire thing

Probably too much trouble for you go to so I'm not going to ask.

 

My personal favorite CD version of this album is my copy from West Germany. It has the original mixes and sounds a bit better to me then the remastered classic version which is okay but a tad lifeless sounding in comparison.

I also love the regular U.S. version with the remixes as it sounds wonderful. If I want to hear the album purely on a best sounding I'd go with that version but I tend to play the West German more because I enjoy the original mixes.

 

The first couple tracks. Please note they have been gain adjusted.

http://i.imgur.com/GOOXP2A.jpg

 

Oh wow...thanks

Do the rest of them look like that? No peak limiting and full dynamics?

 

Yep, it's all fine.

 

Thanks again...that is exactly what I like to see.

Seeing the waveform really helps me to judge how a remaster is going to sound. Full dynamics and no limiting usually indicates that the mastering engineer actually gives a damn about how it sounds and actually knows what he's doing.

From my experiences, remaster with full dynamics usually sound better precisely because the engineer takes care in doing the whole thing properly.

 

I know exactly what you mean, and for that reason almost all of my CD's are early "non-remastered" pressings.

 

I love early CDs. Some people say that since A/D converts weren't quite as advanced, they don't sound very good.

But I love the early ones, especially CDs that predate the loudness war (1983-1995). They almost always have fully dynamics and absolutely no peak limiting or compression. Love it!

Besides, I don't think the A/D converter makes a huge difference. Mastering is more important. Engineer skill is more important. Of course you can tell the difference between a cheap consumer A/D converter and a professional one, but for professional A/D converters, you'd be pretty hard-pressed to tell the difference. Only some of the earliest A/D technology had obvious audible flaws

I will always take a chance on a CD between made between 1983-1990 because that's when they actually cared about making great-sounding CDs

 

I couldn't agree more. Some of those old CD's really surprise me, too bad they are often overlooked.

 

And often times they're cheap and abundant.

More for me!

 

It is one of those superb SACD releases that justifies buying an Oppo for the ability to play this SHM-SACD (UIGY-9542).
But, being late to the party, prepare to open your wallet.

 

It's no longer available from CD Japan. There is one used copy on amazon.com for $573.69.

 

A seller from Japan has one up on eBay $130 sealed.
Or you can try new/sealed from Canadian Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00FW67H7Q/

 

A bit more reasonable. I'm glad I pre-ordered it from CD Japan last year.

 

FWIW, I just downloaded Close To You (16/44) from Pono Music. I believe it's the original CD, not the remaster. $10...and sounds really good.

 

I assume you speak about SHM-CD with platinum coating. Truly, when I heard this Japanese CD I was astounded and I said - 'This is unbelievable sound'.

 

According to Carpenters: All The Top 40 Hits by Craig Halstead, Singles 1974-1978 was not released in the U.S due to the declining popularity of the Carpenters, but it was released in the U. K. and in Canada.

 

I'm not an expert, but have what I think is the original A&M AM+ mastering. Got it for a buck at a thrift shop. Sounds nice, warm and analog. Of course, the Wrecking Crew was just so damn good on it. Karen's voice in particular (the star of their show) is just so compelling and lovely. I listen to it now and recall how uncool they were among my circle when it came out. I was so wrong.

 

What does this mean?!?