A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Rolling Stones Post 1970 Virgin Cds VS SHM Japan Cds

John Grimes · Oct 15, 2014

kevin5brawesome ost: 11222462 said:

OK, here's the "analysis" part for Exile on Main St.

Here are the EAC numbers for my US DADC disc. I actually don't know if all the early CDs have the same mastering, but just for reference, I'll post these:

86.9 91.5 69.6 99.1 91.1 92.9 100.0 78.7 100.0 100.0 81.1 89.8 68.0 100.0 94.4 100.0 77.9 100.0

I usually pick about 1 song per lp side for quick A/B back to back listening/comparing (other than my casual listening comparisons, which is the whole CD). I try to pick longer songs, because I think there's more of a chance of softer parts and louder parts in a long song, i.e., more dynamics. Plus, I pick my favorites! You can always look up the entire album dynamic range numbers on the Dynamic Range Database. My intent here is to sort of try to look at worst case. So here are the DR numbers for the 4 songs I looked at:

DR11 ... 01 Rocks Off CBS DADC
DR10 ... 01 Rocks Off Virgin-EMI RM
DR10 ... 01 Rocks Off SHM

DR13 ... 09 Loving Cup CBS DADC
DR9 ..... 09 Loving Cup Virgin-EMI RM
DR11 ... 09 Loving Cup SHM

DR12 ... 12 Ventilator Blues CBS DADC
DR11 ... 12 Ventilator Blues Virgin-EMI RM
DR11 ... 12 Ventilator Blues SHM

DR12 ... 16 Stop Breaking Down CBS DADC
DR10 ... 16 Stop Breaking Down Virgin-EMI RM]
DR10 ... 16 Stop Breaking Down SHM

The dynamic of both the '94 remaster and the SHM are reduced vs the original CD. That is a fact. However, the reductions for the most part, aren't humungous. I am bothered by the fact though, that when you look at some of the waveforms, the SHM seems to be needlessly reduced. I don't understand that.

Freq spectra comparisons. The CBS DADC disc is the baseline. The '94 remaster and SHM are compared vs that disc. The CBS was simply first.

First off, the '94 Virgin remaster is smiley faced EQ'ed vs the CBS disc. For each song, there is more high frequency energy for the '94 than for the CBS. Relative to the midrange. Rocks Offs has the smallest boost; the 2 small peaks at about 2kHz and 10 kHz. 10 kHz is right where the cymbals, high hats, and snare drum are more or less centered. The other 3 tracks are boosted more. But I do agree, it's the boosted low end (relatively speaking), that's most apparent when listening to the '94 remaster. (These subtractions are just with the disc levels as is. No volume levelling.)

Relatively speaking, the highs for the SHM are boosted too. (If you use the midrange as a frame of reference.) The lows seem to be boosted a little less, or at least it sounds that way, maybe because the highs are boosted. It's all relative. So one way of looking at the SHM, is that it's possibly a more balanced mastering than the '94 remaster. (Do I know or care if the CBS or SHM is closer to the master tapes? No. I just listen to the final product and judge from there.)

When I compare masterings like this, I usually take the oldest mastering (lp or CD) as the baseline default. Then I think: is there anything wrong with it? Do any of the subsequent masterings improve on it? In this case, I still prefer the old CBS CD, but I would say that the SHM is a solid #2 (the packaging is really nice!). But I can certainly understand that there might be fans of the other 2. None of them have absolutely crushed dynamics or extremely wonky EQ. It becomes personal preference at that point. ... The SHM actually does sound really nice. The CBS can sound a little thin or bass-shy in spots, but the SHM seems to carefully tweak that.
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Thanks for that awesome analysis.

MichaelSmith · Oct 15, 2014

Anyone know the difference in the Japan SHM-SACDs of these scheduled for a limited release in December?

tkl7 · Oct 15, 2014

kevin5brown said: ↑

Like I mentioned up above: I don't know, and I don't care. I only go by what I hear as the end result. [And if you reread what I wrote, all the comparisons are relative to the CBS, whether it's a flat transfer or not, doesn't matter either.]

*If* the Exile SHM is a flat transfer, then why was the CBS EQ'ed as a sad face? "Oh, because maybe the CBS CD came from an EQ'ed for lp tape". But I have lps with lots more low end than the CBS CD, so that rote answer doesn't cut it for me either.
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The master tape for Sticky Fingers has a midrange boost on some songs. Not sure if that is the case for Exile.

tkl7 · Oct 15, 2014

MichaelSmith said: ↑

Anyone know the difference in the Japan SHM-SACDs of these scheduled for a limited release in December?
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They are supposed to be the same mastering as previous SHM-SACDs, probably cheaper packaging.

John Grimes · Oct 16, 2014

Dancing With Mr.D, 100 Years Ago, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, (Heartbreaker), even Silver Train, sound great on my new SHM Platinum cd. The instruments, (especially the guitars), sound more realistic on this release. That's all I really wanted. Thanks Guys!

John Grimes · Oct 16, 2014

Even Mick's vocals sound clearer on this, all the way through. I have a new appreciation for, Hide Your Love. Winter, (the Vocals, Guitars), is absolutely worth the price of the upgrade alone. I love this version. I've never heard or appreciated Mick Taylor's guitar work more than I than I do now.

John Grimes · Oct 16, 2014

Background instruments are now more prominent in the mix, almost HD, but those damn guitars sound f'n fabulous!!

Stone Turntable · Oct 16, 2014

John Grimes said: ↑

Ok, I've done the research and I've spent the money. I've heard that the Rolling Stones SACDs were better mastered and therefore sounded better than the Virgin Redbook cds. I have also heard the SHM Platinum and none platinum Redbooks share the same mastering as the SHM SACDs. I bought TheSHM Platinum Sticky Fingers And Exile On Main Street. In both cases I prefer the Virgin cds. I liked the eq choices and the overall Sound quality better. What is your analysis? Thanks.
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John Grimes said: ↑

Background instruments are now more prominent in the mix, almost HD, but those damn guitars sound f'n fabulous!!
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Judas!

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A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Rolling Stones Post 1970 Virgin Cds VS SHM Japan Cds

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